Thomas new women's basketball coach at Harper

Kyle Thomas has been named the new women's basketball coach at Harper College, Hawks athletic director Doug Spiwak has announced.

Thomas, who had been an assistant coach in the men's program, takes over for Sean Stochl, who had been the head coach of both teams and will continue as the men's head basketball coach as well as assume the duties of assistant athletic director and sports information director.

Thomas, a Hoffman Estates alum who played on the school's 2004 Elite Eight team, is a former Harper player (2005-07) who was a part of the Hawks' NJCAA Final Four team in 2006.

"Harper College is a very special place to me. Being a former student-athlete of Harper it is an honor to become the next head coach of the women's program. I am looking forward to helping these young athletes reach their goals in the classroom and on the court," said Thomas.

Recruiting high character players is Thomas' top goal.

"Coach Stochl has laid a great foundation for the women's program at Harper College and I am eager to build off that," Thomas said. "I am blessed to be in our district that has a lot of talented high school and AAU programs to recruit from. I cannot wait to get on the recruiting trail. I think girls basketball in the (Mid-Suburban League) is really good."

Spiwak was clear that many candidates applied for the job and that Thomas was not hired because of his famililarty with the program, rather because he was the one who "stood out."

Thomas will have to rebuild a program that went 2-27 this past season.

"The main thing (Stochl) taught me is patience," Thomas said.