Michigan State women’s basketball head coach Suzy Merchant announced the hiring of David Thomas, a member of the 2000 Spartan men’s basketball national championship team, as the program’s new Director of Basketball Operations and Technology.
Thomas replaces Julie Dombroski, who started at Oakland University as a women’s basketball assistant coach on July 1. Thomas will officially begin his new position on July 14.
"We are so thrilled to have David Thomas as part of our women’s basketball staff," said Merchant. "His business background, community involvement, as well as being a Spartan alum, will translate extremely well into the operations position. His success as a Spartan and a professional athlete is unparalleled and will make an immediate impact on our program. He’s a tremendous role model for our student-athletes and we are blessed to welcome him back `home’ to the great Spartan family."
"I am very excited to be joining Suzy Merchant and her amazing team," said Thomas. "This is a great opportunity to serve the Green and White in a capacity other than playing. I had some great years wearing the jersey for MSU, and now look forward to my new role and the pursuit of a championship."
Thomas has been a staple of the Greater Lansing community since finishing his professional basketball career in 2009. He spent the last two years working for Michigan State University Federal Credit Union, most recently as the Business Services Assistant Manager. Prior to that, Thomas was the owner and operator of Ever Green Car Wash & Detail in Lansing for four years. During that time, he also spent time as the host of the Spartan Fastbreak show on WLNS TV from 2010-12.
Since 2002, Thomas founded, coordinated and managed the daily operations of the David Thomas Basketball Clinic over the summer. The camp, which reached over 300 athletes each year, is for both boys and girls ages 2-12.
Also, Thomas is a board member of many local organizations, including the East Lansing Basketball Club, the Lauren Aitch Cancer Research Foundation, the Learn Live Lead Entrepreneurial Academy and the MSU Varsity S Club.
Thomas spent nine seasons playing professionally in Australia, for the Melbourne Tigers (2001-08) and the Cairns Taipans (2008-09). While with Melbourne, the team won the 2005-06 and 2007-08 national championships. In addition, Thomas was a member of the Canadian National teams from 2000-08, including representing his home country at the 2002 World Championships.
A versatile 6-7 guard/forward for head coach Tom Izzo, Thomas played four seasons for MSU (1996-98, 99-01), including the 2000 national championship, four Big Ten championships and three Final Fours. In his Spartan career, Thomas averaged 3.2 points, 3.6 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 114 career games, including 46 starts.
Thomas graduated from Michigan State in 2001 with a degree in advertising. He lives in East Lansing with his wife Toni, also a MSU grad, and their two children Kingston, 5, and Kennedy, 3.
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