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| Dr. John Thomas coaches, teaches, models and inspires... "A good coach will make his players see what they can be rather than what they are." -unknown |
John Thomas realized at an early age that he had a calling and a gift, coaching and leadership came naturally to him and others responded to his leadership. "Because of that realization, anything I do in the world of soccer is never a chore, or a job, its fun, its my destiny." Dr. JT as he is fondly called by his peers, is driven by the fact that many people don't take advantage of opportunities. "I realize that doors are often opened to us by grace, by it is our responsibility to walk through that door and take advantage of the opportunity afforded us."
John Thomas has certainly taken advantage of many opportunities throughout his life and has also created opportunities in order to meet his goals and his personal mission to lead and impact others. John grew up in a small town in New Jersey, divided by tracks that symbolically and physically separated blacks and whites from one another. It was a poor town that could not afford many athletic programs at its high school but it did offer soccer. Soccer became the sport that all of the athletes played in his town and John fell in love with it. He counts his high school soccer coach, Vince M. with being an amazing role model both as a coach and as a person. "He was one of the first men I met who stood up for the black students at our school. He allowed seven or eight black athletes on the soccer field at a time when that simply wasn't happening. It was the early 1970's and we often found ourselves with police escorts to and from games as well as at games to protect us from the hatred and racism directed as us and our coach," John reflected. "But despite the tension, controversy and drama surrounding our team, Coach M led us to a 78-1 record during my high school soccer career and I earned the distinction of being a HS All American player."
John went on to college at the University of Maryland where he earned a BA in Sociology and continued to play soccer. "I knew that I wanted to help people and my studies in sociology make it easier for me to deal with the whole person, not just the athlete." After college John joined the Army, determined to earn a living despite a bad economy. John would spend the next 23 years in the military, 11 in the Army and 12 in the Navy, earning the rank of Staff Sergeant in the Army and the rank of Lieutenant Commander in the Navy by the time he retired in 2003. While in the armed forces John coached the United States, All Navy, All Army AND All Marine soccer teams, winning gold and silver medals in the Armed Forces tournaments. As the Head Coach of the US Armed Forces National Soccer Team, John led the team to international competition in Italy where the team won First Sportsmanship honors awarded by the International Military Sports Council. He has the distinguished honor of being the only coach to train US Navy, Army, Marine AND United States Armed Forces soccer teams.
While continuing in his role as a coach, soldier, husband and father, John never stopped striving to improve himself academically and earned both a Masters and a PhD in Business Administration. John has held positions as Assistant Director of Coaching for US Youth Soccer, Adjunct Professor for National University in San Diego, CA, Head Soccer Coach for San Diego Mesa College, and Coach for two Olympic Development Teams. He currently is running Thomas Soccer, his own company designed to engage young people and train coaches/leaders in under resourced areas. He knows that soccer provides opportunities across the life spectrum and wants to open that door for young people growing up today.
One of John's other role models, his Black Studies teacher in HS, Mr. Crawford, taught him to hold his head up and work with pride. "He encourage us to put our heads up, and challenged us not to look down or slump over when we walked. That was powerful and important to my classmates, teammates and I. I want to have that kind of impact, teaching kids about leadership, collaboration and success." Dr. JT thinks that is what makes him a 'Smart Guy'. "I believe that if you fail, get back up and try it again. It's never too late. Ask for help. Pride can get in the way, don't let it keep you from taking opportunities to move forward and be better." Dr JT wants all emerging 'Smart Guys' to "always do the best you can, not the best they think you can do, but the best YOU know you can do."
Coach 'Smart Guy',
John Thomas
John is currently working hard with the Black Soccer Association whose mission is to promote soccer in the African American community. You can learn more about their work at:
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