NICEVILLE — Amid an offseason where we’ve seen inroads taken in returning Niceville football to its winning ways, the Eagles have snagged a four-time state champion head coach and three-year starting offensive lineman from East Carolina University as it’s next O-line head coach.
You may have him heard of him: Greg Thomas, the all-time record holder in wins at Choctawhatchee, where from 2008-2020 he won 74 games and led the Big Green to the Final 4 in 2014.
Yes, after a five-year hiatus from the game where he served as dean of students at South Walton High School, Pryor Middle School and Shalimar Elementary, Thomas is back and ready to do what he does best alongside Xavier Graham: coach the big men in the trenches.
It just took a simple call to Adron Robinson, who two months ago was promoted to head coach after Richard Morgan stepped down.
“I’ve always had respect for Adron and John Hicks,” Thomas said. “I’ve known them both ever since I’ve been here and have always communicated with them both. So when Adron got the new head job, I gave him a call and said, ‘I’ve been looking for a new position. If you need another assistant coach just let me know.’ And he jumped right on it. He was as excited as I was.”
“It was immediate,” Robinson said of the reaction to bringing on Thomas, who will serve many roles (fitness, credit recovery, weightlifting, front office) at Niceville High. “When he reached out to me, I was like, this is a no-brainer. This is a guy who’s going to to help not only our program, but help our younger staff members as well.”
Thomas has spent 29 years as head coach and 33 overall coaching, 22 of which were spent at two successful programs: J.H. Rose in Greenville, North Carolina, from 1998 to 2008 and Choctaw from 2008 to 2020. He led the Rampants to four consecutive state championships from 2003 to 2006 and a blistering 98-13 mark, followed up by a 74-60 record and a Final 4 run in 2014 during his time with the Big Green.
He stepped down in 2020 from Choctaw to focus more on family, and he recouped those busy fall seasons by traveling to LSU and ECU football games with his son, Gregory. He also kept his pulse on area football games, re-visiting Joe Etheredge Stadium and Eagle Stadium while checking in on South Walton. Then the perfect opportunity struck with Niceville, who’s known for its heavy package and lining up some of the area’s best offensive lineman (current Oklahoma State tackle Joe Hanson, former LSU star Kimo Makaneole, former Mizzou starter Austin Firestone and current Tiger Colin Sorensen, FSU-bound Jakobe Green, etc.).
In Thomas, Niceville’s next group of linemen get a mentor who’s walked a mile in their shows, shined at the collegiate level and won titles at the helm. Thomas can hardly wait to forge a bond that’s been vacant in his life for too many years, and he’ll also be leaned on heavily to improve to special teams.
“Getting back to the offensive line, I’m so excited. That’s where I started, that was kind of my niche, something I took pride in on my most successful teams,” Thomas said. “I missed that my last few years at Choctaw, and I’ve missed that these last few years away from coaching. I’m grateful to coach Adron for giving me the opportunity to be where I’m supposed to be. I’m thrilled to be back, and I can’t wait to get to work.”
This article originally appeared on Northwest Florida Daily News: Greg Thomas, Choctaw’s all-time wins leader, set to coach Niceville OL
Reporting by Seth Stringer, Northwest Florida Daily News / Northwest Florida Daily News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Seth Stringer, Northwest Florida Daily News | USA TODAY Network
