NEW ORLEANS — Former Port Angeles High School and University of Idaho football standout Joel Thomas continues to climb the coaching ladder.

After more than a decade coaching in the college ranks, Thomas, 40, is making the move to the National Football League.

Sports Illustrated is reporting that he will soon become the running backs coach of the New Orleans Saints.

He held the same position last fall at the University of Arkansas under head coach Bret Bielema.

Bielema confirmed the news earlier this week via social media.

Bielema noted on Twitter that three consecutive running backs coaches have left his staff for NFL teams.

“Hire good people and it happens,” he tweeted.

The Saints have yet to confirm any coaching moves that have occurred since the end of the 2014 season, according to the Times-Picayune of New Orleans.

Thomas, a standout running back at Port Angeles High School in the early 1990s who graduated in 1992, remains the Vandals’ career leader with 765 rushing attempts, 3,929 rushing yards and 51 rushing touchdowns.

As a senior, Thomas was named the Big West Player of the Year.

After his playing days, he was co-offensive coordinator at Idaho under head coach Nick Holt from 2004 to 2005.

Also, he has coached running backs at Louisville (2002-03), Purdue (2007-08) and the University of Washington (2009-13), where he was given the title of associate head coach-offense/running backs.

At Washington, Thomas coached current NFL running backs Chris Polk and Bishop Sankey.

Thomas also served two training camp internships with NFL teams, spending time with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2008 and the Saints in 2012.