James "JT" Thomas, former linebacker of the West
Virginia Mountaineers, will be inducted into the Minor League Football
News Hall of Fame on Thursday, December 6, 2007 at the Oasis Resort
Hotel & Casino in Mesquite, Nevada.
Thomas' nomination was reviewed by the MLFN's Board of Directors, and he received notification of his acceptance on July 30.
"It
is truly an honor to be receiving this award," said Thomas. "I owe a
big thank you to everyone for supporting me through the years."
Thomas
has used strong leadership skills, tireless work ethic, and passion for
the game to become a driving force in the development and promotion of
minor league and semi-professional football across the Midwest.
The
story of JT Thomas’ football career can be broken into three distinct
chapters: player, coach, and executive. Thomas’ collegiate career
started at Fort Scott Community College (Kansas) in 1992. Following his
sophomore season, Thomas transferred to West Virginia University (WVU).
In
two seasons at Fort Scott – both as team captain – Thomas earned two
All-Kansas Jayhawk Conference honors at outside linebacker and
Defensive Player of the Game in 1992’s Valley of the Sun Bowl. At
inside linebacker for WVU, Thomas received two Mountaineer Club Awards
for on-field excellence, earned two All-Big East team honors, and won
Defensive Player of the Game in the 1994 CarQuest Bowl. He also led
both teams in tackles each season.
A successful college career
led Thomas to the semi-pro football circuit in 1996 with the Charleston
Rockets, where he was able to play with former WVU great Major Harris.
Returning to outside linebacker, Thomas led the team in tackles and
became a league All-Star as the Rockets finished their 11-game regular
season 10-1. Thomas attempted to carry his success from semi-pro ball
to the Arena Football League in 1997 with the Albany Firebirds, but
sustained a career ending leg injury on the third day of training camp.
Instead
of a helmet and pads, the next step of Thomas’ football career featured
a headset and clipboard. After a stint as Defensive Coordinator for a
championship team of 13-16 year olds, Thomas returned to semi-pro
football in 2000 as Head Coach of the West Virginia WHAM! Located in
Morgantown, WV, Thomas compiled a .695 winning percentage (41 wins, 18
losses), won three Coach of the Year awards, and coached three league
All-Star games in six seasons as WHAM! head coach.
In 2001, Thomas also led the WHAM! to the Mid-Ohio Football League (MOFL) Championship.
During
the 2003 season, Thomas took over full ownership of the WHAM! When he
stepped off the WHAM! sideline in 2005, he decided to shift his focus
full-time towards developing the success of semi-professional football
and the WHAM! franchise. In the two years since he has stopped
coaching, Thomas has held executive positions within the Ohio Valley
Football League and the MOFL. In January of 2007, Thomas was promoted
to MOFL Commissioner.
Currently, Thomas oversees the day-to-day
operations of the MOFL - an expanding, 10-team semi-pro league across
Ohio, Michigan, and Kentucky. His love for semi-professional football
is matched only by his desire to see the MOFL – and every minor league
football organization – produce a football product that is competitive,
organized, developed, and entertaining for the players in the game and
the fans in the stands.
Thomas also serves as a Semi-Professional
Sports Consultant with League Level, LLC, a company that provides
marketing and promotional strategies for organizations with an emphasis
in amateur and semi-professional athletics.
He currently resides
in Morgantown, WV, with his wife Rochelle and two children, Jared, 3,
and AJ, 10 months. Thomas also has son, JT Thomas III, from a previous
relationship.
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