“Hey, do you want to hear the question of the week?”
That is a question you will most likely hear at some point during your weightlifting session if you are one of Garrett Thomas’s athletes within the Muhlenberg strength and conditioning arena. He loves to come up with various questions each week usually involving some thinking and ranging from “What is your biggest superstition?” to “What animal do you think you could take down in one-on-one combat?” Whether coming up with an answer is easy or takes a while, it’s nice to know that someone, Thomas, genuinely wants to know the answer.
Thomas is the newest member of the ‘Berg strength and conditioning staff, having joined exactly a year ago today, Oct. 10, 2023, yet his impact across the board has been a resounding positive for Muhlenberg athletes, coaches, staff and members of the ‘Berg athletics community. A common presence in the Life Sports Center (LSC), Thomas’s blend of motivation, friendliness, commitment and empathy is noticeable as soon as any interaction with him begins, and it is all contagious.
Thomas grew up in Delaware with his mom, dad and sister, Erin. “I went to high school at the Charter School of Wilmington where I played football and wrestled for four years,” said Thomas. “This is when I also developed a love for the weight room. I went on to play football at Lebanon Valley College on the offensive line for three years before the injuries caught up to me, then I met my friend Thomas Evans while interning at the University of Delaware who got me into strongman.”
The summer prior to Thomas’s appointment as assistant strength and conditioning coach, the program was short a coach and was actively searching for a replacement when Thomas discovered the open position and decided to apply, regardless of his lack of proper coaching experience. “The job was posted through the Strength Coach Job Network, I had heard good things about the school and decided to apply,” added Thomas. “My transition was shaky at first due to a lack of real experience as a coach, but the athletes, coaches and especially [Darin Thomas] and Jared [Shoaf] (Muhlenberg strength coaches) made it a lot easier for me.”
“I always tell my athletes that recovery is the most important part of being an athlete”
The fact that Thomas had nothing but his love for the weight room and an understanding of what it means to be a part of a team before landing his position here says a lot about the type of person he is. Jumping into any role head-first is intimidating, but Thomas quickly found his footing and began influencing his athletes.
On top of his role as a coach in the weight room, Thomas loves to get out and support his athletes during their games. He is often found on the sidelines with the athletes, or in the bleachers, hyping them up, lending a helping hand and being another supportive voice in the chaos of cheers. Regardless, Thomas loves to see his athletes give it their all doing what they love, one of many things he has learned to cherish as a new strength and conditioning coach.
“I love that I can help foster an inclusive environment for everyone, and help make people feel at home here at ‘Berg,” explained Thomas. “The best part of this job is seeing the results that athletes can create by pushing themselves, and I believe that the best way to make that happen is by making sure the athletes feel comfortable enough to do that. I love seeing athletes go beyond what they thought they could do.”
Another part of being a coach that Thomas has grown fond of is the wisdom he can instill within his athletes regarding off-the-field behaviors or tendencies. At the end of the day, Thomas believes coaching goes far beyond just the athlete, and is a holistically human job. To coach is to mentor, to support, to push, to learn. In this light, Thomas provides this message:
“Prioritize your own well-being and make sure you’re staying on top of everything,” said Thomas. “I always tell my athletes that recovery is the most important part of being an athlete, and your best results come when you’re eating and drinking right and getting at least seven hours of sleep a night. Don’t be afraid to reach out when you’re struggling as well, there’s always someone willing to listen!”
In honor of Thomas and his aura, here is a recent question of the week to ponder. “What’s the coolest thing you’ve ever done?”
Evan is a media and communication major minoring in creative writing and journalism with a passion for sports writing as well as soccer, being outdoors and spending time with close friends and family. He is eager to continue learning about and tinkering with writing while learning from the talented Weekly staff.
