University of Maryland Eastern Shore names Justin Thomas as the new head baseball coach

 
PRINCESS ANNE, Maryland — The University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) has announced the hiring of Justin Thomas as its new head baseball coach.

 
"I am pleased to welcome Justin Thomas to the University of Maryland Eastern Shore," said Vice President of Athletics Tara A. Owens. "Justin brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to our baseball program. Following an extensive national search, he emerged as the ideal candidate to lead our program into the future as we continue to elevate UMES Baseball. We are confident that Coach Thomas will build a championship-caliber program while providing an outstanding experience for our student-athletes both on and off the field."

 
Thomas spent the previous three seasons as pitching coach at Jackson State University, where he played a key role in the Tigers' success.

 
In his first season, Jackson State advanced to the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Championship Game and finished second in the conference in earned run average (5.56), strikeouts (426), and opponent batting average. The Tigers also produced Second-Team All-SWAC selection Christian Womble.

 
During his second season, the Tigers again ranked among the conference leaders, finishing second in the SWAC in ERA (5.45) and strikeouts (435), while leading the conference in opponent batting average (.262). The pitching staff also produced First-Team All-SWAC selection Eric Elliott, who was named the 2025 SWAC Pitcher of the Year.

 
This past season, Thomas helped guide a pitching staff that led the SWAC in strikeouts (459) and opponent batting average (.270). Three Jackson State pitchers ranked among the conference's top 10 in strikeouts, including SWAC leader Jayden Lopez, who recorded 93 strikeouts.

 
Thomas joined Jackson State after spending five seasons as head coach at Bethany College in West Virginia, where he led the Bison to 84 victories. Bethany tied a school record with 27 wins in 2019 and finished as conference runner-up. In 2021, Thomas earned the 100th victory of his head coaching career.

 
In addition to his collegiate coaching experience, Thomas served as pitching coach for the 2022 MLB Draft League Champion West Virginia Black Bears. He also served as pitching coach for the Bluefield Ridge Runners of the Appalachian League during the summers of 2024, 2025, and 2026, including the team's championship season in 2025. In the summer of 2021, Thomas served as player development coach for the Elizabethton River Riders of the Appalachian League.

 
Prior to Bethany College, Thomas spent four seasons as head coach at Voorhees College in South Carolina. His 2017 team posted a 20-win season, the program's best record in 15 years at the time.

 
From 2012 to 2014, Thomas served as pitching coach at Penn State Greater Allegheny, helping guide the program to two conference championships and a national runner-up finish in the United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA).

 
Thomas has also spent more than 10 summers coaching in collegiate summer leagues, including the Cal Ripken Collegiate Baseball League, New York Collegiate Baseball League (NYCBL), Prospect League, Ohio Valley Collegiate Baseball League, Myrtle Beach Collegiate League, and Carolina-Virginia Collegiate League.

 
As a student-athlete, Thomas pitched at Slippery Rock University from 2008 to 2010, earning a bachelor's degree in social work. He later earned dual master's degrees in sport management and sport coaching from the United States Sports Academy. Thomas also holds a USA Weightlifting Level 1 Certification, Rapsodo Hitting and Pitching Certifications, and Driveline Biomechanics and Pitching Analytics 101 Certifications.

 
"First and foremost, I appreciate the confidence that Vice President Tara A. Owens and the hiring committee have shown in selecting me to lead UMES Baseball," said Thomas. "I look forward to working with our student-athletes and building a roster capable of competing for championships in the Northeast Conference while representing UMES with pride on the field, in the classroom, and throughout the community."
 

Thomas takes over a UMES baseball program that competes in the Northeast Conference (NEC), where the Hawks have been an associate member since 2023. He will also lead a program that recently completed significant renovations to its stadium and locker room facilities.
 

ABOUT HAWK ATHLETICS


The University of Maryland Eastern Shore sponsors an NCAA Division I intercollegiate athletics program. The University currently fields teams in 15 sports: women's and men's volleyball, women's bowling, women's and men's golf, women's and men's cross country, women's and men's basketball, women's and men's indoor track & field, women's and men's outdoor track & field, softball, and baseball.

 
The UMES women's volleyball, bowling, basketball, softball, track & field, and cross country programs compete in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC). UMES golf, baseball, and men's volleyball compete as members of the Northeast Conference (NEC). In June, UMES also announced the addition of women's flag football which will compete in the MEAC beginning in the 2026-2027 academic year.