Thomas recommended at Nicholls State

THIBODAUX, La., Aug. 19 (UPI) -- Jay Thomas Wednesday was recommended as the new football coach at Nicholls State University in Louisiana.

If and when he is approved by the school's Board of Trustees, Thomas would becomes the eighth head coach in the 32-year history of the Division I-AA program.

"My main priority, as well as that of my coaching staff, at this point is preparing the players for the upcoming season and helping them become successful student-athletes, Thomas said in a statement on the school's Web site.

Thomas will succeed Daryl Daye, who was fired Sunday in the wake of an internal investigation of academic fraud involving an unidentified assistant coach and several players.

Thomas had been the Colonels' defensive coordinator. He will be entering his ninth season with the program, having served as its defensive line coach from 1990-92.

Daye was not implicated, but the school said he failed to "maintain proper controls" of the assistant.