Induction Class of 2016

Pat Thomas led Earlham’s cross country programs from 1987-2015 while also serving as head track and field coach for 16 seasons.

Thomas led Earlham to back-to-back NCAC Men’s Cross Country Championships in 1995 and 1996. The 1995 squad won the conference outright with 66 points, edging second-place Allegheny by three points. A year later, the Quakers shared the title with Wittenberg as both teams finished with 75 points. Thomas was named NCAC Coach of the Year both seasons. Those two titles were the only NCAC conference championships for Earlham’s athletics department.

In total, Thomas has coached 300 All-Conference performances, 58 individual conference champions, nine All-Region performances (cross country only), two NCAC Newcomers of the Year, 11 Conference Athletes of the Year, eight National Qualifiers, three All-Americans (track & field only), and two NCAC Championship teams.

Six of Thomas’s former student-athletes are members of the Earlham Athletics Hall of Fame. They are as follows: Troy Gottfried ’98 (inducted in 2013), Karim Hammad ’93 (inducted in 2010), Tiffany Harris ’94 (inducted in 2007), Scott Pearson ’92 (inducted in 2005), Shannan Rieder ’01 (inducted in 2012), and Andy White ’96 (inducted in 2007). Thomas’s 1995 NCAC Championship team was also inducted in 2007.

“The opportunity to coach Earlham student-athletes has been the ultimate reward during my time here,” Thomas said. “I have found great satisfaction in being a part of the development of so many bright, genuine, and sincere students who were focused on receiving a great education, but who would also apply themselves to their fullest as athletes.”