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University Christian remembers football assistant coach Matt Thomas
Players, coaches, alumni and friends at University Christian are mourning the loss of longtime high school football assistant coach Matt Thomas , who died Aug. 1 at age 50 after a battle with cancer.
A 1994 UC graduate who directed the team's defensive front and has spent much of his life close to the school, Thomas had been fighting metastatic melanoma through the spring.
The official Instagram account of the school's athletic department posted a tribute to Thomas on Tuesday, Aug. 4, describing him as a "great coach, an even better friend, and a man who loved the Lord with all his heart."
"His impact on our University Christian family will never be forgotten. His friendship, encouragement, laughter, and unwavering faith have left a mark on all of us. He will be deeply missed," the school said as part of an extended tribute post.
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Thomas and his cancer fight had drawn attention far beyond Jacksonville, particularly after more than 60 players and coaches held a pre-practice walk from the school to his house in July to meet with him and show their support. The team trek transformed into a sensation online, even receiving coverage on NBC Nightly News.
"It's hard to put into words what he meant," said head coach David Penland III, who has led the football program since 2011. "I've been reading stuff [reactions] on Facebook from different people, and a couple of former players have already called me, talking about the impact he's had on their lives. He's an awesome coach and an even better person."
At the Southside school, Thomas leaves a legacy that extends long before his coaching career. He had assisted on the sidelines for well over a decade, including work with the University Community Athletic Association and the school's middle school program as well as the varsity program.
Alongside his twin brother, Jeremy, Matt Thomas played as a standout two-way lineman on University Christian's football championship dynasty of the early 1990s under first Robby Pruitt and then John Street, and swung a formidable bat on the school's back-to-back regional champion baseball team coached by John Brown.
Jeremy Thomas, whose number was retired at UC seven seasons ago, also died of cancer in 2020.
Penland said that plans are underway to honor Thomas throughout the season at University Christian. The school is scheduled to play its first football game Aug. 14 in a kickoff classic against Ocala Trinity Catholic, followed by the regular season start on Aug. 21 against Ponte Vedra.
Thomas is survived by his wife, Leanne, and sons Caleb and Luke, who both continued the family tradition as outstanding performers on the University Christian gridiron during the past decade.
A viewing is scheduled from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 8, at University Church, 5520 University Boulevard West. Funeral services will be 1 p.m. Sunday, also at University Church, followed by burial at 3 p.m. Sunday at Riverside Memorial Park.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: University Christian remembers football assistant coach Matt Thomas
University ChristianMatt ThomasPlayersAugThomasInstagramLordViewJacksonvilleNBC Nightly NewsDavid Penland IIIFacebook
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