Will Thomas Joins Cal Track & Field Staff as Assistant Coach

July 19, 2010


BERKELEY - Will Thomas, who spent the past four years on staff at Harvard and Dartmouth, has been named an assistant track & field coach at California, returning to the school where he began his coaching career.

Thomas served as a volunteer assistant with the Golden Bears during the 2005-06 season, one year after graduating from Connecticut as a three-time All-American in the decathlon. In his second stint with the Bears, he will coach all of the pole vaulters, as well as assist with the throws and multi-events. In addition, Thomas will be involved all aspects of recruiting and other staff responsibilities.

"Will brings a myriad of talents to the coaching position, and I think the overall program is going to benefit from having him on staff," Sandoval said. "His two previous coaching positions were in the Ivy League, so he certainly understands the academic mission in combination with athletics. I think he'll fit in here well."

During his one season at Dartmouth in 2009-10, Thomas coached athletes in the pole vault, jumps and multi-events, and served as the recruiting coordinator for the program. He coached eight All-Ivy League selections and a pair of champions at the Ivy League Heptagonal Championships.

From 2006-09, Thomas was an assistant at Harvard, coaching the vertical jumps and multi-event athletes and overseeing recruiting efforts. During his time with the Crimson, he mentored 14 All-Ivy performers, eight Heptagonal champions, three NCAA qualifiers, two NCAA All-Americans and six school-record holders.

Thomas was a three-time All-American decathlete and two-time team captain at Connecticut as a collegian, finishing as the NCAA runner-up in 2003 in addition to fourth in 2004 and eighth in 2002. In 2003, he was ranked 23rd in the world and seventh in the United States in the decathlon.

A four-time Big East champion in the decathlon, Thomas was named Most Outstanding Field Events Performer at the 2003 Big East outdoor meet, and he was selected the conference's top field events competitor at the 2004 indoor championships. Thomas captured four additional Big East titles during his career, including the high jump as a senior in 2005.





A 2005 graduate of UConn, Thomas earned his bachelor's degree n kinesiology. He replaces Scott Slover on the Cal staff.