Kate Thomas

Kate Thomas began her Osbourn Park HS coaching career in 2001 when she took a position as an assistant coach for Girls Lacrosse. Within a few years she was the head coach of Girls Lacrosse, Boys and Girls Swim, and Field Hockey.

Lacrosse - In 15 seasons, the Girls Lacrosse teams accumulated 153 wins and 66 losses. They earned 9 District Championships.

Boys Swim - In 9 seasons, the Boys Swim Team earned 48 wins and 8 losses in dual meets, as well as four District Championships and one Regional Championship.

Girls Swim - Over 9 seasons, the Girls Swim Team dominated in both the District as well as the Region winning 56 dual meets, losing one, and earning 7 District/Conference Titles and 7 Regional Titles. In 2009 the Girls Swim Team took 2nd Place at States.

Field Hockey – In 13 seasons, the Field Hockey teams won 119 games, lost 60, and had 7 ties. They earned 5 District Titles.

College / Career

Kate attended the State University of New York at Cortland and earned her bachelor’s in physical education. While there, she was a member of the Women’s Swim Team and competed all four years in the SUNYAC Championships. After graduation, she moved to Rome, New York, taking on the Varsity Field Hockey program at Rome Free Academy and assistant coach of Boys Swimming while teaching at Strough Junior High School.

A move to Rhode Island had Kate looking for a job. A new Field Hockey program was being added at East Greenwich High School and Kate eagerly took on that challenge, while subbing for the school district. She also took on the Girls Track and Field program. A year later, an opening as an assistant men’s and women’s swim coach opened at the University of Rhode Island and she took this on as well.

Four years later, with a move to Virginia and the birth of her daughter, Shannon, Kate chose to put her coaching aside and focus on a teaching position. Her career with PWCS began as an Adapted PE teacher at New Dominion School, right next door to OPHS.

While at New Dominion, Kate started the Thunderbolt Track Club. The Thunderbolts met and trained at Saunders Middle School two times a week and was open to any special-needs students in the county. Many future OPHS students were members of this club.

When Shannon began to play youth soccer and participate in summer league swimming, it was natural for Kate to volunteer to coach. She coached house-league soccer, CYO basketball, and CYO Track and Field for several years. She also found herself back on a pool deck coaching summer-league swimming at Stonewall Park Pool for 10 years.