Storm Name Thomas as New Head Coach

DODGE CITY, Kan. – Gary Thomas was introduced as the new head coach of the Southwest Kansas Storm Wednesday. Thomas, the former head coach of the Dodge City Community College Conquistadors, will take over after it was announced that previous head coach Brandon Venson would not be returning following the 2023 season.

Thomas came to Dodge City for the first time in 2013, taking over a Conquistador team that had won just six games in the previous five seasons combined. His impact on the team was immediate as they went 6-4 in his first season at the helm. That incredible turnaround won Thomas 2013 Jayhawk Conference Coach of the Year. However, that was far from his most impressive achievement with the program.

That distinction goes to the 2015 season, where he won another coach of the year award and lead DC3 to their first conference championship in 32 years. They went an impressive 9-3, with a 6-1 mark in conference play. They appeared in the Salt City Bowl against Snow College that season, their second bowl appearance under Thomas. As a whole, Thomas went 31-34 in six seasons with the Conquistadors and led them to two of their three bowl appearances in the last 25 years.

Thomas stepped down as Conquistador head coach in 2018 to pursue interests outside of football, but now he’s back in a similar place that feels somewhat foreign. This will be Thomas’ first experience in arena football with all of his previous coaching experience being in the 11-on-11 game.

However, he has confidence that the transition will be seamless.

“I don’t know that this is something that I’m super concerned about…I don’t worry about the X’s and O’s, those things I’ve done my entire life, it’s just adapting to three less people and two guys in motion,” Thomas said.

The rest of Thomas’ staff was also announced Wednesday, with several new faces joining the Storm. Jason Scheck will be the team’s new defensive coordinator and Patrick Callahan will be the assistant head coach. Ananthan Gibson will return as the lone holdover from Brendan Venson’s staff in a role that has not yet been determined.

When asked what needed to improve from last season, Gibson replied

“We need to have more unity, as far as playing together, practicing harder, playing in games harder. It’s just more effort I want to see with this team.”

The team expects to hire one more coach prior to the start of the season.

The Storm finished 3-7 last season and snuck into the playoffs as the sixth seed. They fought valiantly on the road against Gillette but fell 40-35 to end their season. Thomas didn’t have a prediction for the 2024 season but he did have an example of what he wants his team to play like.

“If a random stranger is sitting in the stands and they don’t know anything about football, and they leave the facility, we want them to say two things about us: ‘wow those guys were prepared’ and ‘God, they play unbelievably hard.’ and that’s it. Everything else will take care of itself.”

Gary Thomas, Head Coach