Community recognized longtime coach and teacher Mr. Bryan Thomas in a pregame ceremony before the Oct. 3 football game against Bloomington High School. Thomas will retire at the end of the school year after nearly three decades in Unit 5.

Thomas began coaching at Community in 1997 while student-teaching at Chiddix Junior High, handling the varsity special teams and sophomore defense.

After being hirred as social studies teacher at Chiddix, Thomas served as the Ironmen’s defense coordinator at the freshman level while coaching track & field at the junior high.

In 2005, Thomas joined Community’s social studies department and track and field coaching staff. For over a decade, Thomas served as the public address announcer for girls volleyball and basketball.

On the football staff, Thomas served as an assistant under head coach Hud Venerable when the Ironmen finished second in the state in 2005 and won a state title in 2006. He later was defensive coordinator under head coaches Mr. Wes Temples and Mr. Jason Drengwitz and served as an associate head coach alongside Drengwitz.

Now in his 14th year as the Iron’s head boys track and field coach, Thomas has also coached semi-pro and professional indoor football, including the Bloomington Extreme and Edge, and currently assists the Bloomington Renegades and the NFL Girls Flag league.

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Lyra Townsend

Mr. Bryan Thomas receives a pregame recognition at before the Ironmen's Oct. 3 football game against Bloomington High School.