Thomas Named Florida Tech Director of Athletic Partnerships

MELBOURNE, FLA.—Ken Stackpoole, senior vice president for advancement, announced today the hiring of John Thomas as the new director of athletic partnerships at Florida Institute of Technology. As director, Thomas will play the lead role in fundraising for the university’s intercollegiate athletics program. Florida Tech, a NCAA Division II institution, currently competes in 15 sports.

Thomas joins Florida Tech after establishing and leading the football program at Holy Trinity Episcopal Academy in Melbourne. Since 2000, Thomas has served as head football coach and led fundraising initiatives, raising more than $300,000 for the program and a new stadium.

“We believe that John is the right person to lead our athletics fundraising to the next level,” said Stackpoole. “He has the right mix of experience, knowledge and drive to be highly successful in this critical development role at Florida Tech.”

Thomas inherits a highly successful athletics fundraising program. Florida Tech athletics’ annual fundraiser, the Sporting Affair, raised $320,000 earlier this year. Thomas, while leaving behind a remarkable legacy at Holy Trinity, said he is ready for a new challenge.
“This is an exceptional opportunity at an outstanding university,” said Thomas. “I look forward to joining the Florida Tech team and accomplishing some very special things in the years ahead.”

Florida Tech offers undergraduate programs in science, engineering, science and math education, aeronautics, business, humanities, psychology, and communication; master’s programs in science, engineering, aeronautics, business, psychology, communication, education (science, math, environmental and instructional technology); and doctoral programs in science, engineering, psychology, and science and math education.

Florida Tech was one of just two Florida institutions of higher education listed in Peterson’s Top Colleges for Science and has been named as one of America’s best universities by U.S. News & World Report for 18 consecutive years. Fiske Guide to Colleges 2008 named Florida Tech one of the top 14 “Technical Institutes” in the country.