Coach Ben Thomas

James DeMarco says: "Ben offers so much to the athletes and coaches that come to High Performance. With so many coaches it's miles and miles, however with Ben it's a lot of running, but also weights and circuit training, plyometrics, speed and form drills plus proper stretching (and rest) that enable his athletes to excel. I believe every coach and athlete will take some training technique with them that will better their team."

Ben's coaching:

Former Hokie Ben Thomas returned to Blacksburg in 2001 as the cross country and distance coach for the men and women. Thomas ran both cross country and middle distance for Tech in the early '90s.

"What Coach Thomas and the women's team has accomplished recently hasn't happened around here since the 1980s," said Director of Track & Field and Cross Country Dave Cianelli. "I know he and Mary Jayne Harrelson can flat out coach."

In 2002, Thomas guided the women's cross country team to its best season in 17 year. The team finished seventh at the NCAA Regional Championships. Stacey Vidt and Jessica Morris earned All-Region honors with Vidt qualifying for the NCAA National Championships. Vidt and Morris were the first all-region honorees for the program in over a decade. This year 2003 Virginia Tech team better 2002 with a fifth place finish at regions and had it's first female All American with Marlies Overbeeke since 1981.

This past spring, Thomas coached a distance crew that broke school records in the 800 meters, 1,000 meters, mile and 3,000-meter steeplechase. The women's team also advanced three athletes to the NCAA Regional Championships competing in the 800 meters, 1,500 meters, 5,000 meters and 3,000-meter steeplechase.

Before coming to Tech, he served as the men's and women's distance coach at the University of Georgia for six months. Prior to this, he was the head track and field and cross country coach at Brevard College in North Carolina for a year and a half. While at Brevard, Thomas was named 1999 NAIA Region XII Coach of the Year after leading the men's cross country team to the NAIA Region XII title. The team went on to place fifth at the NAIA Cross Country National Championships. In 2000, the men's team took fourth at nationals while the women finished 14th. He also coached four All-Americans, including three-time NAIA national champion Alexis Sharangabo.

Prior to his tenure at Brevard, Thomas was the women's cross country coach and assistant track coach at Appalachian State University from 1995-1999. He coached several all-conference performers there, including the 1999 and 2001 NCAA 1,500-meter champion, Mary Jayne Harrelson, who now serves as his assistant coach. The ASU women were Southern Conference champions in 1996 and North Carolina collegiate champions in 1996 and 1998.

"Being at Virginia Tech is a dream come true," Thomas said. "This is where I wanted to coach, so it's a real blessing to be back in Blacksburg."

Coach Thomas also coaches post collegiates Mary Jayne Harrelson, Aaron Saft, and Alexis Sharangabo.

Click here to return to Academy Staff...