Seasons:

• 2010-11 - Director of Basketball Operations

Mel Thomas joined the FGCU women’s basketball staff during the summer of 2010 as the Director of Basketball Operations and is set to begin her first season with the Blue and Green in 2010-11. Thomas, who played collegiately at the University of Connecticut, came to the FGCU program after playing professional basketball for the Artego Bydgoszcz in the Polish Basketball League in 2009-10. She played for the Bausch & Lomb Waterford Wildcats in Ireland during the 2008-2009 season.

The Cincinnati, Ohio native, who led Mount Notre Dame High School to a perfect 28-0 record and the school’s first Division I Ohio State Basketball Championship (2004), joined the UConn Huskies in 2004, where she succeeded at the highest levels both academically and athletically. Thomas was a three-time BIG EAST Academic All-Star, and is a graduate of UConn's School of Business.

Thomas was named co-captain of her team in both her junior and senior seasons. In her senior year, she played a key role in UConn winning the BIG EAST regular season and tournament championships, and in their run to the NCAA Final Four. She finished her career with 1,098 points and is currently ranked fifth in UConn history in three-pointers made with 224. In Thomas’ four years as a Huskie, the team recorded an amazing 125-19 (.868) overall record and a 58-6 (.906) record in BIG EAST Conference competition, while picking up a pair of regular season conference championships (2007 and 2008) and three conference tournament titles (2005, 2006, 2008).

After her playing days at Connecticut were over, Thomas authored a book that she used to share her love and appreciation for UConn with everyone. She kept a diary throughout her senior year which became her book, ‘Heart of a Husky’. ‘Heart of a Husky’ is a depiction of her experiences as she worked towards winning a National Championship.

Thomas was also a member of the United States Pan American Games team in the summer of 2007 when the U.S. won the gold medal for the first time since 1987.

WHAT THEY”RE SAYING ABOUT THOMAS:

“Mel Thomas will always be remembered as one of the toughest kids ever to play at UConn.”

“She is a tremendous inspiration to anyone who aspires to compete at the highest levels, in any endeavor.”

“Mel Thomas is a winner – and a great role model for kids and adults of all ages.”

- Geno Auriemma, UConn Women’s Basketball Head Coach (from the Foreword of ‘Heart of a Huskie’)