University of Minnesota Athletics
MONSON NAMES THIRD MEMBER TO BASKETBALL COACHING STAFF
8/9/1999 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
"I am very excited about the addition of Derek to my staff," said Head Coach Dan Monson. "I have known him for a number of years and he is an excellent coach. He comes from a major conference, is an excellent recruiter, a first class person and a great fit for our staff. I'm very impressed with some of things he was able to get done at St. Louis and I'm looking forward to him bringing that same success to Minnesota. This hire fills out the coaching staff except for the basketball operations position, which I will fill after we return from our Europe trip."
Thomas is a graduate of the University of Missouri-St. Louis, where he was a standout player for the Rivermen. He captained his team to the NCAA Division II "Sweet Sixteen" in 1988. Following his playing days, he began his coaching career as a student coach for his alma mater in 1989. In 1989-91 he joined Charlie Spoonhour's staff at Southwest Missouri where he spent two years as a graduate assistant. He spent the 1991-92 season as an assistant coach at St. Louis University before becoming the head coach at Christian Brothers College High School in St. Louis where he remained for three seasons. In 1994 he led CBC to the Metro Catholic Conference title, the district championship and was named coach of the year. In 1995-96 he rejoined Spoonhour as a member of the St. Louis University staff.
"I'm very thrilled to be joining Dan Monson's staff at Minnesota," said Thomas. "I've known him and his staff for quite a while and I'm looking forward to working with them. It will be a privilege to coach in the premier conference in the country at an outstanding institution like the University of Minnesota. I feel that my time at St. Louis University has helped prepare me for this challenge and I can't say enough things about how good St. Louis University has been to my family and I in our five years there."
The native of Kansas City, Mo., attended Hickman Mills High School in Kansas City where he was an all-metro and all-state selection. He still holds the Hickman Mills High School single-game scoring record of 42 points. Following graduation he attended Johnson County Community College and was an All-Jayhawk East selection in 1986. He has a bachelor's degree in physical education from the University of Missouri-St. Louis and a masters degree in educational administration from Southwest Missouri State.
Thomas is the son of Emmit Thomas, the former defensive back for the Kansas City Chiefs, and current defensive coordinator for the Green Bay Packers.
Derek and his wife Julie, have two children, Bailey, two, and Samantha, two months.
