Bob Thomason Explained

Bob Thomason
Birth Date:26 March 1949
Birth Place:San Jose, California, U.S.[1]
Player Years1:1968–1971
Player Team1:Pacific
Player Positions:Shooting guard
Coach Years1:1971–1973
Coach Team1:Stagg HS (asst.)
Coach Years2:1973–1976
Coach Team2:Escalon HS
Coach Years3:1976–1981
Coach Team3:Turlock HS
Coach Years4:1981–1985
Coach Team4:Columbia CC
Coach Years5:1985–1988
Coach Team5:Cal State Stanislaus
Coach Years6:1988–2013
Coach Team6:Pacific
Overall Record:75–49 (junior college)
489–348 (college)
Championships:4 Big West tournament (1997, 2004, 2006, 2013)
6 Big West regular season (1997, 1998, 2004–2006, 2010)
Awards:Big West Coach of the Year (1993, 1997, 2004–2006)
Hugh Durham Award (2005)

Robert Lesley "Bob" Thomason, Jr. (born March 26, 1949) is a retired American college basketball coach. He coached the University of the Pacific Tigers men's basketball team for 25 seasons from 1988 to 2013.[2] [3]

In 25 years at Pacific, Thomason has the most wins in school and Big West history with 437. He was named Big West Conference Coach of the Year five times (1992–93, 1996–97, 2003–04, 2004–05 and 2005–06).

Early life and college playing career

Born in San Jose, California, Thomason graduated from Clayton Valley High School in Concord in 1967, where he played for coach Bruce Iverson. Thomson then attended the University of the Pacific in Stockton.[1] At Pacific, Thomason played shooting guard for the Pacific Tigers from 1968 to 1971. He graduated with a degree in physical education and was an All-West Coast Conference selection as a senior after leading Pacific to the 1971 NCAA tournament and averaging 17.2 points.[1]

Coaching career

Thomason became an assistant coach at Stagg High School in Stockton in 1971. He then became head varsity basketball coach at Escalon High School in 1973 and Turlock High School in 1976. He led Turlock to the school's first conference title in 25 years.[1]

In 1981, Thomason became head coach at Columbia College, a junior college in Sonora, California. In four seasons at Columbia, Thomason had a 75–49 record and led Columbia to its first-ever Central Valley Conference title in 1985.[4]

Thomason moved up to the NCAA Division III ranks as head coach at Cal State Stanislaus in 1985. In three seasons at Cal State Stanislaus, Thomason had a 52–27 record and led the school to a berth in the 1987 NCAA Tournament.[5]

Thomason returned to Pacific to be head coach in 1988 and would stay for 25 seasons. With a 437–321 record, he led Pacific to five NCAA Tournament appearances and six Big West Conference regular season championships.

Head coaching record

*Includes a win by forfeit over California in 1994–95.

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Timeline: Bob Thomason. March 6, 2013. Recordnet.com. June 3, 2015.
  2. http://pacifictigers.com/sports/m-baskbl/2011-12/releases/20120521a30h3h Thomason Announces Retirement Following 2012-13 Season - Pacific
  3. https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/7956989 Pacific Tigers coach Bob Thomason to retire after 2012-13 season - ESPN
  4. Web site: Bob Thomason. CollegeInsider.com. June 3, 2015. 2006.
  5. Web site: Bob Thomason.