Justin Thomas has served as the head baseball coach at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore since June of 2026.
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.
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.
