William Thomas

Bill Thomas' impact on lacrosse began in 1933 at City College as a varsity midfielder, where he led City to the 1934 and 1935 championships. After attending Western Maryland College on a football scholarship, Thomas began his 42 years of coaching for Maryland public schools in 1939. He won county championships in three sports his first year. As head coach for championship teams in lacrosse, football and basketball at Forest Park in 1944-1945, he coached his first future All-Americans. Thomas coached 63 future All-Americans throughout his career, predominantly from his 18 years as head coach at Towson High. 

During his coaching dynasty from 1957-1975, Thomas won 14 Baltimore County Championships, 13 in a row from 1962-1974, with four undefeated seasons and no league losses from 1961-1974. Thomas coached 23 players who would later become lacrosse coaches. As head coach at Western Maryland College from 1975-1979, his teams won conference championships in 1978 and 1979. Thomas received Coach of the Year honors in 1970 and 1974, the Whittelsburger Award in 1976, the Maryland Sports Boosters Award for "Coach of the Decade" in 1975 and the Lacrosse Hall of Fame Leadership Award in 1979. Bill Thomas passed away in 1997.