Interview w/ Coach Ivan Thomas (Assistant Coach at Providence)

Beyond the Box Score Podcast

Coach Ivan Thomas shares his journey from growing up in Norfolk, Virginia to becoming a highly successful high school basketball coach, and coaching at Providence College under Coach Ed Cooley.

Thomas graduated from Norview High School and then went on to earn his Bachelor's Degree from VCU. He moved to Illinois and served as an Assistant Coach at Schaumburg High School where he aided their state championship. Coach Thomas returned Virginia to pursue a Master's Degree from VCU. He moved to Northern Virginia and earned a second Master's Degree from George Mason University while also serving as the Head Coach at Edison High School. After having great success at Edison, he accepted the Head Coach position at TC Williams (now Alexandria City), the Titans went 75-9 during his three seasons at TC including a three-peat as District Champions - including a state championship in 2008.

Along his coaching journey he developed a friendship with Boo Williams and helped coach with Boo Williams AAU program, when he returned to Virginia Beach to became the Head Coach at Kecoughtan High School from 2008 until 2015 while also coaching the Boo Williams 17U boy's basketball program.

In 2015 Ed Cooley hired him as the Associate Director of Player Development/Video Operations at Providence, the following season he was promoted to an Assistant Coach. He's been instrumental in their success and is highly respected within coaching circles. Last season the Friars went 27-6, including 14-3 in Big East play, won the regular season title and advanced to the Sweet Sixteen before losing by single digits to the eventual National Champion Kansas Jayhawks.

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