Release courtesy of Swarthmore College Athletic Communications
SWARTHMORE, Pa. - Marian Ware Director of Athletics, Physical Education, and Recreation Brad Koch has officially announced Tana Thomas as the eighth men's golf coach in program history. Thomas will also help oversee the future addition and development of a women's golf program.
"Tana is an exceptional coach and motivator," said Koch. "She has a proven record of success throughout her career in all aspects of managing a program - from recruiting, instructing, managing student-athletes, and planning/organizing. While at Cabrini, Tana was also deliberate in her approach through development and alumni support to elevate the mission of the College.
I look forward to partnering with her on the inception of Women's Golf and positioning our men's team to greater levels of excellence within the Centennial Conference, the region, and at NCAA Championships."
Thomas has spent 19 seasons as an NCAA Division-III golf coach and 29 years as a golf instructor. She most recently spent six seasons leading the men's and women's programs at Cabrini University. Thomas also coached at Immaculata University from 2005-16, while spending time as the head women's golf coach at Northern Arizona University (1995-1998) and Smith College (1995).
The nine-time conference Coach of the Year experienced plenty of success during her time at Cabrini. Under her guidance, the men's team captured three-consecutive AEC Championships. The Cavs also appeared in the 2022 NCAA Championship Tournament for its fifth NCAA appearance in program history and first since 2017.
Last season, Thomas led the men's team to a dominating championship three-peat. The Cavs defeated the championship runner-up by 34-strokes and had four individuals finish inside the top-five for the tournament.
On the women's side, the Cavs finished seventh in the Centennial Conference Championships last season, while placing one individual inside the top-five scorers to earn All-Centennial honors. Thomas started Cabrini's women's program in 2017.
"I'm incredibly honored to join the Swarthmore family and build on the legacy of Jim Heller," said Thomas. "I am excited about the programs and leadership in this athletic department and I will strive to elevate this already remarkable group of student athletes. My career as a golf coach has afforded me the opportunity to meet many amazing people. I look forward to enriching that circle with the dedicated and enthusiastic athletes, athletic supporters, alumni, administration, and friends of the Swarthmore program."
Before joining the Cavs, Thomas coached at Immaculata University from 2005-2016. Thomas was named CSAC Coach of the Year four times and led the Mighty Macs to the 2013 CSAC title and an appearance at the NCAA Championship.
Prior to her time at Immaculata, Thomas spent four years at Division-I Northern Arizona University, where she began the women's golf program in 1995. Thomas led the Lumberjacks to the Big Sky Conference title in 1996 and 1997 and was named Coach of the Year at the conclusion of both seasons.
Thomas also had stints as head women's coach at Smith College and head boys' coach at Sir Francis Drake High school in San Anselmo, Calif.
Thomas graduated from Arizona State University in 1992 with a bachelor's degree in the humanities. Thomas was a standout junior and collegiate player, representing California in the Junior America's Cup and competed in the USGA Girls National Championship twice.
At Arizona State, Thomas was a member of the 1990 NCAA Championship winning Sun Devils, the program's first NCAA title.
Thomas will continue to uplift the Swarthmore men's golf program, who put together a fourth place finish at the Centennial Conference Championships in the spring. Swarthmore finished with two individuals inside the top-10 as Gyan Bains tied for sixth and Ankur Malik placed 10th overall. Bains also set a new 54-hole program record with a tournament score of 219.
The Garnet return to the course in 2022-23 with several key contributors from last year's squad. The team retains four of its nationally-best six GCAA All-American selections from the spring in Bains, Alex Cheriel, Ben Lee and Jackson Murphy.