April Thomas & Anthony Tucker Selected For Inaugural SEC Coaches Opportunity Forum
August 14, 2024 | Football, Track & Field
STARKVILLE – On Wednesday, the Southeastern Conference announced that it had launched the inaugural SEC Coaches Opportunity Forum. Mississippi State was well represented at the inaugural event, with associate head track and field coach April Thomas and assistant head football coach Anthony Tucker selected for the forum.
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The SEC Coaches Opportunity Forum is a program focused on professional development, mentorship, and networking opportunities. It aims to empower coaches with the knowledge and skills necessary to ascend to head coaching positions in their respective sports. The two-day event, held in Atlanta, featured a comprehensive lineup of panels and sessions aimed at providing guidance on navigating the coaching landscape. The assistant coaches were selected by their respective schools to attend.
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Attendees gained valuable insights from invited speakers that included:
Nick Saban, ESPN analyst and former head football coach
Dawn Staley, University of South Carolina women's basketball head coach
Dennis Gates, University of Missouri men's basketball head coach
Josh Brooks, University of Georgia J. Reid Parker Director of Athletics
Greg Byrne, University of Alabama director of athletics
Elle Duncan, ESPN SportsCenter anchor
Greg Sankey, SEC commissioner
Parker Executive Search team
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Thomas, who joined the Mississippi State track and field staff in 2008, is entering her 16th year as a collegiate coach. Thomas is one of the most respected and highly regarded coaches in the track and field world, as she has helped produce numerous SEC Champions, All-Americans, and World and Olympic finalists. In 2019, Thomas guided three athletes to a podium sweep in the javelin at the 2019 NCAA Outdoor Championships. It was the first podium sweep at the outdoor championships since 1964. The NCAA Champion in the javelin in 2019 was Anderson Peters, who most recently won an Olympic Bronze medal in the javelin at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
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Tucker, who joined the football staff in December of 2023, is a 14-year collegiate coaching veteran. He came to Mississippi State after serving as the co-offensive coordinator at Indiana last season. In his career, Tucker has won four conference championships while coaching in nine bowl games.
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For the most up-to-date information on the Bulldogs, follow MSU football on Twitter, like them on Facebook and join them on Instagram by searching for "HailStateFB."
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The SEC Coaches Opportunity Forum is a program focused on professional development, mentorship, and networking opportunities. It aims to empower coaches with the knowledge and skills necessary to ascend to head coaching positions in their respective sports. The two-day event, held in Atlanta, featured a comprehensive lineup of panels and sessions aimed at providing guidance on navigating the coaching landscape. The assistant coaches were selected by their respective schools to attend.
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Attendees gained valuable insights from invited speakers that included:
Nick Saban, ESPN analyst and former head football coach
Dawn Staley, University of South Carolina women's basketball head coach
Dennis Gates, University of Missouri men's basketball head coach
Josh Brooks, University of Georgia J. Reid Parker Director of Athletics
Greg Byrne, University of Alabama director of athletics
Elle Duncan, ESPN SportsCenter anchor
Greg Sankey, SEC commissioner
Parker Executive Search team
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Thomas, who joined the Mississippi State track and field staff in 2008, is entering her 16th year as a collegiate coach. Thomas is one of the most respected and highly regarded coaches in the track and field world, as she has helped produce numerous SEC Champions, All-Americans, and World and Olympic finalists. In 2019, Thomas guided three athletes to a podium sweep in the javelin at the 2019 NCAA Outdoor Championships. It was the first podium sweep at the outdoor championships since 1964. The NCAA Champion in the javelin in 2019 was Anderson Peters, who most recently won an Olympic Bronze medal in the javelin at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
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Tucker, who joined the football staff in December of 2023, is a 14-year collegiate coaching veteran. He came to Mississippi State after serving as the co-offensive coordinator at Indiana last season. In his career, Tucker has won four conference championships while coaching in nine bowl games.
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For the most up-to-date information on the Bulldogs, follow MSU football on Twitter, like them on Facebook and join them on Instagram by searching for "HailStateFB."
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– HailState.com –
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