Hailey Thomas

My basketball journey started in the second grade when my parents took me to a Saturday morning shooting clinic with Dave Roman Sr., “The Shot Doctor.” When my mom initially called him, he said he usually only worked with fourth graders and above. However, he told her that if I could get the ball to the rim, I could attend his clinics. The next Saturday, my parents and I showed up, I got it to the rim, and the rest is history. Dave Roman Sr. is just one of the many influential coaches who shaped my basketball career and inspired me to become a coach myself.

I attended Bishop McCort High School, where I was a multi-sport athlete, playing soccer and basketball and running track and field. Being a multi-sport athlete taught me the value of time management, commitment, and discipline. After high school, I continued my basketball career at Division I Saint Francis University.

Throughout my career, I learned lessons that shaped me not only as a player, but as a person. Two continue to guide my coaching philosophy: be coachable and love the game. Great players want to learn, look their coach in the eye, take feedback, and apply it. That mindset separates good from great. At the same time, basketball should never feel like a chore. Toward the end of my career, I had to rediscover my love for the game, and coaching helped me do that. My goal is not just to develop skilled players, but confident and resilient young athletes who enjoy the process. Skills and work ethic matter, but so does protecting your mental health and loving what you do.