LEXINGTON, Ky. ? James Thomas, one of the nation?s top jumps coaches, was hired as an assistant with the University of Kentucky track and field program, head coach Don Weber announced Wednesday.
?We are extremely excited to have such a young and talented coach on our staff,? head coach Don Weber said about Thomas. ?James is going to be a key ingredient in our recruiting efforts and the development of our jumps athletes. We expect to have continued improvement next season as a result of our great coaching staff and returning student-athletes.?
Thomas comes to the Bluegrass from Ft. Worth, Texas, where he served two seasons as an assistant coach at Texas Christian University. During his time at TCU, Thomas assisted a Horned Frogs squad that was ranked in the Trackwire.com top 25 on both the men?s and the women?s sides. He specifically worked with TCU?s long and triple jumpers and coordinated the recruiting efforts for the Horned Frogs. Under Thomas? guidance, standout Jonathan Jackson posted a personal-best leap of 53-0 in the triple jump, which marked the farthest jump in the conference and the eighth-best mark in the nation last season. Jackson was a national qualifier and also named to the All-Mountain West team.
Prior to joining TCU, Thomas spent one season as an assistant coach at Sam Houston State, where he oversaw jumps and the javelin throw. He tutored NCAA regional qualifiers in both the high jump and the javelin, including Signe Bech, an NCAA national qualifier in the javelin with a women?s school-record mark of 160-9.
Thomas lettered in both track & field and basketball at Northwest Nazarene University in Nampa, Idaho, where he was an All-American in the javelin and triple jump. Thomas transferred to Sam Houston State in his senior year, earning All-Southland Conference recognition in his final campaign. He also earned NCAA all-region honors and qualified for the NCAA Championships. Thomas set school records in the javelin (227-7) and indoor pentathlon (3,515).
Thomas is a USATF Level II certified coach in jumps and worked as a graduate assistant instructor in the health and kinesiology department at Sam Houston State, while working on his master?s degree in health and kinesiology.
Next season, Thomas is expected to inherit three returning Wildcat jumpers. Sophomore Mary Durham was UK?s most notable performer last season, breaking the indoor school record (11-11.75) in the pole vault and the outdoor frosh mark.
The 2006-07 Kentucky staff is now complete after the hiring of assistant coach Pat Tyson (XC/distance) earlier this month.
