CRESSON, Pa. -- Mount Aloysius College has chosen its next Head Men's Basketball Coach. Marcus Thomas will take over the reins of the program, ahead of the 2021-22 season, after accepting the position. He will begin his duties on September 13.

"We are extremely excited to welcome Coach Marcus Thomas to the Mountie Family," said Athletic Director Kevin Kime. "Marcus brings with him a wealth of experience both as a head coach and also as a very successful player in the AMCC." 

"I'm fired up to be the next Head Men's Basketball Coach at Mount Aloysius College," said Thomas. "I'm extremely grateful to President McKeegan, Athletic Director Coach Kime, and the rest of the search committee for offering me the opportunity to join the Mountie family. I'm honored to be tasked with continuing the growth and development of this program and its student-athletes. We have great things to accomplish and I can't wait to get started."

Thomas comes to Cresson having served most recently as the Head Men's Basketball Coach at Penn State Fayette, where he was hired in 2019.  The team was unable to play during the 2020-21 season, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but in his first season, Thomas guided the Nittany Lions to double-digit victories. In addition to success on the court, Thomas' teams also recorded academic achievements. Under the leadership of Coach Thomas, the team's GPA was among the top three programs on campus; in 2020-21, the Nittany Lions produced the highest cumulative GPA in program history; and Thomas coached the first back-to-back USCAA Student Athlete of the Year honoree in school history. Coach Thomas was also responsible for program fundraising and participating in multiple community service projects.

Prior to leading the Penn State Fayette program, Thomas was a contributor, as an assistant coach, to an NCAA tournament team at Chatham University. During the 2018-19 season, Chatham won its first Presidents' Athletic Conference Championship in Men's Basketball, earning the automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. Thomas was responsible for recruitment, as well as developing and preparing strategies, including game-plans and scouting reports. While at Chatham, he helped develop two All-PAC players.

Before entering the coaching ranks, Thomas made a name for himself in the AMCC as a player. He was a three-year starter for Pitt-Greensburg, after spending his freshman campaign at Clarion University. After joining the Bobcats, Thomas helped propel them to successful seasons, including 2015-16, when the program won the AMCC Tournament and earned an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. He also earned All-AMCC Third Team recognition that season, in addition to surpassing the 1,000 point mark.

Thomas graduated from Pitt-Greensburg in 2016 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology. He earned his Master's Degree from Robert Morris University in Counseling Psychology.  Thomas is from Uniontown, and attended Uniontown High School.

Thomas replaces Will Cabrera, who resigned this summer to move closer to his family in Eastern Pennsylvania.  "We thank Coach Cabrera for his dedication over the last four years," said Kime. 

Learn more about the Mount Aloysius College athletic programs at mountieathletics.com.