University of Lynchburg

Gerald R. "Gerry" Thomas '61 returned to his alma mater as the head baseball coach before the 1969 season and, for the next 23 years, managed one of the best small college programs in the region.

His Hornet teams won more than 500 ballgames, and his .729 winning percentage as a head coach ranks in the top 40 in the history of collegiate baseball. Thomas earned Old Dominion Athletic Conference coach of the year honors five times and guided the Hornets to seven league championships and seven NCAA tournaments. He coached 15 All-Americans and one future Major Leaguer.

Thomas also taught in the College's health and physical education department.