Mullen (Denver) reached into its football past to find its coach of the future.
Tom Thenell, who played quarterback for the Mustangs during his prep days, was selected the new football coach at Mullen on Thursday.
New Mullen coach Tom Thenell
File photo by Dennis Marpuri
Thenell, who had been the head coach at
Bear Creek (Lakewood) since 1992 and has compiled a 147-81 record, assumes the position that has been open since
Dave Logan was fired in mid-January. Thenell, who guided Bear Creek to two Class 5A state title game appearances, was selected after a national search.
"Coach Thenell's record and reputation in the state of Colorado speak for themselves," Jim Gmelich, the school's principal who oversaw the search, said in a release. "Tom's roots in the Mullen community run deep. As an alumnus, former coach and teacher, Tom's familiarity with our community and our mission were important factors in our decision to bring him back to Mullen High School."
Thenell starred under center for the Mustangs in the late 1970s and graduated in 1980 before playing at Colorado State University. Before going to Bear Creek, Thenell taught at Mullen and was the Mustangs' offensive coordinator for seven seasons. He also was the head coach for the boys basketball team for three years.
"On a very personal level, this is a high honor," Thenell said in the release. "I'm eager to go back to where everything started for me a very long time ago. My job will be to build-on Mullen's proud tradition, and we will always do it the Mullen way."
