Justin Thomas has been named pitching coach for the Jackson State baseball program.
Joining the staff of Tigers' Head Coach
Omar Johnson, Thomas comes to JSU after spending the previous five seasons as Head Baseball Coach at Bethany College (NCAA Division III) in West Virginia, leading the Bison to 84 wins during his tenure. Bethany tied a school-record with 27 wins in 2019, finishing as the runners-up in the conference.
Thomas brings a wealth of coaching experience to the Tigers' program. In addition to his stint at Bethany, he served as pitching coach for the 2022 MLB Draft League Champion West Virginia Blackbears, as well as a player development coach with the Elizabethton RiverRiders in the Appalachian League.
Before coming to Bethany College, Thomas spent four years as head coach at Voorhees College (NAIA) in Denmark, S.C.. His 2017 team posted a 20-win season, the program's best mark in 15 years.
From 2012-2014, Thomas served as Penn-State University – Greater Allegheny pitching coach, helping the program to a pair of conference championships and a national runner-up finish in the United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA).
A former assistant coach in the high school ranks at Ambridge (Pa.) High, Thomas has also served as a pitching coach for the DC Gray's in the Cal Ripken Collegiate League, and has spent summers coaching in leagues such as NYCBL, Prospect League, Ohio Valley Collegiate League, Myrtle Beach Collegiate League and Carolina- Virginia Collegiate League.
Thomas pitched collegiately at Slippery Rock University, where he earned his Bachelor's degree in social work, before graduating from the United States Sports Academy with a dual Masters degrees in Sport Management and Sport Coaching. Thomas also has USA Weightlifting Level 1 Certification and Rapsodo Hitting and Pitching Certifications.
