Ben Thomas - Virginia Tech

Coach Thomas spent 4 seasons as the Associate Head Coach Cross Country and Track & Field for the Oregon Ducks, the 2021 NCAA Men’s Indoor Track and Field Champions. Prior to joining the University of Oregon coaching staff, Thomas spent 17 seasons as the head cross country and distance coach at Virginia Tech where he won multiple ACC titles and coached 74 All-Americans. Ben’s college coaching experience includes stints at the University of Georgia, Brevard College, and Appalachian State in North Carolina.

“I’m very excited by the opportunity to be the Director of the Nike Smoky Mountain Running Camp. I began my college coaching career in the mountains of North Carolina and to return to lead this renowned camp is truly special,” says Thomas. “Asheville is an outstanding base and I’m looking forward to working with my staff and all of the campers coming to Asheville to provide a great experience full of individual development and improvement for each runner.”

Coach Thomas has a strong connection to the North Carolina running community and brings his years of cross country and distance running knowledge, experience, and success in coaching student-athletes, to the Nike Smoky Mountain Running Camp, a camp with a long tradition and deep connection to Nike Running and the coaching philosophy of legendary Oregon coach, the late Bill Bowerman.