Bio

Candice Thomas became the McLennan women’s basketball head coach in 2023 after spending the previous 10 seasons as an assistant coach for the program. In her first season, Thomas led the squad to a North Texas Junior College Athletic Conference Championship with an 11-2 record and an appearance at the Region V Tournament. Thomas was named the conference’s Co-Coach of the Year, and four players earned all-conference selections including Defensive Player of the Year Aysia Ward. Mersadez Nephew was named an all-Region selection and an NJCAA Honorable Mention All-American.

During her time as an assistant coach, Thomas has helped lead the team to five regional tournament appearances and a berth in the 2023 NJCAA Division I National Championship, the program’s first since 1984. Those teams have featured 44 all-conference selections, four all-region selections and two NJCAA All-Americans, along with 16 NJCAA All-Academic Team honorees.

Before joining the McLennan staff, Thomas spent a year working as a physical education aide at South Waco Elementary and a year as a physical education teacher and coach at Carver Middle School. She coached the 2012-13 seventh-grade girls’ basketball team to an undefeated Waco City Championship. Thomas also worked as a recreational aide at the Bledsoe Recreational Center.

Thomas, a 2006 graduate of Waco’s University High School, was a four-year starter for the Lady Panthers at Prairie View A&M University. As a freshman in 2006, she led the team to the program’s first SWAC Championship and NCAA Tournament appearance, and she was named the SWAC Tournament MVP. Thomas led the team to regular-season conference championships in 2008 and 2009, tournament championships in 2007 and 2009, another NCAA appearance in 2009 and an NIT appearance in 2008. She was a three-time SWAC First-Team All-Conference selection, earning Player of the Year honors in 2008.

Thomas earned her bachelor’s degree in human performance from Prairie View in 2011.

Coaching experience
2023-present: Head coach, McLennan Community College
2014-23: Assistant coach, McLennan Community College
2013-14: Volunteer assistant coach, McLennan Community College
2012-13: Head coach, Carver Middle School

Playing experience
2006-10: Prairie View A&M University

Education
2011: Bachelor’s in human performance, Prairie View A&M University