Baseball Adds Thomas to Coaching Staff
8/23/2006 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
CONWAY, S.C. – The Coastal Carolina University baseball program and head coach Gary Gilmore have named Drew Thomas as the Chanticleers’ newest assistant coach. Thomas will take over the pitching coach duties for CCU.
Thomas comes to Coastal from the IMG Academies in Bradenton, Fla., where he had worked since 2003. He was the roving pitching instructor for the Florida Collegiate Instructional League and also was the pitching coach for the Pendleton Academy. Thomas helped develop Chris Perez, a first round draft pick by the St. Louis Cardinals in 2006, and also worked with former Chanticleer Steven Carter.
Thomas was a private pitching instructor in Springfield, Ill., from 2001-02. He also was the head coach of the Mason County Legion in Springfield.
He pitched in the San Diego Padres organization in 1998-99, and played for the Canton Crocodiles of the Frontier League in 1999-2000. While with the Crocs, Thomas was the 2000 Frontier League Relief Pitcher of the Year, a League All-Star, and a Second Team Baseball America All-Independent Team member.
Thomas graduated from Illinois State University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in history.
"I’m very excited abou Drew joining our staff," Gilmore said. "He will be a tremendous addition to our program. The best references I received about Drew were from my son (Chance), Steven Carter and Kent Altman at the IMG Academy. I physically watched him work with the pitchers and he does a fantastic job."
Coastal ended the 2006 campaign with a 30-27 record and a third-place finish in the Big South regular season.
TRANSACTIONS
Coastal Carolina - Named Drew Thomas assistant baseball coach.
