In June 2023, Lincoln Memorial University baseball head coach Justin Haywood chose Matt Thomas as the program’s Associate Head Coach and Recruiting Coordinator.
With 14 years of baseball coaching experience at the college level, Thomas is no stranger to the Volunteer State. After suiting up for NCAA Division I Lipscomb University in Nashville during his undergraduate career, Thomas spent eight years as a Division I coach where he aided the Bisons for a trio of seasons and was an assistant at Belmont University for five. Prior to his time with the Bruin program, Thomas coached at Trevecca Nazarene University where he helped the Trojans begin the transition from NAIA to Division II. Altogether, Thomas coached for 11 seasons at three different universities in the greater Nashville area.
Thomas arrived in Harrogate after a three-year stint at NAIA Point University in West Point, Georgia, where he was an assistant coach for skipper John Tyler. Overseeing hitting, base running, and infield play for the Skyhawks, Thomas assisted in all areas of the program. Point’s offense flourished during Thomas’ time in Georgia with the Skyhawks hitting over .300 as a team in each of his three seasons as an assistant coach.
In his first season aiding the Skyhawks, Point won a school-record 37 games, captured the 2018 Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) Tournament title for the program’s first conference championship and made its first appearance in the NAIA National Tournament. The Skyhawks reached the championship game of the national tournament’s Lawrenceville Bracket as the team hit .303 for the season and stole and impressive 124 bases. During the 2019 season, Thomas helped Point reach the 30-win plateau for the third consecutive year (30-23) and two of his infielders earned a spot on the AAC Gold Glove Team – senior first baseman Dayton Cook and senior second baseman Alberto Lozada. Under Thomas’ guidance, the Skyhawks hit .312 and stole 119 bases.
While Point’s 2020 campaign was cut short due to the COVID-19 global pandemic, Thomas was able to assist the Skyhawks to a 13-4 record, a .314 team batting average and 47 stolen bases.
Before heading to Georgia, Thomas played an integral role in Belmont’s offensive success for five seasons. As a legitimate contender in the Ohio Valley Conference, the Bruins were ranked in the top 10 in several offensive categories for back-to-back seasons in 2015 and 2016, including home runs, stolen bases, walks and doubles. In total, the team ranked in the top 10 in nine offensive categories in 2016 and six different categories in 2015.
During his time at Belmont, 11 of Thomas’ former players were selected in the MLB Draft. In the classroom, the Bruins maintained a grade point average over 3.2. Responsible for outfield development and positioning, Thomas was the first base coach and assisted with hitting and defensive alignment. He also maintained the indoor hitting facility, oversaw all rentals and upkeep, and promoted and help run all camps.
For three seasons, Thomas helped lead the Trevecca Nazarene program where he was the interim head coach in 2011. As the hitting coach, all three of Thomas’ teams hit over .300 and numerous Trojans garnered all-conference selections. Coaching third base and running the offense, Thomas recruited four players who went on to receive three All-American laurels and a Great Midwest Athletic Conference (GMAC) Player of the Year award. Two of his former Trevecca Nazarene players ended up signing professional contracts.
In addition to serving as an assistant coach for the Trojans, where he helped arrange travel and organized camps, Thomas was the head groundskeeper for the athletic facilities. Scheduling maintenance of equipment and turf, Thomas interacted with vendors and led facility renovations while maintaining all playing and practice surfaces.
Thomas began his coaching career at ASUN Conference member Lipscomb, where he was a graduate assistant for the Bisons for two seasons and then a volunteer assistant. During the 2007 campaign, Lipscomb made its first-ever ASUN Conference Tournament appearance before Thomas played a part in the program’s historic 2008 season. The Bisons won their first ASUN Conference Tournament title, made their first NCAA Regional and claimed their first NCAA postseason victory. During his three-year coaching stint at Lipscomb, three Bisons inked professional contracts. As the catching coach and head groundskeeper, Thomas assisted with infielders and hitters and helped organize all practices.
After beginning his collegiate playing career as a shortstop at St. Catherine Community College in St. Catherine, Kentucky, Thomas transferred to Lipscomb where he lettered for the Bisons for two seasons. A native of Louisville, Kentucky, Thomas earned his Bachelor of Science in exercise science in 2006 and his Master of Education in instructional leadership in 2008, attaining both degrees from Lipscomb.
