BOISE – Jim Thomas always knew.
It was just a matter of when and where.
The when ended up being Thursday night. And the where at the Boas Soccer Complex under the lights – something not even thought to be possible when the Boise State women’s head soccer coach arrived 11 years ago.
Thomas picked up win No. 112 to become the program’s all-time winningest coach after a thrilling 2-1 come-from-behind victory over Nevada. He’s now 112-69-38 in his storied Bronco career thus far.
“You don’t come in thinking you’re not going to be the greatest of all time,” Thomas said. “And for anyone that knows me, I’m a pretty cock son of a gun. I thought I was going to get there. But the realization of it now as an older man, I recognize that I didn’t do half as much as I planned on doing 11 years ago.”
History! @coachjimthomas is now the winningest coach in @BroncoSportsSOC history after a 2-1 comeback win over Nevada! pic.twitter.com/WvJFTurM7o
— B.J. Rains (@BJRains) October 20, 2023
It’s still a lot.
Thomas, who’s from Bangor, Wales (England), was an assistant coach for five seasons with the University of Washington. The Huskies went 50-28-11 and made four NCAA Tournament appearances, including a run to the Elite Eight in 2010, during his tenure. He had previously coached at Seattle’s Roosevelt High and Edmonds Community College (Washington).
But when Steve Lucas, who previously held the record, was let go following the 2012 campaign, Thomas applied for the open position.
He was officially hired in 2013.
“It was funny, I was with my wife and I had a 1-year-old baby at the time, but I was just so giddy that I would get an opportunity like this,” Thomas said. “You never quite think that you’re gonna get the shot even if you think you think you’re good enough. So to have the chance was such a blessing.”
He inherited a program that was four years removed from the only NCAA Tournament appearance in school history at the time. But the Broncos hadn’t posted a winning season since.
Thomas guided them to a 13-7-3 record and they made it to the Mountain West Tournament championship game for the first time in school history that first season.
He wouldn’t enjoy another winning season for another four years, though. But it was in the midst of all that, which included in 2016 going 6-11-4 – the worst record in 14 years – that Thomas said he had his proudest moment to date.
It wasn’t taking home a championship, making a tournament or even a win for that matter. Rather, a conversation at the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport with former player, Jessie Vogel.
“We were struggling and I’m one to face struggles head on, and she told me not to,” Thomas said. “She told me they had it and not to add oil to the fire. I’ll never forget it. It was the first time I realized this wasn’t about me. It was about the players. I have to listen and allow them to guide me.
“That kind of turned the trajectory of this program to where it is today.”
Thomas then oversaw three straight winnings seasons, which are all regarded as some of the best in Boise State history.
He was the Mountain West Coach of the Year in 2018 when the Broncos won the MW regular season title for the first time.
The 2019 season is arguably the best in school history. Boise set a program record with 18 wins, claimed the first Mountain West Tournament title, the second NCAA Tournament appearance and had the nation’s leading goal scorer in Raimee Sherle, who was in attendance Thursday.
Thomas has had six straight winning seasons overall and his winning percentage of 65.5 is the highest in program history.
“I mean look over there at the lights, that was all him,” junior forward Kenzie MacMillan said. “He’s been trying to do that ever since he stepped foot at Boise State. He’s built that and just look at how many people come out to these games. I wasn’t here, but I’m sure it wasn’t as big as it was tonight. I bet you there were around 1,000 people and that doesn’t just happen because of the players.”
Caught up with @coachjimthomas after his 112th career win – the most in @BroncoSportsSOC history.
@BNNBroncoNation will have the full story later tonight! pic.twitter.com/Rg5KG0As1V
— B.J. Rains (@BJRains) October 20, 2023
Boise State set the all-time attendance record with 1,620 when No. 7 BYU visited on Aug. 26 – the same day the lights went up for the Broncos to host their first-ever night game. It was also just the second time ever a nationally ranked opponent came to town.
The stands were once again packed Thursday to witness another historical moment – one that seemed like it was going to have to wait for another day.
Boise State trailed 1-0 with less than 12 minutes remaining. But MacMillan and junior defender Evva Vail quickly changed all of that.
A foul gave MacMillian a free kick in the 79th minute. She rocked a shot towards the top of the net. Wolf Pack goalie Ally Larkin just managed to get a hand on the ball. But it landed barely across the line. There was confusion at first on whether or not it was a goal. But the officials ruled it was and the game was tied.
Then – in the blink of an eye – Vail floated a harmless shot on net just seconds lefter. The ball somehow bounced right off of Larkin’s hands and into the net. It all suddenly gave the Broncos a 2-1 advantage in a 30-second span and Thomas his long-awaited moment.
“It was good to share something like this with so many people,” Thomas said. “The players, the fans, the administrators. It’s not one person that gets anything like this done. But look at what we built. It wasn’t this 11 years ago and look what it is now for our community. That’s probably what makes me most proud.”
Many of those same people were on hand Thursday.
Boise State Athletic Director Jeramiah Dickey presented Thomas with a game ball. But not before he was trenched in both water and gatorade by his players. Once dried off and surrounded by administrators and players – current and former alike – inside the team room – Thomas was treated to a video presentation. He watched as family, friends, administrators, alumni and players all personally thanked him for his many contributions to the program – on and off the field.
“You can say a lot about being a head coach and just being a head coach and not really doing other things than just soccer. But he invests more time and more effort than just soccer,” senior goalkeeper Genevieve Crenshaw said. “So I think that is what truly makes him different in my eyes. He cares about us as people.”
Boise State (9-2-6 overall, 7-1-1 MW) will visit UNLV (6-6-6, 2-4-3) Sunday in what will be its final road game of the regular season. The Broncos are a half-game up on Utah State for first place in the Mountain West. Wins in their final two games – including Senior Night at home against the Aggies next Thursday – will give Thomas and the Broncos the regular season conference title.
“We’re just trying to go 1-0,” Thomas said. “We’ve got to win on Sunday. We’re trying to get a championship and trying to get a bye (in the first round of the conference tournament next weekend in Laramie, Wyoming). “We’ll turn around and try to do it again on Sunday.”
Ninth goal of the season for @kenzmacmillan tonight in a 2-1 win over Nevada. @BNNBroncoNation caught up with her after the game. pic.twitter.com/EgHnks7WQU
— B.J. Rains (@BJRains) October 20, 2023
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