BALTIMORE- Aki Thomas, acting head men’s basketball coach at UMBC, has been appointed as the head coach of the program, Dr. Charles Brown, director of athletics, announced today.  Thomas has served as acting head coach since Oct. 10, 2012, following five previous seasons as a Retrievers’ assistant coach.

“I have been impressed with Coach Thomas’ basketball acumen, as well as his positive approach with our student-athletes,” Dr. Brown said. “He has all the tools to be an outstanding head coach.”

Coach Thomas and his staff have led UMBC to more victories (7) and conference wins (5) than in any season  since the 2008-09 campaign, despite the loss of three post players due to injury, including 6’10” starter Brett Roseboro. UMBC’s scoring margin in America East play has improved from -13.6 in 2011-12 to -8.0 currently.

The Retrievers are allowing nearly six less points per game (71.3) than they did in the previous season, despite the loss of the primary
interior presence of their defense.

“I want to thank UMBC for allowing me the privilege to continue leading its basketball program,” Thomas said. “President Hrabowski,
Dr. Brown, Dr. Nancy Young, vice president for student affairs, and all my colleagues have given me – and more importantly the team –
tremendous support this year.”

“I have a tremendous staff in John Zito, Jay Greene, and Brian Johnson, and any coach would be proud to work with them. Our team will continue to improve every day and to represent the UMBC community well.”

January 29, 2013 – Dr. Charles Brown has announced he will retire as Director of Athletics, Physical Education and Recreation at UMBC as of June 30, 2013, completing a 24-year tenure that has elevated the Retrievers from a fledgling Division-I program to one that is competitive regionally and nationally in a range of sports.

“Dr. Brown has done a masterful job of building a strong and balanced Division-I athletic program at UMBC, with special emphasis on both academic performance and healthy competition,” said Freeman Hrabowski, President of UMBC. “The entire UMBC community appreciates all that he has done to build an even stronger UMBC.”

Over the past 15 years, UMBC teams have won 46 conference championships and made 29 appearances in NCAA Championship competition. For five consecutive years (1998-2003), UMBC was named the top overall program in the Northeast Conference, and it has consistently ranked as a top-four program in the America East Conference, since joining in 2003. During that same period, 36 Retriever athletes earned Academic All-America status and student-athletes had consistently high graduation rates.

In addition to his work on behalf of student-athletes, Dr. Brown has promoted healthfulness and spirit throughout the UMBC community, from developing robust recreational programs to helping to create the UMBC Alma Mater. The Retriever program under his leadership also has been actively involved in the local community and was recognized by the NCAA for its commitment to service.

Dr. Brown led a period of substantial growth for the athletics department, including the development of a club sport program and rapid enhancement of athletic and recreational facilities. Under his leadership, the Retriever Activities Center was redeveloped and the outdoor aquatic complex, Retriever Soccer Park and a national-class track and field complex were constructed.

While growing the Retriever program, Dr. Brown also worked to raise UMBC’s profile regionally and nationally, including serving two terms as president of the Maryland Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics and one term on the NCAA Division-I Championships/Competition Cabinet. He also helped bring a number of national championships to UMBC and to Baltimore, including the first and second rounds of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Championships in 1995; the Women’s Lacrosse National Championships in 1998; and the Men’s Lacrosse National Championships in 2003, 2004 and 2007.

“I am thankful for the opportunity given to me by Dr. Hooker in 1989 and for the continued support of the administration to develop a first-class department that includes athletics, physical education and recreation,” Dr. Brown said. “It was a life’s dream of mine to be a Division-I athletic director and be at a campus. I’ve watched UMBC grow in so many ways and I am glad that we have been a part of the success of this university. I wish the program continued success in the future.”

Following his retirement as Director of Athletics, Dr. Brown will join the UMBC Division of Professional Studies, where he will work with others to explore opportunities related to Sports Management.

UMBC Announces Under Armour As Official Outfitter Of Retriever Athletics

BALTIMORE- UMBC Athletics today announced that Under Armour, Inc., the Baltimore-based leader in athletic performance apparel, footwear, and accessories will be the official outfitter of Retriever Athletics through 2018.

Under Armour will outfit 17 of UMBC’s 19 varsity teams from head-to-toe including all game-day uniforms, training gear and footwear. UMBC’s men’s and women’s swimming and diving squads are the only two teams not covered by the agreement.

“I am very excited about the agreement with Under Armour as it ensures that Retriever Athletics will be wearing best-in-class athletic performance gear,” Director of Athletics Dr. Charles Brown said. “Feedback from our student-athletes has been overwhelmingly positive and we are looking forward to what is to come!”

UMBC’s new official outfitter agreement includes entitlements that will complement Under Armour’s marketing campaigns through venue presence and advertising at the university.  Those entitlements include signage at the RAC Arena, UMBC Stadium, Retriever Soccer Park, The Baseball Factory Field at UMBC, and the softball complex; print media advertising, online advertising on the official webpage of UMBC Athletics, www.umbcretrievers.com, and advertising via UMBC Athletics’ streaming site, www.umbcretrievers.tv.

“The new relationship with Under Armour is a tremendous advantage for our department,” Senior Associate Director of Athletics Gary Wohlstetter added.  “We are very proud to be associated with a hometown company right here in Baltimore. Under Armour is the leader in the athletic apparel industry when it comes to both performance and style.”

Coach Speak:

Co-Head Women’s Lacrosse Coach Amy Appelt

‘We are very excited about expanding our relationship with Under Armour.  They provide a great product for our student-athletes.  It’s very rewarding for one of the top up-and-coming universities in the country to partner with one of the most innovative athletic brands in the world, right here in Baltimore!”

Head Women’s Basketball Coach Phil Stern

“We are so excited to be on board with Under Armour. They are so innovative and creative and will help make our program even more visible. Our players and coaches are all thrilled with the new products we have already started to wear.”

Head Men’s Lacrosse Coach Don Zimmerman

“Our men’s lacrosse program is excited to expand our existing Under Armour partnership. We appreciate Under Armour’s support of our program and look forward to a longstanding relationship.”

Randy Monroe has resigned as head men’s basketball coach at UMBC, effective immediately, Director of Athletics Dr. Charles Brown announced today. Aki Thomas, who has served the five previous seasons on the Retriever basketball staff, has been named acting head coach for the 2012-13 campaign.

UMBC will be actively evaluating the men’s basketball program to determine its future direction.

Monroe completed eight seasons (2004-2012) as head coach at UMBC after spending the previous ten seasons as an assistant coach with the Retrievers. He led UMBC to its lone America East Conference title and NCAA Tournament appearance in the 2007-08 campaign as the Retrievers finished with a school record 24 (24-9) victories.

Monroe directed the third-most games (245) of any head coach in the 45-year history of UMBC men’s basketball and finished with a career mark of 85-160.

“We appreciate all that Coach Monroe did for our basketball program and our community during his long tenure at UMBC,” Dr. Brown said. “We wish him nothing but success in his future endeavors.”

Thomas came to UMBC in the summer of 2007 and has been a member of the Retriever coaching staff for five previous seasons. The New York, N.Y. native was also serving as the staff’s recruiting coordinator.

He had previously worked as an assistant coach at Howard University from 2004-07.

“Aki brings an excellent playing and coaching background to the position,” Dr. Brown said. “He has strong communication skills and will fit into our program in a very positive way. I am confident that he will be able to support our student-athletes during this time of transition. I am excited about this year’s men’s basketball team and feel that we can compete for the America East Conference title.”

Thomas, age 33, played professionally in Venezuela before accepting the position at Howard under then-head coach Frankie Allen.  Prior to that, Thomas was a standout for the Bison in 2000-01, when he helped lead the team to an 18-13 mark and the finals of the MEAC Tournament.  Thomas averaged almost 12 points and eight rebounds per game en route to being named to the All-MEAC second team.

Before Howard, Thomas played for three seasons at the University of Colorado. His tenure with the Buffaloes was highlighted by a selection to the All-Tournament Team of the 1998 Puerto Rico Shootout.  He was a member of a pair of CU teams which earned berths to the NIT, and he was selected to the Commissioner’s Big 12 All-Academic Team.

Thomas was a two-time league rebounding champion in the Venezuelan LPB League (2003-04) and earned the same title during a stint in the Colombian Federation Cup League (2004). He played his prep ball at New York city’s Manhattan Center, where he was selected All-City his junior and senior seasons.  He was also named Manhattan PSAL Player of the Year and Honorable Mention All-America during his senior campaign.

Thomas received his degree in sociology from Howard in 2002. He married the former Gayna Lacy in 2009 and the couple welcomed a son, Lexington Luther in September of 2011. The Thomases reside in Laurel, Md.