UMBC Retrievers Athletics Staff

UMBC Athletics Staff Bios

Aki Thomas

	Department: Coaches		Title: Head Men's Basketball Coach
	Department: Coaches		Title: Head Men's Basketball Coach

	Phone: 2128		Email: aki@umbc.edu
	Phone: 2128		Email: aki@umbc.edu

Biography

Aki Thomas, acting head men’s basketball coach at UMBC, has been appointed as the head coach of the program, Dr. Charles Brown, director of athletics, announced on March 4. Thomas has served as acting head coach since Oct. 10, 2012, following five previous seasons as a Retrievers’ assistant coach.

“I have been impressed with Coach Thomas’ basketball acumen, as well as his positive approach with our student-athletes,” Dr. Brown said. “He has all the tools to be an outstanding head coach.”

Coach Thomas and his staff have led UMBC to more victories (7) and conference wins (5) than in any season since the 2008-09 campaign, despite the loss of three post players due to injury, including 6’10” starter Brett Roseboro. UMBC’s scoring margin in America East play has improved from -13.6 in 2011-12 to -8.0 currently.

The Retrievers are allowing nearly six less points per game (71.3) than they did in the previous season, despite the loss of the primary interior presence of their defense.

“I want to thank UMBC for allowing me the privilege to continue leading its basketball program,” Thomas said. “President Hrabowski, Dr. Brown, Dr. Nancy Young, vice president for student affairs, and all my colleagues have given me – and more importantly the team – tremendous support this year.”

“I have a tremendous staff in John Zito, Jay Greene, and Brian Johnson, and any coach would be proud to work with them. Our team will continue to improve every day and to represent the UMBC community well.”

Thomas came to UMBC in the summer of 2007 and has been a member of the Retriever coaching staff for five previous seasons. The New York, N.Y. native was also serving as the staff’s recruiting coordinator.

He had previously worked as an assistant coach at Howard University from 2004-07.

Thomas, age 33, played professionally in Venezuela before accepting the position at Howard under then-head coach Frankie Allen. Prior to that, Thomas was a standout for the Bison in 2000-01, when he helped lead the team to an 18-13 mark and the finals of the MEAC Tournament. Thomas averaged almost 12 points and eight rebounds per game en route to being named to the All-MEAC second team.

Before Howard, Thomas played for three seasons at the University of Colorado. His tenure with the Buffaloes was highlighted by a selection to the All-Tournament Team of the 1998 Puerto Rico Shootout. He was a member of a pair of CU teams which earned berths to the NIT, and he was selected to the Commissioner’s Big 12 All-Academic Team.

Thomas was a two-time league rebounding champion in the Venezuelan LPB League (2003-04) and earned the same title during a stint in the Colombian Federation Cup League (2004). He played his prep ball at New York city’s Manhattan Center, where he was selected All-City his junior and senior seasons. He was also named Manhattan PSAL Player of the Year and Honorable Mention All-America during his senior campaign.

Thomas received his degree in sociology from Howard in 2002. He married the former Gayna Lacy in 2009 and the couple welcomed a son, Lexington Luther in September of 2011. The Thomases reside in Laurel, Md.