He’ll get that opportunity this winter at Wildcat Gym.
Temple High School introduced Thomas as the Wildcats’ new boys basketball coach Friday.
A nine-year coaching veteran, Thomas’ previous coaching stints came at Class 4A schools Amarillo Palo Duro and Lubbock Estacado, where he compiled a 235-74 record and six district championships.
Thomas replaces Bruce Etheridge, the Temple graduate who coached the Wildcats - who have missed the playoffs the last three years - for 13 seasons before he resigned last month to become head boys basketball coach at 4A Marble Falls.
“For me personally, this is an opportunity to get back to my passion, what I love,” Thomas said. “I had the opportunity to go into administration . . . but my passion is working with young people and coaching basketball.”
Before resigning at Estacado two years ago to pursue a master’s and an administration position in Lubbock ISD, Thomas quickly established himself as one of West Texas’ most successful 4A coaches.
His résumé certainly is impressive:
- A career .761 winning percentage).
- Seven seasons of 25 wins or more.
- Three consecutive seasons of 30 wins or more.
- An appearance in the 2004 4A state tournament with Estacado.
Thomas also has coaching experience in college, with assistant jobs at Texas-Pan American, Central Florida and Wayland Baptist, his alma mater.
At Wayland Baptist, Thomas was a key member of the school’s 1985 NAIA national runner-up squad.
“He’s a winner,” Temple athletic director Bryce Monsen said. “We just absolutely thought the world of him when we interviewed him.
“There’s no doubt in our mind that Coach Thomas is the right fit for Temple, Texas.”
A big part of what made Thomas the right fit, Monsen said, was his willingness to assist and motivate students - on and off the court.
“He knows how to help kids,” Monsen said. “Wins and losses, again, are not everything in Temple. He knows how to build young men.”
Thomas can rely on his past to show his players the benefit of hard work.
As an eighth-grader, Thomas told his mother that before he finished high school, he’d secure a college scholarship to play basketball.
Thomas delivered on his word when he committed to Wayland Baptist.
“I think I can relay that to the young men I come in contact with as a basketball coach - not just young men, but all students I come in contact with,” he said. “If you want something and have aspirations, you have to work really hard for it.”
The style Thomas’ teams play promises to be equally as taxing.
Thomas prefers an up-tempo style, focusing on finding ways to get fast-break baskets, along with an attacking defense. But he also wants his teams to be versatile enough to slow down and run efficient half-court sets.
“We’re going to be very aggressive . . . play a man-to-man pressure defense,” he said. “The kids are going to hustle, play hard and really compete at a high level.”
Thomas faces a tough challenge rebuilding Temple’s once-strong program.
The Wildcats reached the 5A Region II quarterfinals in 2004 and the 5A-II semifinals a year later, but since then they are 35-57 overall and 9-29 in district. Temple’s only three district wins the last two seasons came against last-place Belton teams.
Thomas’ Wildcats expect to return an experienced team for the 2008-09 season, including four all-district players - senior-to-be D.J. Wright and juniors Lache Seastrunk, Derrick Davis and district Co-Newcomer of the Year Eric Valdez.
“I understand that they really work hard,” Thomas said. “There’s some really good athletes and the type of students I like to join with and have the opportunity to work with."
rschneider@temple-telegram.com
