NORFOLK, Va. – Old Dominion women’s soccer head coach Angie Hind announced the addition of Samuel Thomas as Assistant Coach on Wednesday afternoon. Thomas comes to Norfolk after spending the last three seasons at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville.
“I am thrilled to welcome Samuel to our program,” said Hind. “Given his experience at the Division I level and his enthusiasm and passion for the game, I am very excited to work with him and welcome his impact on our coaching staff and program. I know that our goalkeepers will be in good hands as he has both the experience and qualifications to really help them develop. As we move forward into the next stage for our program, not only is what we do on the field important but our recruitment of the next level of soccer player is equally essential. Therefore besides developing the strength of our goalkeeper position and contributing to the overall development within our program, Samuel will also have a large role in assisting Michelle with the recruitment of quality student-athletes to impact our team. I welcome Samuel to the ODU women’s soccer program and very much look forward to working with him.”
Thomas helped guide SIUE women's soccer through its most successful NCAA Division I season in 2016. Thomas mentored goalkeeper Juli Rossi to a strong first season as the Cougars' No. 1 goalkeeper. Rossi was tabbed as TopDrawerSoccer.com's National Player of the Week following a spectacular performance in an upset game, where SIUE defeated the second seed Notre Dame in the first round of the NCAA tournament.
Under Thomas in 2015, senior goalkeeper Jen Pelley broke the school shutout record, achieving 29 clean sheets to top the previous career record of 22 held since 1996. Pelley is currently playing professionally in Sweden.
Thomas served as the Interim Head Women’s Soccer Coach at Eastern Oregon University during the 2014-15 season. During his time as the leader of the program, he recorded the fewest losses and second-highest win percentage of any first-year head coach in program history. He led two players to All-Conference and Academic All-Region selections.
He served as the goalkeeper coach for the Women’s Premier Soccer League Fire and Ice Soccer Club from 2013-2014. While there, Thomas coached three players to a first team All-Region selection and one to a first team All-WPSL selection. Three of his former players have signed to play professionally both domestic and abroad.
Thomas also served as a goalkeeper trainer for the McKendree University and Harris-Stowe University men’s and women’s soccer programs during the 2013 season. In 2012, he was the assistant men’s and women’s soccer coach at Oregon Institute of Technology.
"I am delighted to join Old Dominion University and the women’s soccer program,” said Thomas. “It is exciting to be on campus and see the support the University provides to the committed student-athletes, coaches and support staff. The women’s soccer coaching staff is experienced, knowledgeable and have established a culture of success that I am eager to contribute to. I feel very fortunate to have the opportunity to join the ODU women’s soccer family.”
Thomas played his college soccer at Principia College in Elsah, Illinois, where he received his degree in graphic design. He was a first team All-Region goalkeeper in 2009, the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Player of the Year in 2010 and an All-Conference goalkeeper all four years.
Thomas has his Advanced National License as well as his Goalkeeper Level 3 License from the United Soccer Coaches (formerly the NSCAA). He also has an E License from the United States Soccer Federation (USSF).