Former Western Kentucky University and UNLV assistant Brian Thomas has been named the new head coach of the women’s half of the swimming & diving program at St. Bonaventure University in New York, the school announced on Thursday.
“I am extremely excited by this opportunity and I owe a debt of gratitude to Barb Questa, Tim Kenney and the rest of the St. Bonaventure family for trusting me to take the reigns of the women’s swimming program,” Thomas stated. “When I stepped on campus for my interview, I felt immediately comfortable with our student-athletes, administrators and staff. I’m also looking forward to learning from (men’s swimming head coach) Sean McNamee and working together with (diving coach) Bill Williams to help develop the premier swimming destination in the Atlantic 10.”
Thomas spent last year as an assistant and recruiting coordinator for UNLV. The Rebels sent one swimmer to each of the men’s and women’s NCAA Championships last year. On the men’s side, senior Dillon Virva placed 9th in the 50 free in 19.07, which was enough for a 35th-place finish for the team. The women’s team didn’t score at NCAAs, but did qualify junior Lina Rathsack for the meet.
Prior to his one year with UNLV, Thomas was the associate head coach for Western Kentucky in its final two seasons before the program was suspended for 5 years over hazing allegations. While at Western Kentucky, Thomas’ primary role was to coach the breaststroke group, which included breakout Fabian Schwingenschlogl who placed 8th in 2014 and 6th in 2015 at the NCAA Championships.
Thomas collegiate resume also has stops at Rutgers and the University of Connecticut, which is his alma mater.
Thomas is engaged to former St. Bonaventure swimmer Danielle Grobmyer, who graduated from the school in 2006.
He replaces Krista Carlson who left St. Bonaventure earlier this spring to “pursue other professional opportunities outside of the area,” according to the school.
Thomas comes from two programs that have developed into perennial NCAA qualifiers (before WKU’s suspension) and takes over a St. Bonaventure program has scored at the NCAA Championships once, a 38th-place finish in 1993. The St. Bonaventure women finished 10th out of 11 teams on the women’s side. The men’s program, coached by Sean McNamee, was 2nd on their side of the conference.
Congratulations BThom!
Congratulations – Welcome to St Bonaventure.