In his first season as the Desperados Offensive Coordinator, Thonn guided a unit that led the league in total offense (300.4 yards-per-game), passing offense (292.4) and first downs (362) while finishing fourth in passing touchdowns (97) and fifth in scoring offense (56.9 points-per-game). His group was led by quarterback Jim Kubiak, who earned second-team All-Arena honors after setting league records in passing yards (4,762) and completion percentage (69.7%). Rookie Will Pettis earned second-team All-Arena and All-Rookie honors after finishing second on the team with 69 catches for 798 yards and 16 touchdowns and scoring four rushing touchdowns. The Desperados also finished with two 1,000-yard receivers - Dialleo Burks (1,226) and Andy McCullough (1,215) - and five players with at least 35 catches - Burks (102), McCullough (96), Pettis (69), Shannon Culver (37) and Jason Shelley (35).

Thonn spent the 2002 season coaching high school football in Wheaton, Ill., after serving as the head coach of the Houston ThunderBears from 1998-2001. His final ThunderBears team finished fifth in the league in total offense (280.9 yards-per-game) and 11th in scoring (48.8 points-per-game).

In 2000, Houston led the AFL in total offensive yards (4,393) for the third consecutive season while averaging 50.6 points-per-game. The team's new quarterback, Robert Hall, passed for 4,053 yards in 13 games, while Ben Bronson earned AFL Breakout Player of the Year honors after setting club records with 112 catches for 1,494 yards. Terence Melton earned All-Rookie honors after becoming the ThunderBears' all-time leading rusher during his first season with the team.

The 1999 ThunderBears led the league in passing offense for the third consecutive season (4,665 yards) while also topping the AFL's total offense chart with 4,756 yards (339.7 per game). Both of these league-leading totals established AFL records. Quarterback Clint Dolezel also established a league record when he threw for 479 yards against Milwaukee on May 14. Houston finished the season averaging 53.0 points-per-game.

After taking over the head coaching reins on Aug. 5, 1997, Thonn's 1998 squad won the Central Division championship while leading the league in total offense (318.8 yards-per-game), passing offense (307.7), touchdown passes (84) and first downs (268). The ThunderBears finished the year third in the league with a 52.4 points-per-game average.

As Houston's offensive coordinator in 1997, Thonn guided the most improved offense in AFL history, increasing the team's scoring by 22.3 points-per-game while finishing the year first in the league in passing offense (306.1 yards-per-game), second in total offense (316.0) and fourth in scoring (52.4). His system also produced the first 400-yard passing performance in league history as quarterback Dolezel threw for 449 yards at Iowa on July 26, 1997.

Thonn joined the ThunderBears after serving as offensive coordinator for the Milwaukee Mustangs in 1996, helping the Mustangs to a 10-4 record while averaging 50.3 points-per-game. Prior to Milwaukee, he was the Connecticut Coyotes' offensive coordinator (1995). He began his coaching career in 1994 as the wide receiver/special teams coach of the Albany Firebirds, who compiled a 10-2 record and led the league in scoring.

Prior to joining the coaching ranks, Thonn spent two seasons with the AFL's Chicago Bruisers (1988-89) and four years with the Albany Firebirds (1990-93) as a wide receiver/defensive back.

During his AFL playing days, Thonn served as an assistant basketball coach at Wheaton College in Illinois.

Thonn played football, basketball and baseball at Wheaton College, where he earned Division III All-America honors as a senior football player. He was a college basketball teammate of current Dallas Mavericks President of Basketball Operations and Assistant Coach Donn Nelson. Steve and wife Pam have a daughter - Jaimee - and a son - Corey.