James “JT” Thomas, former linebacker of the West Virginia Mountaineers, shall be inducted into the Minor League Soccer Information Corridor of Fame on Thursday, December 6, 2007 on the Oasis Resort Lodge & On line casino in Mesquite, Nevada.
Thomas’ nomination was reviewed by the MLFN’s Board of Administrators, and he obtained notification of his acceptance on July 30.
“It’s really an honor to be receiving this award,” stated Thomas. “I owe an enormous thanks to everybody for supporting me by the years.”
Thomas has used sturdy management abilities, tireless work ethic, and fervour for the sport to turn out to be a driving pressure within the improvement and promotion of minor league and semi-professional soccer throughout the Midwest.
The story of JT Thomas’ soccer profession will be damaged into three distinct chapters: participant, coach, and govt. Thomas’ collegiate profession began at Fort Scott Neighborhood Faculty (Kansas) in 1992. Following his sophomore season, Thomas transferred to West Virginia College (WVU).
In two seasons at Fort Scott – each as group captain – Thomas earned two All-Kansas Jayhawk Convention honors at outdoors linebacker and Defensive Participant of the Sport in 1992’s Valley of the Solar Bowl. At inside linebacker for WVU, Thomas obtained two Mountaineer Membership Awards for on-field excellence, earned two All-Massive East group honors, and gained Defensive Participant of the Sport within the 1994 CarQuest Bowl. He additionally led each groups in tackles every season.
A profitable faculty profession led Thomas to the semi-pro soccer circuit in 1996 with the Charleston Rockets, the place he was in a position to play with former WVU nice Main Harris. Returning to outdoors linebacker, Thomas led the group in tackles and have become a league All-Star because the Rockets completed their 11-game common season 10-1. Thomas tried to hold his success from semi-pro ball to the Area Soccer League in 1997 with the Albany Firebirds, however sustained a profession ending leg harm on the third day of coaching camp.
As an alternative of a helmet and pads, the following step of Thomas’ soccer profession featured a headset and clipboard. After a stint as Defensive Coordinator for a championship group of 13-16 12 months olds, Thomas returned to semi-pro soccer in 2000 as Head Coach of the West Virginia WHAM! Situated in Morgantown, WV, Thomas compiled a .695 profitable proportion (41 wins, 18 losses), gained three Coach of the Yr awards, and coached three league All-Star video games in six seasons as WHAM! head coach.
In 2001, Thomas additionally led the WHAM! to the Mid-Ohio Soccer League (MOFL) Championship.
In the course of the 2003 season, Thomas took over full possession of the WHAM! When he stepped off the WHAM! sideline in 2005, he determined to shift his focus full-time in direction of growing the success of semi-professional soccer and the WHAM! franchise. Within the two years since he has stopped teaching, Thomas has held govt positions throughout the Ohio Valley Soccer League and the MOFL. In January of 2007, Thomas was promoted to MOFL Commissioner.
At the moment, Thomas oversees the day-to-day operations of the MOFL – an increasing, 10-team semi-pro league throughout Ohio, Michigan, and Kentucky. His love for semi-professional soccer is matched solely by his want to see the MOFL – and each minor league soccer group – produce a soccer product that’s aggressive, organized, developed, and entertaining for the gamers within the sport and the followers within the stands.
Thomas additionally serves as a Semi-Skilled Sports activities Guide with League Degree, LLC, an organization that gives advertising and promotional methods for organizations with an emphasis in newbie and semi-professional athletics.
He at the moment (ข่าวสด) resides in Morgantown, WV, together with his spouse Rochelle and two kids, Jared, three, and AJ, 10 months. Thomas additionally has son, JT Thomas III, from a earlier relationship.