A native of Orlando, Thomson is a veteran high school coach with an accomplished career in both Florida and Georgia.

His résumé includes numerous District and Region Coach of the Year accolades highlighted by the “Florida Dairy Farmers 6A Coach of the Year” selection in 2012 while guiding Gainesville High School to a 14-1 record and national ranking.

In 2016, Thomson served as an Offensive Analyst for UCLA working under former Offensive Coordinator Kennedy Polamalu.

James has spent the last 15 off-seasons coaching the All-Poly Football Camps in Salt Lake City, Utah.  He’s also coached camps in Hawaii and Samoa as well as his hometown of Orlando.

Thomson served as the FACA State Football Chairman (2022) and continues to be an advocate for high school football coaches in the State of Florida.
He currently runs the “Nike Coach of the Year Clinic” in Orlando and helps coordinate other coaching clinics around the country.

James and his wife, Ryan, have three children- Liahona, Roselani and James.

Jason Manson begins his tenure as the Klein Family Director of Player Development at the University of Iowa, a position he assumed in May 2021. A Bloomfield, Connecticut native, Manson is a former University of Iowa quarterback and wide receiver, known for his contributions to the team’s successes, including bowl victories and a Big Ten title.

Post his playing career, Manson has made significant strides in high school administration and coaching. He held key positions at St. Thomas More School and Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts, among others, and has coached football at various levels, including a stint as a position coach at Central Connecticut State University.

Manson’s educational background includes a bachelor’s degree in communication studies from the University of Iowa, where he was also recognized for his leadership and sportsmanship. He is actively involved in mentoring student-athletes, helping them balance academic and athletic pursuits.

Married to Tamika, the couple is blessed with three children, Julian, Jace, and Jaxon, and continues to be engaged in community and educational activities.

Ryan Smith, a seasoned football coach with diverse experience across high school and college levels, joined the Florida A&M coaching staff in 2018. Initially serving as the linebackers coach, recruiting coordinator, and director of player personnel, Smith was elevated to co-defensive coordinator and associate head coach in 2023.

Smith’s impact on the team was significant in 2022, where he played a crucial role in developing star linebackers Isaiah Major and Johnny Chaney Jr., leading to their recognition on the Phil Steele All-SWAC Teams. Under his guidance, the Rattlers excelled defensively, ranking in the top-25 in five categories and top-ten in three. He also mentored defensive lineman Isaiah Land, who signed with the Dallas Cowboys.

In 2021, Smith’s expertise contributed to one of the Rattlers’ best defensive seasons, with top rankings in various categories. He coached Isaiah Land, the SWAC Defensive Player of the Year and Buck Buchanan Award winner, and safety Markquese Bell, another Dallas Cowboys signee.

Prior to joining Florida A&M, Smith enhanced his coaching credentials at the University of Florida under Jim McElwain and at the University of Alabama under Nick Saban, contributing to Alabama’s 2015 College Football Playoff National Championship win.

A native of Perry, Florida, Smith’s coaching journey includes leading high school football programs at Gainesville High School, Deland High School, and Taylor County High School, his alma mater. As a player, he lettered in football at Valdosta State as a defensive lineman, later transitioning to a student assistant role. Smith holds a B.A. in Health and Physical Education Fitness.

Ryan Smith is happily married to Tracey, and they are proud parents of two children, Brady and Jordan