Track and Field
- Title:
- Associate Head Coach - Men's & Women's Jumps, Combined Events
- Email:
- coach.thomas@ttu.edu
- Phone:
- (806) 834-4568
Associate Head Coach - Men's & Women's Jumps | Combined Events
At Texas Tech...
1 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
5 Big 12 Team Championships
6 NCAA Champions
71 All-Americans
193 Points at NCAA Championships
53 School Record Performances
25 Individual Big 12 Champions
USTFCCCA Mountain Region Men's Assistant of the Year (2014 Indoor, 2014 Outdoor, 2015 Outdoor)
USTFCCCA Mountain Region Women's Assistant of the Year (2015 Outdoor, 2016 Indoor, 2018 Indoor, 2018 Outdoor, 2019 Indoor, 2020 Indoor)
Now 10 years (2012-Present) into his career at Texas Tech, James Thomas has redefined success as the head of the men’s and women’s jumps and combined events groups. A veteran coach of 19 years, Thomas has been the catalyst to some of the most significant student-athlete development and achievements Texas Tech and the NCAA have ever seen. From the moment Thomas stepped foot in Lubbock, the Red Raider jumps & combined events group unleashed a full assault on the Texas Tech record books, NCAA performance lists, and world rankings. Thomas’ athletes have amassed 163 all-time top-10 performances, 71 NCAA All-American honors, 25 Big 12 Champions, and nearly every jumps and combined events school record.
Thomas’ culminating moment was in 2019 when he helped lead the Texas Tech men’s program to their first ever NCAA Outdoor Team Championship in Austin, Texas. This was a year that was built on a 4th straight Big 12 Championship, 11 NCAA All-Americans, and 4 Big-12 Champions. While the men were hoisting the team title, Zarriea Willis staked her claim in NCAA history by completing an indoor/outdoor sweep of the women’s high jump.
The success goes well beyond 2019. In total, Thomas has been instrumental in five Big 12 Team Championships, eight NCAA Top-10 team finishes, and four NCAA Top-5 team finishes. The overall production of Thomas’ athletes has been noted in the yearly accumulation of awards and recognitions. In total, Thomas has been named Mountain Region Assistant Coach of the year nine times by USTFCCCA while coaching 10 Mountain Region Athletes of the Year.
Thomas’ keen eye for identifying talent, and his proven success in elite athletic development has been the key to his group’s consistent success. Many of his athletes have earned the opportunity to travel the world while representing Texas Tech, their country, and professional brands at multiple International Championships and meets. Thomas’ influence has also extended beyond the athlete as a current Masters Endorsement Instructor with USTFCCCA, and a prominent clinician throughout various parts of the world.
James is married to Ebony Thomas, and they have two sons, Jordan and Jameson Thomas.
Notable Achievements
- First ever NCAA 1-2 High Jump Finish in both indoor & outdoor NCAA Championships- (JaCorian Duffield & Bradley Adkins, 2015)
- Ruth Usoro- NCAA #2 All-Time Indoor Triple Jump Performer- (14.28/46’10 ¾)
- Trey Culver-NCAA #4 All-Time Indoor High Jump Performer- (2.33/7’7 ¾- 1/13/18)
- JaCorian Duffield- NCAA #9 All-Time Outdoor High Jump Performer- (2.34/7’8’- 6/26/15)
- Trey Culver- Big 12 Indoor Championships Record Holder in the Men’s High Jump (2.31/7’7”)
- Ruth Usoro- NCAA #1 All-Time in Single Day LJ/TJ combined distances 21'-4.25" (6.51m)/46'-10.25" (14.28m)/Total: 68'-2.5" (20.79m)
- First Ever 1-2-3 Big 12 Championship Sweep in the 2016 Indoor Big-12 Women’s Pentathlon (S. Stewart, N.Thompson, K. Hinton)
- First Ever 1-2-3 Big 12 Championship Sweep in the 2014 Outdoor Big-12 Men’s High Jump (J. Duffield & B. Adkins, D. Fisher)
- Chinne Okoronkwo- First ever NCAA 1st Team All-American in the Pole Vault & Triple Jump
- 2019 Team USA Assistant Coach- The Match: Europe vs. USA. Minsk, Belarus
- USTFCCCA Master’s Endorsement High Jump Instructor
TOP PERFORMANCES BY EVENT
Men's High Jump (7ft+ Club)
1. JaCorian Duffield, Texas Tech | 7'-8" (2.34m) | 2015
2. Trey Culver, Texas Tech | 7'-7.75" (2.33m) | 2018
3. Bradley Adkins, Texas Tech | 7'-6" (2.29m) | 2015
4. Grant Lindsey, Kentucky | 7'-5" (2.26m) | 2008
5. Jah-Nhai Perinchief, Texas Tech | 7'-4.5" (2.25m) | 2019
6. Charles Brown, Texas Tech | 7'-2.5" (2.20m) | 2017
7. Jack Scarborough, Texas Tech | 7'-1" (2.16m) | 2019
8. Jake Benninghoff, Texas Tech | 7'-1" (2.16m) | 2018
9. Dayton Fisher, Texas Tech | 7'-0.25" (2.14m) | 2015
Men's Long Jump (25ft+ Club)
1. Charles Brown, Texas Tech | 27'-2.75" (8.30m) | 2017
2. Odaine Lewis, Texas Tech | 26'-6.5" (8.09m) | 2019
3. Justin Hall, Texas Tech | 26'-5.5" (8.05m) | 2019
4. Jerome Wilson, Jamaica | 26'-1" (7.95m) | 2016
5. Keniel Grant, Texas Tech | 25'-9.25" (7.86m) | 2015
6. Shuuja Benson, Texas Tech | 25'-8.75" (7.83m) | 2014
7. Cleavon Dillon, TCU | 25'-7" (7.80m) | 2006
8. Derrick Locke, Kentucky | 25'-5.25" (7.75m) | 2008
Men's Triple Jump (50ft+ Club)
1. Jah-Nhai Perinchief, Texas Tech | 54'-11.5" (16.75m) | 2019
2. Odaine Lewis, Texas Tech | 54'-10" (16.73m) | 2018
3. Charles Brown, Texas Tech | 53'-7.75" (16.35m) | 2016
4. Jequan Hogan, Texas Tech | 53'-2.75" (16.35m) | 2019
5. Jonathon Jackson, TCU | 53'-0" (16.16m) | 2006
6. Keenan Hall, Kentucky | 52'-0.5" (15.86m) | 2011
7. Jerome Wilson, Texas Tech | 51'-8" (15.75m) | 2014
8. David Banks, Kentucky | 51'-5.5" (15.68m) | 2010
9. Justin Hall, Texas Tech | 51'-3.75" (15.64m) | 2018
10. Steve Crouse, Kentucky | 50'-4.5" (15.35m) | 2012
11. Terrence Boyd, Kentucky | 50'-0.5" (15.25m) | 2012
Women's High Jump Top Performers
1. Zarriea Willis, Texas Tech | 6'-2.25" (1.89m) | 2018
2. Terri-Ann Grant, Kentucky | 5'-11.75" (1.82m) | 2012
3. Cyre Virgo, Texas Tech | 5'-11.25" (1.81m) | 2018
4. Alisha Fowler, Sam Houston State | 5'-10.75" (1.80m) | 2005
5. Victoria Dunlap, Kentucky | 5'-10.75" (1.80m) | 2008
6. Kaylee Hinton, Texas Tech | 5'-10.5" (1.79m) | 2017
7. Natalie Thompson, Texas Tech | 5'-10.5" (1.79m) | 2015
8. Sidney Sapp, Texas Tech | 5'-10" (1.78m) | 2021
9. Michaela Palu, Texas Tech | 5'-9.75" (1.77m) | 2014
10. Joanne Imbert, Kentucky | 5'-9.75" (1.77m) | 2012
Women's Long Jump (20ft+ Club)
1. Monae' Nichols, Texas Tech | 22'-1.75" (6.75m) | 2021
2. Shanice Stewart, Texas Tech | 21'-7" (6.58m) | 2015
3. Ruth Usoro, Texas Tech | 21'-6.75" (6.57m) | 2020
4. Viershanie Latham, Texas Tech | 21'-6" (6.55m) | 2017
5. Ivy Walker, Texas Tech | 21'-1.5" (6.44m) | 2019
6. Zuliat Alli, Texas Tech | 21'-0" (6.40m) | 2017
7. Gionna Jackson, Texas Tech | 20'-9.5" (6.34m) | 2016
8. LeTristan Pledger, Texas Tech | 20'-9.25" (6.33m) | 2015
9. G'Auna Edwards, Texas Tech | 20'-9" (6.32m) | 2018
10. Kaylee Hinton, Texas Tech | 20'-7" (6.27m) | 2017
11. Chelsey Cole, Texas Tech | 20'-5.25" (6.25m) | 2019
12. Danielle Sampley, Kentucky | 20'-5" (6.22m) | 2008
13. Precious Nwokey, Kentucky | 20'-3.5" (6.18m) | 2011
14. Maya Evans, Texas Tech | 20'-2.5" (6.16m) | 2019
15. Keilah Tyson, Kentucky | 20'-1.75" (6.14m) | 2013
16. Amani Nesmith, Texas Tech | 20'-1.25" (6.13m) | 2016
Women's Triple Jump (42ft+ Club)
1. Ruth Usoro, Texas Tech | 46'-10.25" (14.28m) | 2021
2. Viershanie Latham, Texas Tech | 44'-10.25" (13.68m) | 2017
3. Paetyn Revell, Texas Tech | 44'-7.5" (13.60m) | 2018
4. Chinne Okoronkwo, Texas Tech | 44'-4.75" (13.53m) | 2019
5. Chelsey Cole, Texas Tech | 44'-1.25" (13.44m) | 2019
6. Brianna Johnson, Texas Tech | 43'-4.5" (13.22m) | 2019
7. Roshunda Betts, Sam Houston State | 42'-11.25" (13.09m) | 2005
8. Gionna Jackson, Texas Tech | 42'-9" (13.03m) | 2014
Ruth Usoro- Big 12 Women’s Indoor Triple Jump (2020)
Ruth Usoro- Big 12 Women’s Long Jump (2020)
Zarriea Willis- Big 12 Outdoor High Jump (2019)
Axel Hubert- Big 12 Men’s Outdoor Decathlon (2019)
Axel Hubert- Big 12 Men’s Indoor Heptathlon (2019)
Zarriea Willis- Big 12 Women’s Indoor High Jump (2019)
Trey Culver- Big 12 Men’s Indoor High Jump (2018)
Odaine Lewis- Big 12 Men’s Outdoor Long Jump (2018)
Zarriea Willis- Big 12 Women’s Outdoor High Jump (2018)
Paetyn Revell- Big 12 Women’s Outdoor Triple Jump (2018)
Kaylee Hinton- Big 12 Women’s Indoor Pentathlon (2018)
Kaylee Hinton- Big 12 Women’s Indoor Pentathlon (2017)
Zarriea Willis- Big 12 Women’s Indoor Pentathlon (2017)
Charles Brown- Big 12 Men’s Indoor Long Jump (2017
Kaylee Hinton- Big 12 Women’s Outdoor Heptathlon (2017)
Trey Culver- Big 12 Men’s Outdoor High Jump (2017)
Shanice Stewart- Big 12 Women’s Indoor Pentathlon (2016)
Viershanie Latham- Big 12 Women’s Indoor Triple Jump (2016)
Trey Culver- Big 12 Men’s Outdoor High Jump (2016)
Charles Brown- Big 12 Men’s Outdoor Long Jump (2016)
Natalie Thompson- Big 12 Women’s Outdoor Heptathlon (2016)
JaCorian Duffield- Big 12 Men’s Indoor High Jump (2015)
JaCorian Duffield- Big 12 Men’s Outdoor High Jump (2015)
Natalie Thompson- Big 12 Women’s Outdoor Heptathlon (2015)
Bradley Adkins- Big 12 Men’s Outdoor High Jump (2014)
FIRST TEAM ALL-AMERICANS AT TEXAS TECH
Odaine Lewis- TTU (o TJ) 2019 -6th
Zarriea Willis- TTU (o HJ) 2019- 1st
Justin Hall- TTU (o LJ) 2019- 4th
Charles Brown- TTU (i LJ) 2019- 5th
Odaine Lewis- TTU (i LJ) 2019- 2nd
Odaine Lewis- TTU (i TJ) 2019- 5th
Chinne Okoronkwo – TTU (i TJ) 2019- 8th
Zarriea Willis- TTU (i HJ) 2019- 1st
Charles Brown- TTU (i LJ) 2018- 3rd
Trey Culver- TTU (i HJ) 2018- 2nd
Odaine Lewis- TTU (o TJ) 2018- 2nd
Odaine Lewis- TTU (o LJ) 2018- 3rd
Charles Brown- TTU (o LJ) 2018- 5th
Trey Culver- TTU (o HJ) 2018- 4th
Zarriea Willis- TTU (i HJ) 2018- 4th
Zarriea Willis- TTU (o HJ) 2018- 6th
Trey Culver- TTU (i HJ) 2017- 1st
Trey Culver- TTU (o HJ) 2017- 2nd
Viershanie Latham- TTU (i TJ) 2017- 6th
Viershanie Latham- TTU (o TJ) 2017- 4th
Zarriea Willis- TTU (i HJ) 2017- 8th
Kaylee Hinton- TTU (HEP) 2017- 8th
Bradley Adkins- TTU (o HJ) 2016- 6th
Trey Culver- TTU (o HJ) 2016- 5th
Trey Culver- TTU (HJ) 2016- 1st
Bradley Adkins- TTU (i HJ) 2015- 2nd
Bradley Adkins- TTU (o HJ) 2015- 2nd
Shanice Stewart- TTU (i LJ) 2015- 5th
JaCorian Duffield- TTU (i HJ) 2015- 1st
JaCorian Duffield- TTU (o HJ) 2015- 1st
Bradley Adkins- TTU (i HJ) 2014- 5th
JaCorian Duffield- TTU (i HJ) 2014- 5th
JaCorian Duffield- TTU (o HJ) 2013- 7th
USTFCCCA REGIONAL ATHLETES OF THE YEAR
Justin Hall- 2020 Men’s Indoor Mountain Region Field AOY
Ruth Usoro- 2020 Women’s Indoor Mountain Region Field AOY
Odaine Lewis- 2019 Men’s Outdoor Mountain Region Field AOY
Odaine Lewis- 2019 Men’s Indoor Mountain Region Field AOY
Trey Culver- 2018 Men’s Indoor Mountain Region Field AOY
Zarriea Willis- 2018 Women’s Indoor Mountain Region Field AOY
Charles Brown- 2017 Men’s Indoor Mountain Region Field AOY
Bradley Adkins- 2016 Men’s Indoor Mountain Region Field AOY
Charles Brown- 2016 Men’s Outdoor Mountain Region Field AOY
JaCorian Duffield- 2015 Men’s Indoor Mountain Region Field AOY
NATIONAL TEAM MEMBERS
Trey Culver- Pan American Games- Lima, Peru (USA- HJ) 2019
Justin Hall- NACAC U23 Championships- Queretaro, Mexico (USA-LJ) 2019
Trey Culver- NACAC Senior Championships- Toronto, Canada (USA-HJ) 2018
Justin Hall- Pan American U20 Championships- Trujillo, Peru (USA- LJ) 2017
Kaylee Hinton- NACAC Multi Championships- Ottawa, Canada (USA- HEP) 2017
Bradley Adkins- XXXI Olympic Games- Rio, Brazil (USA-HJ) 2016
Trey Culver- Outdoor NACAC U-23 - San Salvador, El Salvador (USA-HJ) 2016
Charles Brown- IAAF Outdoor World Juniors- Bydgoszcz, Poland (USA-TJ) 2016
Kaylee Hinton- IAAF Outdoor World Juniors- Bydgoszcz, Poland (USA-HEP) 2016
JaCorian Duffield- IAAF Outdoor World Champs- Beijing, China (USA-HJ) 2015
JaCorian Duffield- NACAC U-23 Outdoor Championships- (USA-HJ) 2014
JaCorian Duffield- NACAC U-23 (USA-HJ) 2015
Danielle Sampley- IAAF World Juniors- Bydgoszcz, Poland (USA-HEP) 2007
ACCOMPLISHMENTS PRIOR TO TEXAS TECH
Kentucky File By the Numbers (2007-2012)
- 3 SEC Champions
- 14 All-SEC Performances (Top-3 finishers)
- 12 All-Americans
- 30 NCAA National Qualifiers
- 18 School Record Performances
- 74 All-time top-10 performance list additions
- 1 SEC Athlete of the year award winner
- 5 SEC Athlete of the Week Awards
TCU File By the Numbers (2005-2006)
- 1 Conference Champion
- 6 All-Conference Performances (Top-3 finishers)
- 2 School record performances
- 11 All-Top top-10 performance list additions
Sam Houston State File By the Numbers
- 1 NCAA Qualifier
- 1 Southland Conference Champion
- 7 All-Southland Conference Performances (Top-3 finishers)
- 3 School record performances
- 17 All-Time top-5 performances list additions
EDUCATION
Texas A&M University- Commerce
Masters of Science in Health & Human Performance (Athletic Administration)
Sam Houston State University
Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology
Mayde Creek High School- Katy, TX
Coaching Education
USTFCCCA Jumping Event Specialist
USATF Level I Certification
USATF Level II Certification- Jumps
USATF Level II Certification- Sprints
