STEVEN THOMAS HIRED TO LEAD WETUMPKA BOYS BASKETBALL

By DALTON MIDDLETON Sports Editor

The Wetumpka boys basketball team will have a new coach patrolling the sidelines this season.

Wetumpka has hired Steven Thomas as its new head varsity boys basketball coach. He replaces Byron Gaskin, who was the head coach for the last three years and on staff for the last five.

Thomas was hired as an assistant coach this summer, but promoted to head coach after Gaskin left early in the school year.

“I’m really excited,” Thomas said. “I came in during June and we went to a few camps and coach Gaskin was happy to have me on board. When he left, I told the guys that being with this group has been the most fun coaching I’ve had since I started coaching. Their attitude and their energy, effort and competitiveness has made it a joy this summer. I’m beyond excited to try and take this team where coach Gaskin envisioned it.”

Thomas is familiar with Wetumpka’s current roster as he’s been around the area the last few years. Thomas has coached at two high schools and two colleges, most recently the head basketball coach at Alabama Christian Academy.

He was the head coach at ACA for the last two seasons. He served as an assistant for the Eagles for a season before getting the head job, and he coached all around the state before that.

He started his coaching career as a student assistant at the University of Mobile, where he was a standout guard for four seasons. After a year of that, he took an assistant basketball job and co-head coach of the Mobile Christian soccer team.

In 2017 and 2018, he was a graduate assistant at the University of West Alabama, and he went to ACA following his twoyear stint there.

Being at four different plac- es, he’s coached a multitude of different ways but has settled on his coaching style. And that style begins with playing tough defense.

“Coming in, there’s a lot of similarities with what I bring and what coach Gaskin had in place,” Thomas said. “My biggest thing

WETUMPKA

(2-0) AT PIKE ROAD (0-2)

THE PLAYERS

Wetumpka: QB Nate Rogers has scored passed and rushed for a touchdown this season. … K Logan Weighall made all three PATs and kicked a 49-yard field goal last week. … DB Kadarius Brown scored on a 99-yard scoopand-score last week.

FOUR DOWNS

Wetumpka beat Baker, 2421, last week; Pike Road lost to Marist (GA), 33-22.

Pike Road is the defending AHSAA Class 5A state champions.

This is the AHSAA Class 6A, Area 2 opener for both teams.

Wetumpka’s defense has scored a touchdown in both games this year.

NEXT UP: Wetumpka hosts Park Crossing; Pike Road at Sidney Lanier.

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