Keep Coach Thomas as Head Coach of Choctawhatchee High School

Coach Thomas was a great influence in my life. I always wanted to perform for him. Most importantly he believed in me and the team. No participation trophies were issued and you earned your ranking. Keep up the good work!

When I read the petition to fire Coach Thomas I was taken aback.  I noticed lots of people critical of the way he disciplines his student athletes and many critical people condemning the way he coaches.  It reminded me of watching my kids in elementary competing in field day with no winners, but everyone getting a ribbon for participation.   In life there are winners and losers.  You're gonna get knocked down, and that's ok, but we need to get up, move forward, and learn how to overcome challenges along with difficulties we face.  true discipline focuses upon inner-strength, self-control, and the ability to manage actions and reactions.  I respect the way he loves his kids, and is tuff on them pushing them teaching them perseverance, building character. Discipline is one of the most vital components of achieving any goal.  Ask any champion or winner and the underlying theme is discipline.  Nothing is ever given to them.  They are disciplined and develop a work ethic few people possess. Many of those men and women look back fondly at the coaches and trainers who were hard on them, pushing to do more, give everything they had, teaching that sweat and determination along with the never die attitude is what you have to have.  And when you lose, it's ok, square your shoulders, hold your head up, and walk out with integrity, knowing you gave it all, you did your best.  Without coaches like that what are we teaching our kids? Coach uses Discipline to Provide Structure and stability in their lives, teaching them how to be both respectful and responsible.  He expects his student athletes to rise to a higher level and he holds them accountable.  They are not treated equally and they should not be just like in real life.  Not every person on the team can bench 300 lbs or run a 4.5 40 or throw the ball 50 yards.  But they each make up part of the team, and he pushes them to be better, developing character, and challenges them to learn to work through adversity.   I can't b

Keep up the good work dad❤️

Great coach that grew up in a family of great coaches and you'd be hard- pressed to find anyone that loved coaching, loved the game or cheering their team on more.

I had the pleasure of playing for Coach Thomas for 4 years at Rose High in Greenville and played for him on the 2003 state championship team. He is a great man and a great coach!

5 years ago Featured

I worked with and for Greg. He expected the staff to work as hard as the kids did. My time working on his staff was one the best periods, professionally, for me in my career. Firing him for the reasons provided in the other petition would be a gross mistake.

Great man to work for!

Coach Greg is a great man and Christian. He’s not only building teams but more importantly mentoring young men to be successful throughout their lives! People should look at the big picture and encourage their children to participate in both by supporting the great things that Coach Greg is doing for their kids!!!

Great Coach. Great Man. Great for Choctaw.

Simply the best coach I ever played for. He knew how to motivate, encourage, and support his players. He always had my back and I will always have his.

You are so lucky to have Coach Thomas. A man of character and skill, coaching your boys. And coaching doesn't mean coddling. It's such a shame that parents want to get in the way of their children's consequences which prevent them from learning. Let coach do his thing and support him doing it. Your child will be better off. He's an admirable influence in their lives. We miss him in NC.

Coach Thomas is the man! He has done great things with the program! He deserves a statue in front of the stadium! Cheers to 13 plus more seasons! Go Big Green!

I am a product of our local athletic system. Gene Peters with the City of FWB was the first man to ever put a helmet on my head at 8yrs old. Then on to Meigs where I played for John Susko, Barry Rose, Alan Lee, and others. Then I arrived at Choctaw, a lifelong dream from so many years prior watching the Giants In Green like Clevland McNabb and Tyrone Clayborne as a little boy on the sidelines on those magical Friday nights. When I played our Head Coach and Coaches, Lionel Fayard, Greg Jones, Don Arthur, Ron Mayer, Ron Crawford and many others were tough as nails. They demanded much and we gave all we had because they were leaders and men we wanted to emulate. They ran us, yelled at us, and got all in our face when we deserved it. But they also celebrated with us, laughed with us, and most importantly loved us all. We learned what teamwork meant and how to work for a common goal. I can say absolutely without question, their guidance helped instill life lessons that cant be taught in a classroom. Many of these coaches I am still in frequent contact with today and will remain so as long as I am able. A Head Coach is the team leader, obviously, and has the daunting task of motivating players by whatever means are necessary. It may not be "PC" to say these days but football is a MANS GAME. It takes young men and pushes them often times past what their mind and their bodies believe they are capable of doing. That is the mark of a great Coach and a great leader. I can say without doubt, years from now, that will be what the players for Coach Greg Thomas remember about their Coach and their time at Choctaw. I have recently read from other detractors that say he has a negative impact on the morale of his players. Really? How do you think those statements impact the staff, the community, and most importantly the players in the middle of a season? Do you think that will help the Indian cause? Absolutely not! Idiotic!! This year is a challenge for school

Role models are needed to our youth

If your child is hurt by what the high school coach says, he/she won’t be able to handle what a college coach may say. In the end, if you’re collegiate material, you will be contacted by College coaches.When your child grows up and gets a job, and you don’t like a decision the Boss makes, are you going to start a petition about that too? It is a parent’s job to make sure their kid has every opportunity! If they aren’t getting it with Coach Thomas, take them to another school. If it works out, great! If not, maybe your child wasn’t the star you thought! It’s not always about being a star, it’s about learning to work as a team, hear things you don’t like to hear, celebrate wins and figure out losses together! That’s life, not just football! Best wishes Coach Thomas! You have had too many successes to let a few disgruntled people try to take it away! Keep up the good work of helping young people be there beat!

Love Coach Thomas and his wife!!

We love and support Coach Thomas !!

5 years ago Featured

I played for Greg Thomas in high school, went on to play 4 years at NC State University. Coach Thomas is one of the best men I know and one of the greatest influences in my life. I am proud to say he is one of my best friends and someone I would love to coach my own son.

Greg Thomas is a great man who develops young men to be productive citizens. He is missed in Greenville, NC where he won multiple state championships.

Tho I would love for my son to play for Coach Thomas like I did, he is there for a reason. I can honestly say he is one of many reasons why I am the man I am today. Back to back state championship J.H Rose high