MCKENZIE, Tenn. –After serving as interim coach of the Bethel University Shooting program for the last several months, Steve Thomas has been named the head coach of the program.
Thomas, a native of Paris, Tennessee, brings extensive leadership and discipline to his coaching roles, shaped by a distinguished career in the U.S. Navy and the Henry County Sheriff’s Department, where he served with honor until his retirement.
He began his coaching career in 2012 with the Henry County No Fly Zone, where he discovered a deep passion for mentoring young athletes in the shooting sports. In the spring of 2024, Steve joined Bethel University as a coach for pistol, rifle, and shotgun, where he continues to demonstrate his commitment to excellence, safety, and team development within collegiate shooting.
Bethel Interim Athletic Dave McCulley commented, “We are excited to name Steve as our new head coach. He has done a great job as interim and has also recruited several talented volunteer assistants to help with the program.” McCulley added, “We have a great group of returning shooters and have added several new students to the roster. After a championship season last year, the expectations are high again for the pistol, shotgun, and rifle squads.”