Ollie C. Thomas
| Biographical details | |
|---|---|
| Born | November 7, 1899 Agency, Missouri, U.S. |
| Died | January 31, 1989 |
| Playing career | |
| Football | |
| c. 1922 | Emporia State |
| Basketball | |
| c. 1922 | Emporia State |
| Football | |
| c. 1922 | Emporia State |
| Position | End (football) |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| Football | |
| 1924–1928 | South Dakota Mines |
| ? | Winfield HS (KS) |
| Basketball | |
| 1929–1952 | Winfield HS (KS) |
| Administrative career (AD unless noted) | |
| 1952–1963 | Winfield HS (KS) |
| Head coaching record | |
| Overall | 23–15–1 (college football) |
| Accomplishments and honors | |
| Championships | |
| 1 SDIC (1927) | |
Ollie Charles Thomas (November 7, 1899 – January 31, 1989) was an American football and basketball coach, athletics administrator, and educator. He served as the head football coach at the South Dakota School of Mines—now known as the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology—in Rapid City, South Dakota from 1924 to 1928, compiling a record of 23–15–1.
Thomas was born on November 7, 1899, in Agency, Missouri, to R. M. and Katie (Stanton) Thomas. He graduated from Atchison County Community High School in Effingham, Kansas, in 1918, and earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Kansas State Teachers College—now known as Emporia State University—in 1923.[1] At Emporia State, Thomas lettered for three years in football, three years in baseball, and one in basketball. In football, was selected as an all-Kansas end in 1922.[2]
Thomas coached at Winfield High School in Winfield, Kansas, from 1929 to 1952. There he mentored Gerald Tucker, Bob Brannum, and Bob Kenney, who all went on to be NCAA Men's Basketball All-Americans. After coaching, Thomas served as Winfield's athletic director for 11 years.[3] He also coached football and taught history and government at the high school.[4] He died on January 31, 1989.[5]
Head coaching record
College football
| Year | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | Bowl/playoffs | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Dakota Mines Hardrockers (South Dakota Intercollegiate Conference) (1924–1928) | |||||||||
| 1924 | South Dakota Mines | 6–2 | 5–1 | T–3rd | |||||
| 1925 | South Dakota Mines | 3–6 | 2–2 | 6th | |||||
| 1926 | South Dakota Mines | 4–1–1 | 3–0 | 3rd | |||||
| 1927 | South Dakota Mines | 7–1 | 6–0 | 1st | |||||
| 1928 | South Dakota Mines | 3–5 | 2–3 | 9th | |||||
| South Dakota Mines: | 23–15–1 | 18–5 | |||||||
| Total: | 23–15–1 | ||||||||
| National championship Conference title Conference division title or championship game berth | |||||||||
References
- ^ Who's Who in American Sports. Washington, D.C.: National Biographical Society, Inc. 1928. p. 822. Retrieved January 20, 2026 – via Internet Archive.
- ^ "Kansas Man Arrives To Coach Mines Grid men". The Rapid City Daily Journal. Rapid City, South Dakota. August 8, 1924. p. 1. Retrieved January 20, 2026 – via Newspapers.com .
- ^ "Quickies; Memorial". The Olathe News. Olathe, Kansas. February 4, 1989. p. 1B. Retrieved January 20, 2026 – via Newspapers.com .
- ^ "Sports Briefing; Services held for longtime Winfield High coach". The Kansas City Star. Kansas City, Missouri. February 5, 1989. p. 15, sports section. Retrieved January 20, 2026 – via Newspapers.com .
- ^ "Briefly...; Basketball". The Wichita Eagle. Wichita, Kansas. February 4, 1989. p. 4B. Retrieved January 20, 2026 – via Newspapers.com .
- ^ "NCAA Statistics; Coach; Ollie C. Thomas". National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved January 20, 2026.
- ^ "Football; All-Time Coaching Records". South Dakota School of Mines Athletics. Retrieved January 20, 2026.