Rod Thomas

Bio

Rod Thomas joins Daytona State Men’s Basketball with a proven background as both a Division I coach and student-athlete. Most recently, he served as a Graduate Assistant with LSU Men’s Basketball from 2023–2025, working closely with Head Coach Matt McMahon. At LSU, he supported all aspects of player development, practice execution, scouting, and recruiting. He led individual skill workouts including with NBA professionals, while also analyzing film, creating video edits, and tracking player performance with analytics software. He played a key role in preparing the Tigers for competition, contributing to their 2024 NIT appearance.

Throughout his career, Thomas has worked with numerous NBA, NBA G-League, and international professional athletes, including NBA veterans Garrett Temple and Langston Galloway, as well as high-level Division I standouts. His reputation as a detail-oriented teacher of the game and a dedicated mentor reflects Daytona State’s mission to develop complete student-athletes both on and off the court.

Before entering the coaching ranks, Thomas played at Murray State University from 2019–2023. During his time with the Racers, he helped capture two Ohio Valley Conference Regular Season Championships, an OVC Tournament Championship, and an NCAA Tournament berth. His playing career was highlighted by a 30–3 season in 2022, including an undefeated 18–0 OVC record, a Top-25 national ranking, and a trip to the NCAA Tournament’s Round of 32. Off the court, he twice earned the OVC Medal of Honor for academic excellence.

Thomas holds a bachelor’s degree in Health and Physical Education from Murray State and a master’s degree in Leadership and Human Resource Development from LSU. Beyond the game, he is committed to building leaders through discipline, accountability, and mentorship.