Paul Thomas brings years of coaching, leadership experience to Morgan Academy baseball

Morgan Academy’s new head baseball coach Paul Thomas played college baseball, was a head baseball coach for 10 years at the middle and high school level and served as both a principal and assistant principal in the Dallas County School District.

Morgan Academy Headmaster Dr. Bryan Oliver recently announced the hiring of Thomas as head varsity and junior varsity baseball coach and as physical education teacher.

Oliver said, “I am excited about Coach Thomas joining our Morgan Academy family. I have high expectations for our programs moving forward. I have no doubt that Paul is the right person for the job. Please join me in welcoming Coach Thomas to our team. Go Senators!”

Thomas has strong connections to Morgan Academy. His wife Catherine Thomas is an elementary teacher at Morgan having retired from the Dallas County School System with 25 years’ experience; his daughter Anna Henri Thomas is in the seventh grade at Morgan; his oldest daughter Lauren is a Morgan Academy graduate and a recent graduate of Troy University with a degree in early education; and his son Andrew Thomas is a recent Morgan Academy graduate, attends Shelton State Community College and will be redshirt freshman pitcher for Shelton State next year.

Thomas said, “I feel blessed and excited to be coming to Morgan.” He said, “Morgan Academy has a long-standing history of having strong academics and strong athletics, and that's a testament to the type of students and staff Morgan has had over the years.

“The administration and staff have high expectations for the students at Morgan, and I'm eager to do what I can to help Morgan be the best it can be.”

Thomas said, “I am very grateful to Dr. Oliver for this opportunity and look forward to working alongside him and Coach Raines as we work to move our athletic programs forward.”

Thomas played high school ball for coach Elton Reece at first base and as a pitcher at Selma High. And he was a scholarship player at both Wallace College of Selma and University of Mobile at first base and in the outfield.

He began working in the Dallas County School System in 1996 and began coaching baseball in 1997. He continued to coach for 10 years with six of those years as head coach at both the middle school and high levels.

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His last two years as a head varsity coach was at Dallas County High School where those teams were able to make the playoffs both years and were area champions the last. For five of his 10 years in coaching, he also served as a football assistant.

Thomas said he spent the last 19 years in the Dallas County School System as an assistant principal and principal in the district and spent a total of 27 years in the Dallas County Schools.

Thomas said, “I kind of always felt like I walked away from coaching too early. And I told myself that if God ever gave me an opportunity at the right time to get back in the game again that I was going to do it.” He said, “I feel like that time is now. This game has always been a big part of my life and I have a passion for trying to help grow young men through the teaching and coaching of it. So, when God allows you to have a second chance at something, that's both your passion and purpose, you feel fortunate for that opportunity.”

Thomas said one of his plans for the baseball program is to begin building a solid foundation which starts with the peewee program. He said, “I plan on having my hands in that program to help those coaches put a little more purpose and structure to helping develop those kids. I think it’s important that the kids at that level begin doing things the right way.”

He said the junior varsity and varsity players will see that everything they do on the field has a purpose. “Getting the players to understand that bringing the right effort, attitude, and ownership with them every day is important to the team's success. I ultimately want to bring a more cohesive culture amongst all three programs and for care and support to be shown towards one another as they all work towards common goals.” 

Thomas said his immediate plans are to get the ball rolling on the program's annual golf tournament so that it can get some money raised to take care of what some of the immediate needs might be. He said he also wants to try to take advantage of any playing or practice dates this summer so kids can continue to work at getting better. 

Thomas said of Morgan baseball, “From what I know, I believe this past year's team only lost three or four starters so there should be a good nucleus of kids coming back.”

Morgan Academy varsity baseball players lost to graduation from last year’s team include T.B. Clements, John Allen Ingram, C.J. Croker, Clay Beers and Jack Moore. The remainder of last year’s team included rising senior Milton Hand, juniors Barron Frazier, Cade Henderson, Harrison Jones, Jake Sams and Chandler Sheehan and sophomores Cayden Tellier, Speedy Parnell and Taylon Siegler.