University of South Carolina Aiken Athletics

3/24/20

In 21 seasons as head coach of the USC Aiken baseball program, Kenny Thomas has re-established the Pacers as a force in the Peach Belt Conference and a perennial top-25 team in NCAA Division II.

During the 2010 season, Thomas became the winningest coach in USC Aiken baseball history. Thomas heads into the 2021 campaign with 738 wins in his time as the head Pacer skipper.

Thomas also surpassed the 1,000-win plateau as a college head coach in USC Aiken’s win over Flagler on March 2, 2013. Thomas earned his 500^th victory guiding the Pacers in a three-game road sweep over then 10^th-ranked Lander.

Thomas is presently 1,258-626 in 33 seasons as a head coach. He is currently in the top-40 among active NCAA Division II coaches for wins. His .668 winning percentage as the Pacer skipper places him in the top-30 among active NCAA Division II head coaches.

In 2019, Thomas led USC Aiken to a third-place finish in the PBC and a berth in the PBC Championship game for the second consecutive season. He coached first-team All-American Conner Durden along with three draft picks in Mitch Spence, Zach Rafuse and Garvin Alston Jr.

Thomas guided the Pacers to a second-place finish in the PBC and a berth in the PBC Championship in 2018. Sporting a 35-19 overall record, he had four student-athletes earn all-conference accolades. Jose Bonilla and Daulton Weeks picked up first-team honors while Christian Aragon and Brian Parreira garnered second-team honors. Weeks and Mitch Spence etched their names in the USC Aiken record book for single-season accomplishments.

In 2017, Thomas led the nationally-ranked team to a No. 3 seed in the NCAA Southeast Region Tournament and a 40-15 overall mark. After winning two-of-three against then-No. 1 Nova Southeastern, the Pacers earned the top spot in the NCBWA National Poll. Thomas coached third-team All-American Joseph Benitez and the program's first-ever NCBWA National Hitter of the Week in Brian Parreira. Benitez, Mitchell Price and Luke Westerberg earned all-region honors.

Thomas led the Pacers to the NCAA Southeast Region Championship game and a 40-18 mark in 2016. He coached first-team All-American Zach Moon. His squad established a school and PBC record for home runs in an inning (four). The team accounted for 201 extra-base hits. Several student-athletes were among the league leaders in statistical categories. 

In 2015, Thomas led the team to a berth in the PBC Tournament semifinals as his team battled an abundance of injuries throughout the year. Thomas’ squad tied six school records and Forrest Koumas set the school record for most strikeouts in a game with 18 against Georgia Southwestern. He coached second-team all-conference selection Sean Miller and several of his student-athletes were near the top of the PBC statistical rankings at the end of the year.

During the 2014 campaign, Thomas' team once again was ranked for the majority of the season en route to a 36-17 record and a berth in the NCAA Tournament. His team posted wins over two top-five programs and also broke four school records. He coached first-team all-conference selection Derek Beasley and had several players near the top of the national statistical rankings at the conclusion of the season. 

The 2013 season saw a number of milestones for Thomas and the Pacers as he led the team to a 42-13 overall record. The Pacers won the Peach Belt Conference regular season championship. Thomas was selected the Peach Belt Conference and National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Southeast Region Coach of the Year for the 2013 season. The PBC Coach of the Year honor is the second of Thomas’ career (also 2009).

The Pacers were nationally ranked in every poll during the year, reaching as high as No. 1 nationally. The Pacers were ranked in the Top-30 in 32 straight national polls dating back to 2012. USC Aiken also was chosen as the second seed in the Southeast Region of the 2013 NCAA Division II Baseball Championship.

Thomas has led the Pacers to nine NCAA Tournament appearances (2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2013, 2014, 2016 and 2017) in the last 16 seasons.

The 2012 season saw USC Aiken finish at 37-18 while finishing the year ranked 16th nationally after being ranked as high as third during the season.  The 2012 season marked the 11th time in the past 12 years that the Pacers have won at least 30 games.

The Pacers encountered some tough luck in being left out of the Southeast Regional after being dropped by Lander one game from the PBC Tournament Championship.  The Pacers went 27-6 at home on the year and saw many players receive individual accolades as they enjoyed another successful year.

The 2011 USC Aiken baseball team was ranked as high as 16^th nationally. USC Aiken concluded its year with a record of 29-21. The 2010 Pacer baseball team was ranked as high as sixth nationally at one point during the regular season.

The Pacers finished the year with a record of 32-19.

USC Aiken's 2009 baseball team ended the season tied for 10th in the final Collegiate Baseball NCAA Division II Top 30 poll. The final ranking of 10th was the highest for the Pacers under Thomas, who was chosen as PBC Conference Coach of the Year for his mentoring of the 2009 Pacers. USC Aiken ended the 2008 season ranked 11th, while they concluded the 2005 season 12th. The Pacers reached as high as No. 2 nationally in 2009 en route to their second ever Peach Belt Conference regular season championship. The Pacers' prowess during the regular season helped USC Aiken earn top honors in the Southeast Region, enabling the program to host its second ever NCAA Division II Tournament regional.

The Pacers advanced to the regional final for the second consecutive season before bowing out to NCAA Division II Baseball Championship semifinalist and Conference Carolinas Tournament champion Belmont Abbey in the first game of the championship round.

USC Aiken (42-19) concluded its season having been a part of its fifth consecutive NCAA Division II Baseball regional.

In 2008, Thomas and his staff guided the Pacers to a school-record 47 wins and a second-place finish in the NCAA South Atlantic Regional. USCA went 47-17 overall and 18-9 in the Peach Belt Conference, finishing just one win behind PBC champion Columbus State.

It was April 23, 2006 when USC Aiken knocked off sixth-ranked Francis Marion 5-2 in Aiken to notch Thomas' 200th victory at the helm of the Pacers. The Pacers went 45-19 that season, at the time the most wins in Thomas' USCA tenure.

In 2005, Thomas' Pacers went 40-19 including a 16-14 mark in PBC play to advance to the program's first NCAA South Atlantic Regional in a dozen years.

On February 12, 2002, USC Aiken knocked off Limestone College 14-8 to hand Thomas his 100th victory at USC Aiken while his 50th win came on April 4, 2001 in a dramatic 8-6 victory over Newberry in 10 innings.

In 2004, the Pacers opened the 1,000-seat Roberto Hernandez Stadium of which Thomas and Athletic Director Randy Warrick were instrumental in securing a one million dollar donation from the 16-year Major League Baseball veteran.

USC Aiken hosted the 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2014 Peach Belt Conference Baseball Tournaments.

In addition to being chosen as the PBC Coach of the Year in 2009, Thomas was named Coach of the Year in 1989, 1993-96, and 1998 by his fellow coaches and was selected in 1995 and 1999 as the National Junior College Athletic Association Eastern District Coach of the Year.

Thomas' success has not gone unnoticed by the community. Over the past 15 seasons, the Pacers have finished in the top 15 in Division II in home attendance numerous times. As part of Thomas' annual Pack-the-Park day promotion a school record 1,806 fans attended Roberto Hernandez Stadium on April 15, 2012 to watch USC Aiken take on the UNC Pembroke Braves.

Thomas has also instilled in his team the confidence needed to win the big games as the Pacers have won 111 games played against ranked opponents in the past 14 seasons, including 62 games in the last seven seasons. The Pacers posted 17 wins over ranked opponents in 2009.

As a player, Thomas earned NAIA All-American honors his senior year as a catcher while at Trevecca Nazarene University in Nashville, Tenn. 

Following his graduation in 1978, Thomas began coaching a Stan Musial summer league team.  In nine summers, he led his team to a national championship (1985), a runner-up finish (1986) and a third place finish (1984).

Thomas also became a local scout for the New York Yankees (1980-81), Cincinnati Reds (1981-82), and St. Louis Cardinals (1982-88). 

After becoming head coach at Volunteer State, Thomas remained with the Cardinals organization in a part time capacity until 1995.

Thomas has coached 68 players who have gone on to be drafted in professional baseball drafts (two more signed as free agents after the draft), 106 All-Conference players, six conference Players of the Year, 18 All-Americans, one Southeast Region Player of the Year and one National Player of the Year. In the summer of 2012, the San Diego Padres drafted former USC Aiken standout Stephen Carmon in the 10th Round of the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft. Also, the 2008 Daktronics Player of the Year and 2008 Peach Belt Conference Player of the Year Chad Jacobsen was drafted in the 18th round of the 2008 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft by the Colorado Rockies. In 2016, Nick Jobst was drafted in the 15th round by the Baltimore Orioles while Chaz Pal was selected in the 38th round by the Houston Astros.

Thomas is also involved in the local community. His work with the Aiken AMBUCS club has garnered him honors by that organization that serves to award college scholarships to physically handicapped high school students.