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Thomas steps down as North hoops coach By TIM TROWER Mail Tribune The demands of coaching high school basketball, coupled with family and business responsibilities, caught up with John "J.T." Thomas, leading to his resignation Tuesday as North Medford's girls coach. Thomas did not have a winning season in three years as the Black Tornado coach, posting records of 9-33 in the Southern Oregon Conference and 19-50 overall. The wins and losses were not of primary consideration, according to both North athletic director Mike Kay and Thomas - whose working relationship began seven years ago, when Kay took over as the Black Tornado coach and Thomas became his assistant. "I know people will look at that and say that's the issue," said Kay of the varsity's .275 overall winning percentage under Thomas, "but it's really not. John has done a tremendous job in a lot of different places in the program. "It's not about wins and losses with John, it's about what he's done for kids in the North Medford community and how he's helped them and exposed them to the game of basketball." Thomas cited the time commitments of being involved with his family, working off campus at a building products company and coaching at North, including overseeing a burgeoning youth feeder program. The best decision, which cropped up from an annual review of the season, was for him to resign, he said. "I always approached the job seriously and with the understanding the kids come first," said Thomas, who has been a high school coach, including in interim and assistant capacities, for 17 years. While success wasn't reflected in the standings, Thomas is confident the program is on solid footing and will be a force in the SOC in the near future. There were 33 players on three Tornado teams last winter, and 23 of them are freshmen. Briana Gentry and Renee Miller were the lone seniors on the varsity. Many of the young players are products of the Hurricane youth program Thomas was charged with forming as Kay's aide. That group now features five teams of a dozen or so players each in the fifth through eighth grades, said Thomas. In the big picture, he added, that was among his most important tasks. "There are no regrets," said Thomas. "Personally, I had a feeling of where we were. We were about midway through what I believed would be the turnaround point. We're right there. A turnaround is imminent." The job opening was to be posted today, said Kay, and he expects to begin talking to candidates early next week. He did not identify potential candidates. Reach sports editor Tim Trower at 776-4479, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.