On April 10, Matt Thomas was officially announced as the new head coach of RIT’s men’s hockey team.
The announcement occurred a day after longtime coach Wayne Wilson officially retired from the position, which he had occupied since 1999.
Thomas holds close ties to RIT and its hockey program, with experience as a player and coach for the team. His playing career in college lasted from 1994 to 1998, during the team’s time in Division III hockey.
Thomas was named as the team’s captain in his final year, quickly parlaying his leadership as a player into coaching.
After that year, Thomas continued to ascend in the coaching ranks, earning positions at the college and professional levels. His recent stint as an assistant coach of the Providence Bruins in the American Hockey League (AHL) provided him with an opportunity to guide professional players only a step away from the National Hockey League (NHL).
Now, Thomas takes on a new challenge, becoming the second head coach in the team’s history at the Division I level. With a quarter century passing since his playing career with the Tigers, he aims to not only fill the role of head coach, but also navigate the modern landscape of the college game.
Thomas Introduced to RIT Community
On April 17, Thomas was introduced to the university community in a press conference at the Gene Polisseni Center. The event was open to the RIT community, with media, staff, alumni and players attending and others watching online.
During opening remarks, Sandy Johnson, RIT’s senior vice president for student affairs, outlined Thomas’s experience and vision for the team’s future.
“Matt brings with him more than two decades of coaching at the highest level,” she stated. “He’s committed to building leaders on and off the ice, developing student athletes who represent the best of what this university stands for.”
Jacqueline Nicholson, executive director of intercollegiate athletics, reflected upon the search for a new voice of the team, affirming the new leader’s vision.
“We were looking for someone who would embrace the RIT mission and understand what makes this program, this institution and this community so special,” said Nicholson. “We found that and more in Matt Thomas.”
Thomas reflected upon his experiences throughout his hockey career, both on the ice and behind the bench. He expressed excitement to begin his tenure and considered the role of head coach at RIT as a dream now realized.
“I’ve thought about this moment from the day I got into coaching at Ritter Arena,” Thomas said. “I thought it would be the coolest thing in the world to be able to come and coach this team as a head coach and lead this program. I’m incredibly honored, grateful and super excited to get going.”
When asked about the program and the team’s style of play, Thomas alluded to the high expectations placed on hockey at RIT, as well as a modern philosophy for the game.
“It’s a place where we’re expected to win, and we’re certainly gonna have those expectations moving forward,” said Thomas. “The game has to be played with pace, so we’re going to play with that type of pace in our team game and structure, not just the way we skate.”
As the college hockey offseason continues, Thomas will progress from his current position with the Bruins and fully assume his new role. When the Tigers take the ice this upcoming fall, they will do so with a new leader for the first time in the 21st century.
