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My name is Will Thomas, and I’m proud to serve as the Athletic Director at Community House Middle School. Originally from Newport News, Virginia, I grew up playing both baseball and football—two sports that shaped my love for athletics/leadership and led me to pursue a lifelong career in sports.

After graduating high school in 2012, I earned a scholarship to play Division II baseball at Saint Augustine’s University in Raleigh, North Carolina, where I graduated in 2016 with a Bachelor’s degree in Sport Management. In 2018, I was honored to be 1 of 22 students selected to join the prestigious DeVos Sport Business Management Program at the University of Central Florida, headed by the legendary Dr. Richard Lapchick. I also developed a passion for community service during my time at UCF, as we participated in hurricane relief work down in New Orleans and Panama City Beach once a year for 7 days at a time. There, I earned both my MBA and a Master’s in Sport Business Management, with a concentration in diversity and inclusion. Go Knights! GKCO!

Throughout my career, I’ve had the privilege of working well over one hundred sporting events across the NFL, NBA, MLB, MLS, NCAA, NASCAR, and even with Disney Sports. These experiences were instrumental in preparing me for this role and fueling my passion for creating exceptional athletic programs. For anyone who is a die-hard sports fan, I highly recommend exploring sport management graduate programs for the hands-on experience and industry insight they provide.

Following graduation in 2019, while attending a Minor League Baseball Summit in San Diego, I accepted an offer from the Midland RockHounds, the Double-A affiliate of the Oakland Athletics. Like many, my professional path shifted due to the impact of COVID-19 in 2020, which brought my wife Savannah and I to Charlotte—her hometown. We were married in September 2022 and recently welcomed our daughter Riley.

In the summer of 2024, I was fortunate to join the CHMS family as the new Athletic Director. Becoming an AD has been a longtime goal of mine, inspired by mentors I shadowed during both undergrad and graduate school. Facilitating student athletics is my greatest passion. I’ve been part of some incredible athletic departments—and some that needed improvement—so I strive every day to ensure that every student-athlete who comes through our doors has an unforgettable, meaningful, and enriching experience.

I’m excited to continue working with our strong Booster Club and the amazing CHMS community to elevate our athletic program to new heights.

If you ever have any questions, please feel free to email me (william1.thomas@cms.k12.nc.us)

-Coach Thomas