Marquis Pollard, a former player and assistant coach, is the new head coach for the Thomas College men’s basketball team, the school announced Wednesday. Contributed photo/Thomas College Athletics
WATERVILLE — Thomas College announced Wednesday the hiring of Marquis Pollard as its next men’s basketball coach.
Pollard, who previously played and coached at Thomas, starts April 1, according to the school.
“I am extremely excited and fortunate to take the reins of my alma mater, Thomas College, where I played for four years and began my coaching career as well,” Pollard said in a statement. “I would like to thank (Thomas athletic director) Chris Parsons and the entire Thomas athletic department for this opportunity. I am eager to get started with the guys and restore back the family culture built around commitment, discipline, toughness and team unity.”
Pollard played four seasons at Thomas, going 53-49 from 2010 to 2014. Pollard was a captain his senior year under Darrell Alexander and Dick Whitmore.
Pollard spent two seasons (2014-2016) as an assistant at Thomas under Geoff Hensley. Pollard has also served as an assistant coach/recruiting coordinator at Northern Vermont University-Lyndon. More recently, Pollard was coaching at Washington Academy Prep in Greenville, North Carolina. He was the head coach of the girls basketball team at John Paul II Catholic High School in Greenville.
“I am very excited to welcome Marquis back to Thomas College,” Parsons said in a news release. “We are incredibly lucky for this opportunity to bring back one of our former student-athletes. Marquis has a passion for Thomas College, the athletic department and the men’s basketball program. Our student-athletes are very fortunate to have a leader that will continue to elevate and educate the men’s basketball program through his character and mentorship.”
Pollard takes the program over from Deshon Gaither, who went 18-28 at Thomas. Gaither’s best season came in 2019-2020, when the Terriers went 14-12 (8-6 in the North Atlantic Conference) and reached the quarterfinals in the conference tournament.
The Terriers went 4-14 (1-10 NAC) this season.
Thomas is expected to return the remainder of its roster next year, including Former Forest Hills star Mason Desjardins (9.1 points per game) and Caribou native Sawyer Deprey (12.9 ppg).
Thomas is also on the hunt for a women’s basketball coach to replace Emily Cummins, who went 41-134 over seven full seasons.
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