Garth Thomson recently completed his 15th year at Francis Marion University as the head coach for men’s and women’s tennis. He is also the university’s International Students Coordinator.
In his 15 seasons at the FMU helm, Thomson has led the men’s team to 11 NCAA Division II national tournament appearances (including trips to the Sweet 16 in 1998, 1999, and 2001) and a 217-106 record (.672 winning percentage). The Patriot men have been nationally ranked at the conclusion of each of the past 12 seasons, and 13 of the past 14. In his 15 seasons, his teams have produced 13 double-figure win totals and 13 non-losing records. In 1999, 2000, 2001, and 2006 he was named the Peach Belt Conference men’s “Coach of the Year.”
This past year, the FMU men were 8-10, with all ten losses coming at the hands of nationally ranked opponents. FMU ended the year ranked 29th in the ITA/Fila NCAA Division II Top 40 poll. In 2006, the Patriot men were a program-best 19-3, and were ranked as high as eighth in the Division II national poll, in addition to their 11th trip to the NCAA tournament.
Thomson has directed the women’s team to a 174-141 mark, seven trips to the NCAA tournament, including five straight between 1995 and 1999, and spots in the final national poll in nine of the past 15 years. His women's teams have posted double-digit win totals in 10 seasons.
This past season, the Patriot women were 16-8, ranked 16th nationally, and finished sixth during the PBC regular season and fifth at the PBC Tournament. FMU advanced to the NCAA Tournament's Mid-Atlantic Region title match for the second consecutive year. In 2006, Francis Marion was one of the most improved squads in Division II, going from a 10-15 record in 2005 to a program-best 20-6 mark. His 2006 squad was ranked as high as 11th nationally, and five of the team's six losses were to nationally ranked opponents. For these accomplishments, he was also named the 2006 PBC "Coach of the Year" for women's tennis.
Since becoming the first tennis All-American at FMU, Thomson’s Patriot programs have produced numerous All-Americans on the court and in the classroom. On 20 occasions, Patriots netters have earned All-America honors and on nine occasions, FMU players have gained Academic All-America recognition.
In his first two years heading the FMU women's program, he coached Mary Hirst and Lee Whitwell to back-to-back NCAA Division II Women’s Tennis Doubles National Championships. The duo became only the third doubles team in Division II history to successfully defend a national title.
Thomson was named head coach on Oct. 26, 1992, replacing Rowan Davis. He is the eighth head coach in the history of the men’s program and 12th in the history of the women’s program. Prior to taking the FMU position, he was the assistant club (tennis) professional at the Florence Country Club.
A native of Harare, Zimbabwe, Thomson earned the B.B.A. degree in finance from Francis Marion in 1991. He later received the M.B.A. degree from FMU in 1997. While an undergraduate, he lettered four years in tennis (1987-90) and earned his team’s most valuable player award each year. During both his junior and senior seasons, he captured the NAIA District Six number-one singles title, won three matches and advanced to the round of 32 at the NAIA national tournament in Kansas City, Mo., and was named an NAIA second-team All-American. He was the first Patriot tennis player to earn All-American honors. In March 1990, he represented Zimbabwe in Davis Cup competition.
In 1998, Thomson was inducted into the FMU Athletic Hall of Fame.
