SAN FRANCISCO -- Academy of Art University Athletics has announced Phillip Thomas Jr. as its new assistant coach for women's basketball. Bringing over seven years of basketball coaching experience and extensive time preparing students both academically and in life, Thomas Jr. will join Head Coach Lindsey Foster and her staff as the Urban Knights approach the start of their 2022-23 season.

"I am very excited to have Phil on staff," Foster said. "He is such a vibrant person with a contagious attitude and energy that I know our team, university, athletics department, and community will want to be surrounded by daily. It is evident that he has a ton of passion for the game of basketball."

Thomas Jr. was most recently the women's basketball head coach for Team Kidd 17U NorCal in 2022 following his 2021 stint with the West Coast Elite Boys 16U National Team. While serving as an Algebra II teacher at Valley Christian High School in San Jose, Thomas Jr. could be found on the school's sidelines as the girls' basketball junior varsity head coach and assistant coach on the varsity side from 2017-2020. His time with the Warriors' varsity squad featured four winning seasons with playoff appearances, three top-three finishes in the West Catholic League, and a 55-40 combined record while a memorable campaign for the junior varsity group came in 2019-20 when the team went 21-5.

In addition to his coaching roles at the high school level, Thomas Jr. spent the 2017 through 2020 seasons with various club teams for Top Flight Elite. He oversaw the Boys 11U squad as well as the Girls 14U and 15U contingents.

"I am excited to be working with such a great coaching staff and for a unique university," Thomas Jr. said. "I think this program has the unique ability to prepare students for life as well as achieve supreme heights athletically. I am hoping to get the best out of the team and help them reach new levels in basketball as well as with themselves individually. I am also hoping to come together with the coaches to establish a winning yet authentic culture. I am just humbled for this opportunity."

Across three seasons with Oak Grove High School prior to 2018, Thomas Jr. served as the junior varsity head coach and varsity assistant coach this time on the boys' basketball side. The Eagles' varsity team achieved winning percentages of .600 or better in 2014-15 (15-10) and 2015-16 (17-11), reaching the postseason on both occasions.

An educational counselor, recreational coordinator, and associate teacher in his professional career, Thomas Jr. earned his bachelor's degree in Sociology from Whittier College and is currently pursuing a master's degree in Higher Education/Student Affairs at Grand Canyon University. He also became a certified life coach in 2020.