Meet the New Basketball Coaches
Monticello, meet the Thomases, William “B.J.” and Tamika.
The husband and wife duo new to the Jasper County School System will be coaching the Hurricanes basketball and track and Lady Hurricanes basketball and track teams, respectively.
As many may recall the Monticello High School athletic department got a makeover last Spring with the replacement of the athletic director, head football, boy’s and girl’s head basketball coaches.
The couple has been married 13 years and are parents to three including Tre, 10, Nigel, 7, and Makayla, 5. They moved to Georgia from Cincinnati, Ohio in 2008.
Mr. Thomas, a native of Cincinnati and University of Cincinnati alumnus, was hired as the alternative school director. He began coaching at age 21. Upon the move to Georgia, the die-hard Bearcat fan took a job at Banneker High School in Atlanta where he coached basketball four years. He then coached two years at North Clayton High School.
When questioned as to why a University of Cincinnati track athlete chose to teach and coach basketball, Mr. Thomas responded that he “always loved working with kids and always loved sports.”
The short list of his sports favorites include the Cincinnati Bearcats, the L.A. Lakers, Kobe Bryant, John Calipari and Bob Hudgins.
Mr. Thomas began work with the varsity program, while in collaborative with the middle school program, over the summer performing drills and conditioning exercises.
His goals for the program in his first year?
“Teaching them to put forth maximum effort,” said the new boy’s head basketball coach of his primary goal for the team.
“If they don’t say anything else about Monticello, win or lose, when the game is over they will say we played hard.”
At the time of this interview, Mr. Thomas had six weeks training with the players and his efforts were going into teaching the fundamentals of what he expects, and shooting the ball.
He reiterates to the players to “be the best you can be, understand your strengths, and understand your flaws.”
“Everyone won’t be a good shooter—so do what you do best and do it so well that others take notice.”
Mr. Thomas is of the mindset that confidence not arrogance is huge for an athlete. He consistently tells his players to, “stay humble and stay hungry because belief is important.”
Switching to his better half, Mrs. Thomas hasn’t had quite as long with the Lady Canes as her husband has had with the boys. She was hired just prior to orientation activities for the new teachers.
Mrs. Thomas was initially hired for a pre-school position but has since transferred to a high school special education position.
The Omaha, Nebraska native grew up in Cincinnati where she also attended the University of Cincinnati as a criminal justice undergraduate.
She has had a vibrant employment background working as a sheriff deputy and case worker with a certificate in child abuse while in Ohio. Upon the move down south, she enrolled in Georgia State University and earned a teaching certificate in special education.
She began teaching in 2010 in Fulton County where she remained until joining the Jasper County school system this fall.
Though her work history may be varied her zest for basketball has always been constant.
Mrs. Thomas began playing basketball in fourth grade. By sixth grade she was extended an invitation to play at the college level and six years later during the first game of her senior year she injured her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in her knee.
The injury didn’t end her athletic career but changed it and her experiences can now aid the Lady Canes on the court.
Like her husband, her favorite male pro player is The Black Mamba and favorite pro team is the Lakers. However collegiately, Mrs. Thomas is a fan of the Tennessee Lady Volunteers. Her favorite pro female player is Candace Parker and her favorite coach Pat Summitt are both Lady Vols icons.
Mrs. Thomas’ mantra in life is “never give up, on the court and off the court—don’t quit.”
Her goal for this upcoming season of Lady Canes basketball is to be better than the previous year.
“I want each player to grow individually,” she said. “I am patient, a team player. I give 100 percent and want to make each player a better person.”
Basketball tryouts for both the boys’ and girls’ squads will be conducted Monday, Oct. 27 at the high school.
The coaching Thomases have also jointly organized a
basketball program fund raiser for Saturday, Nov. 8 at 7 p.m. in the high school gym. The event, Midnight Madness 2014, will feature a scrimmage between varsity and middle school squads, $1 free throw and half court shooting contests, D.J. Top-Notch, and many prize giveaways including a raffle for a 50 inch television. Admission will be $2 per person.
The fund raiser comes just days prior to the varsity Hurricane basketball program opening its 2014 season with scrimmages. The boys will host Clarkston Tuesday, Nov. 11 at 7:30 p.m. and the girls will host Thomson on Wednesday, Nov. 12 at 6 p.m., both in the high school gym.
The 2014 season will tip-off Friday, Nov. 21 at GMC with the JV squads starting at 4 p.m. and the varsity squads at 7 p.m.