Phillip Thomas Jr. began as an assistant coach with Academy of Art women's basketball in August 2022.
In Thomas Jr.'s debut season, the Urban Knights were able to sweep multiple Pacific West Conference opponents, set new records, and produce a
D2CCA All-West Region Second Team and
All-PacWest First Team honoree in Alisha Wilson. Highlighting the year was a
Feb.4 victory over
Biola that saw ART U allow the fewest points in a single quarter in program history (4) as well as seven
PacWest weekly awards for Wilson to also set a new record. Along the way, Wilson broke the program's career double-doubles record after she amassed 17 during the season and finished as the NCAA Division II leader in offensive rebounds per game (5.7) while also tying for the nation's highest rebounds per game average (14.8) and ranking eighth in double-doubles. In the classroom, the Knights excelled as well with six named to the
Academic All-PacWest Team.
Thomas Jr. was most recently the women’s basketball head coach for Team Kidd 17U NorCal in 2022 following his 2021 stint with the West Coast Elite Boys 16U National Team. While serving as an Algebra II teacher at Valley Christian High School in San Jose, Thomas Jr. could be found on the school’s sidelines as the girls’ basketball junior varsity head coach and assistant coach on the varsity side from 2017-2020. His time with the Warriors’ varsity squad featured four winning seasons with playoff appearances, three top-three finishes in the West Catholic League, and a 55-40 combined record while a memorable campaign for the junior varsity group came in 2019-20 when the team went 21-5.
In addition to his coaching roles at the high school level, Thomas Jr. spent the 2017 through 2020 seasons with various club teams for Top Flight Elite. He oversaw the Boys 11U squad as well as the Girls 14U and 15U contingents.
Across three seasons with Oak Grove High School prior to 2018, Thomas Jr. served as the junior varsity head coach and varsity assistant coach this time on the boys’ basketball side. The Eagles’ varsity team achieved winning percentages of .600 or better in 2014-15 (15-10) and 2015-16 (17-11), reaching the postseason on both occasions.
An educational counselor, recreational coordinator, and associate teacher in his professional career, Thomas Jr. earned his bachelor’s degree in Sociology from Whittier College and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Higher Education/Student Affairs at Grand Canyon University. He also became a certified life coach in 2020.
