UHA Announces Frankie Thomas Will Not Return as Boys’ Soccer Coach

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University Heights Academy will be seeking a new boys’ soccer coach after Frankie Thomas’ contract was not renewed by the school.

In a statement, UHA Athletic Director Taylor Sparks thanked Thomas for his contributions to the soccer team and wished him well moving forward. The statement did not get into specifics about why the school was moving in a different direction.

Thomas was 50-29-1 in four seasons as Blazers’ coach. UHA won made an appearance in the All A Classic State Tournament in 2019 and won three consecutive district titles. His teams reached the semifinal round of the region tournament each season with a 2020 loss to Henderson County in the region championship.

“I don’t know what direction you can possibly go in after you have won three straight district championships,” Thomas said in a phone interview Wednesday. “It’s not right, especially when I got parents and all the boys on the team right now that don’t have a chance to voice their opinions.”

Thomas said he was asked by the school to resign last month but refused, adding he feels the decision is being driven by some of the players’ parents more than the school.

“It’s more parent-driven. It is not an administration problem because they never communicated any kind of complaints with me. They have never communicated anything with me since I’ve been there,” Thomas said.

However, during a recent meeting when he was asked to resign, Thomas said he was told that a late decision to pull out of the 2021 Bluegrass State Games produced some parent complaints.  The BGSG is a two-day event that allows soccer teams to play three games in two days in Lexington and not have them count against the preseason scrimmage limit.

“That was two years ago. I didn’t have a goalie, and I didn’t have four of my main players to go up there to compete on our level,” he said.  “Another complaint is that we aren’t having a middle school season this spring because we don’t have the numbers. You know how the private school works when you’re low on numbers. It’s just an unfair thing to me, an unfair thing to the kids and my coaching staff.”

The 40-year-old Thomas still feels like he has some coaching left.

“I had planned on coaching because my youngest is still there (UHA) in school right now, so I probably was going to coach another five or seven years, you know, see some of the kids through,” he said.

4 Responses

  1. Wow! Love you my brother but you knew the score before you ever played the game. Great Job my friend you did an amazing job❤

  2. Frankie is one of the most stand-up guys I’ve ever known. I know he loves those kids and is without doubt the most successful soccer coach that UHA has ever had! This is a gross injustice on the part of U.H.A. I am a fellow alumnus that graduated a year before Frankie and he was and is a straight shooter…honest, humble(maybe too humble) and knows the sport of Soccer like the back of his hand! Always did…he was a great player as well…I remember. I know he has been a great coach. The stats speak for themselves. If he wants to stay on as coach, he should be able to stay on for as long as he desires! This is ridiculous on the part of OUR school! We, the alumnus, have traditionally run that school since it’s first years of existence, when so called and moved to doing so.That tradition should continue or the very spirit of U.H.A. will be lost! Frankie heard that call like Mr. Denison did, like Mrs. Kissner did, like Mrs. Noel did, among others. Frankie Thomas should immediately be reinstated as head coach and an apology from the school to Frankie should appear here and in the paper. To those who it may concern, —Michael Sloan

  3. Wow! This so sad! Frankie is a terrific person and from what I am told, a very good coach. May you be rewarded with another job as coach and take your children with you! The Lord must have something bigger for you to do. Blessings to you and your family!

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