Media Business | Coach Carl Thomas - How the Media Deals with New College Programs

For Media Business Episode 54: Tony Conley welcomes Coach Carl Thomas, a Lansing, Michigan native, with ties all over the state, Thomas is excited to come home. “Not only was the opportunity to be a head coach extremely attractive to me, but to be able to come back home, be closer to my family, all while pursuing this goal and building this program. I could not pass this up once I was given the chance to take it.” Last August Cleary University Senior Vice President of Campus Operations and Athletic Director Heather Bateman announced that Carl Thomas will be the first head coach of the recently announced Cougar men’s basketball program. “We are extremely excited to welcome Coach Carl Thomas into the Cleary University family as our first head men’s basketball coach. Carl brings a plethora of coaching experience, including at the (NCAA) Division 1 level. Thomas’ enthusiasm, experience, and recruiting ties make him a perfect fit for our University and Athletic department.” Thomas has spent the past six seasons on NCAA Division 1 Duquesne University’s coaching staff with Coach Keith Dambrot as the assistant to the head coach. Prior to his time at Duquesne, Thomas was the head coach for NJCAA Jackson College (4 seasons), and was an assistant at NJCAA Owens Community College (2 seasons). Thomas has also spent time as an assistant at his alma mater, NCAA Division 1 Eastern Michigan University from 2005-2011 (6 seasons), and at NCAA Division 1 Maryland Eastern Shore (1 season). “I’d like to thank Dr. (Alan) Drimmer and Heather (Bateman) for this opportunity,” said Thomas. “To be trusted as the first head coach in the program’s history is a tremendous honor. I look forward to building this program, competing at the highest level in the WHAC, in the nation, and ensuring we do everything in our power to represent the Howell and Livingston County communities.” As a player, Thomas was a prep standout at Lansing Everett High School, After high school, Thomas, and his twin brother Charles, both attended Eastern Mich