Will Thomas Joins Floreal's Staff to Assist With Vertical Jumps and Multi-Events.
Will Thomas joins the track and field staff, assisting with vertical jumps and multi-events.
LEXINGTON, Ky. - Adding to his staff for the 2012-13 season, University of Kentucky track and field head coach Edrick Floreal has selected Will Thomas as the latest addition to the UK track and field and cross country staff, announced Thursday by Floreal. Thomas, focusing on vertical jumps and multi-events, will join Hakon DeVries, Jason Dunn and Andrew Ninow as members of Floreal's strong coaching staff.
"We're excited to announce Will as the newest addition to our staff," Floreal said. "His experience in top-level competition to go along with coaching some of the top student-athletes in the nation brings a dynamic combination of knowledge and experience to our program. Will's tremendous work ethic, competitive spirit and desire for success will be a great asset to UK and our student-athletes."
Thomas, a 2005 graduate of the University of Connecticut, comes to Kentucky after spending one year as an assistant coach for his alma mater, working mainly with jumpers and throwers while acting as the recruiting coordinator.
Before joining the staff in Storrs, Conn., Thomas spent one year on staff at the University of California at Berkeley. Thomas oversaw the Golden Bears' recruiting and coaching efforts for men's multi-events and pole vault while serving as assistant for the throwing events. Thomas managed to coach three All-Americans during his brief stay at UC Berkeley. He also assisted in coaching 2011 NCAA Decathlon Champion Mike Morrison.
Thomas spent one year as assistant coach at Dartmouth College, coaching athletes in the pole vault, jumps and multi-events while serving as the recruiting coordinator for the program. He coached eight All-Ivy League selections and two champions at the Ivy League Heptagonal Championships.
Before joining Dartmouth's staff, Thomas spent four years on staff at Harvard, coaching vertical jumps and multi-event athletes while also overseeing the program's recruiting efforts. Thomas coached two All-Americans, 14 All-Ivy performers, eight Ivy League Heptagonal champions, three NCAA qualifiers and six school-record holders during his time in Cambridge.
Thomas' coaching career began as a volunteer assistant for UC Berkeley after he had moved to the Bay Area to continue training for his personal career.
"I am both honored and excited to become a part of the University of Kentucky family," Thomas said. "I look forward to assisting coach Floreal and the rest of the staff as we begin our pursuit of championships in both track and field and cross country."
A standout athlete for UConn from 2001-05, Thomas was a three-time All-America selection. He holds the Big East decathlon and pentathlon meet records while winning eight Big East titles, with four coming in the decathlon event. Thomas' accolades piled up, including being named 2003 Big East Championship Outstanding Outdoor Field Performer and 2004 Big East Championship Outstanding Indoor Field Performer.
Thomas represented the United States in 2003 and 2006, competing in the Nike Challenge USA vs. Germany decathlon. He was an Olympic Trials qualifier in 2004, but was unable to compete due to injury.
Thomas earned Senior Scholar Athlete of the Year and Big East Scholar Athlete of the Year awards en route to earning a bachelor's degree in kinesiology.
Courtesy Kentucky
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