Paul Thomas

Biographical information

RolesCoach
SexMale
Full namePaul Ernest•Thomas
Used namePaul•Thomas
Nick/petnamesDoc
Born14 April 1926 in Saint John, New Brunswick (CAN)
Died2 November 2017
NOC Canada

Biography

Paul Thomas was a legendary coach in Canadian basketball, leading the national team at the 1952 Helsinki Olympics. He started as a player with Niagara Collegiate, and then became an All-Canadian selection at the University of Western Ontario (now Western University), earning a tryout with the New York Knicks. He also played baseball and was in the Chicago Cubs farm system.

Thomas earned a PhD in physical education at the University of Southern California (USC) and coached at the University of California, Northridge and the University of Saskatchewan before being hired by the University of Windsor in 1970 to coach and teach in the kinesiology department. Thomas led the Windsor Lancers for 21 seasons, but after his retirement he ran a physiotherapy clinic and he and his wife had a bed and breakfast, and he coached and worked at the athletic department for Academie Ste. Cecile. He also taught internationally at coaching clinics world-wide.

Thomas was inducted into multiple halls of fame, including the Canadian Basketball Hall of Fame, the Windsor and Western Universities Halls of Fame, the OUAA Referees Association, and the Windsor-Essex Hall of Fame. His daughter, Misty Thomas, played basketball for Canada at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics and was also inducted into the Canadian Basketball Hall of Fame.

Coaching results

Games Sport (Discipline) / Event NOC / Team Pos Medal As
1952 Summer Olympics Basketball (Basketball) CAN Paul Thomas
Basketball, Men (Olympic) Canada =13

Olympic family relations