Getting popped for NCAA violations while coaching an Olympic medalist? That’s a terrible look. You’d think someone operating at that level wouldn’t need to play those games, but here we are.
He's a coach of an OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALIST. This a minor NCAA violation that does not tarnish a damn thing about his reputation.
Most NCAA coaches of 30+ years get a couple of small violations throughout their careers. Things like accidentally emailing a sophomore because the track meet results had his graduating year listed incorrectly, etc.
The key is to not get several in your first year as a coach so you don't ruin your coaching career. That would be really unfortunate.
Ben Thomas is currently under probation due to recruiting violations. Did anyone else know about this? The comedy of this when his rival coach (Lahanna) is constantly bombarded with tampering claims is quite funny, I must admit.
Bro straight up cheated and coaches the Olympic champion 🤔
Ben Thomas is currently under probation due to recruiting violations. Did anyone else know about this? The comedy of this when his rival coach (Lahanna) is constantly bombarded with tampering claims is quite funny, I must admit.
Bro straight up cheated and coaches the Olympic champion 🤔
It’s surprising there isn’t a bigger uproar about this. It’s really bad on Thomas’s behalf
Bro straight up cheated and coaches the Olympic champion 🤔
It’s surprising there isn’t a bigger uproar about this. It’s really bad on Thomas’s behalf
Ben has zero personality and seems to work for Cole Hocker but otherwise he’s a dismal coach. It’s extremely strange it’s not more concerning that the Olympic and WC champion’s coach is a admitted cheater
It’s surprising there isn’t a bigger uproar about this. It’s really bad on Thomas’s behalf
Ben has zero personality and seems to work for Cole Hocker but otherwise he’s a dismal coach. It’s extremely strange it’s not more concerning that the Olympic and WC champion’s coach is a admitted cheater
Look, it's obviously wrong to cheat and it's good that he got caught. But what on earth is with the loser energy trying to insinuate that he's like doping up his athletes or something? The guy committed a recruiting violation that 95% of his peers are doing, if not to far more egregious levels lol. I've had prominent D1 coaches straight up DM my athletes actively winning conference titles and making NCAA meets for my mid major program, asking them if they were on the transfer portal because if they were they'd be interested in recruiting them and offering a scholarship (as if they didn't already know they weren't on it, and couldn't just check with a quick search lol).
All of the coaches at top programs are doing this sadly. But it's clear that the intention with this thread is to make it seem like Ben is doing shady nefarious things, therefore Cole Hocker must be doping. I'm not even a fan of Cole or Ben, but they're both decent guys and trying to make a big deal of this thing is just extremely lame haha.
It’s surprising there isn’t a bigger uproar about this. It’s really bad on Thomas’s behalf
Ben has zero personality and seems to work for Cole Hocker but otherwise he’s a dismal coach. It’s extremely strange it’s not more concerning that the Olympic and WC champion’s coach is a admitted cheater
Thomas is a beyond strange dude an apparently he cheats too
Ben has zero personality and seems to work for Cole Hocker but otherwise he’s a dismal coach. It’s extremely strange it’s not more concerning that the Olympic and WC champion’s coach is a admitted cheater
Thomas is a beyond strange dude an apparently he cheats too
Lananna can’t stand he’s not relevant anymore. It’s all good as he had his time in the sport and along the way of his career with success, but during that he did some really bad things and continues to be the king of Karen’s ( as stated either) in the sport of Track & Field. When Thomas came back Lananna and staff went full rouge on VT to get an investigation on him.
Lananna’s biggest problem isn’t one decision, it’s the echo chamber he’s built at UVA. Same mindset, same behavior, no accountability from him and his assistants. That’s how programs go toxic. When even people around him can’t stand it, that’s not coincidence, that’s toxic culture. Maybe focus on fixing that instead of going after others. When he first got to UVA it all started with him and his toxic assistant Nicole Blood. He goes after Thomas and others when he can’t win.
Nicole Blood is far from toxic. She survived the Saratoga situation in HS and went on to resurrect her passion for the sport.
It’s surprising there isn’t a bigger uproar about this. It’s really bad on Thomas’s behalf
Ben has zero personality and seems to work for Cole Hocker but otherwise he’s a dismal coach. It’s extremely strange it’s not more concerning that the Olympic and WC champion’s coach is a admitted cheater
This appears to be a violation that resulted in a short term suspension (clerical issue). It does not appear to be either a pattern or a career ending violation.
FYI, When Thomas took the distance coaching job at Oregon in 2018(?), LetsRun called him the best middle distance coach in the US. His 2018 VT guys won the DMR and 3 were AA in the mile in a single race. In 2019 he coached 6 guys at Oregon under 4 in the mile and 4 sub 8 in 3k before super shoes. The number of AAs and ACC champions he has coached is staggering. This was all before he even met Hocker. Now look at the ncaa indoor list for DMR, mile, 3000 this year...
If by "no personality" you mean he doesn't shoot his mouth off for the camera, then yes. However, his athletes respect him and his athlete's results speak for themselves and he prefers that.
This is the textbook version of tampering: line up the athlete early, move them when convenient, benefit competitively, and deal with the fallout later. Not a technicality, this is exactly what the rule is supposed to sto
This is the textbook version of tampering: line up the athlete early, move them when convenient, benefit competitively, and deal with the fallout later. Not a technicality, this is exactly what the rule is supposed to sto
And it’s a shady look when you’re coaching someone like Cole Hocker and still choosing to operate like this.
Ben Thomas is currently under probation due to recruiting violations. Did anyone else know about this? The comedy of this when his rival coach (Lahanna) is constantly bombarded with tampering claims is quite funny, I must admit.
Just came across this. it’s not everyday a top NCAA and pro coach gets caught cheating 😬