Todd Thomas is looking back at his football career and its impact on our JCHS football program after his recent decision to step back from head coach responsibilities. For Thomas, football has always been more than a game—it’s been a pathway to purpose. From his days as a student-athlete at Johnston City High School to transforming the same program decades later, he’s always been dedicated to the game and its student-athletes.
A proud 1987 graduate of JCHS, Thomas made his mark early. The coach credits his family members for pushing him toward athletics. He played football, basketball, and track, but football captured his heart.
"My first love was basketball," Thomas admits. "My dad was a standout at JCHS, and my uncle was a head basketball coach. My stepfather introduced me to weightlifting, and I grew to love football for its physicality, strategy, and camaraderie."
As a student-athlete, Thomas was part of JCHS football history, being an Indian on the first-ever team to make a playoff appearance. His other high school accomplishments include winning two conference championships and being a first-team all-conference linebacker. As a senior, he was on the first JCHS football team to win a playoff game.
Despite his athletic success, coaching wasn’t his original plan. With a degree in business, Thomas initially pursued a path outside education.
“I never intended on coaching, but my interest in fitness kept growing,” he reflects. Eventually, that passion led me back to school for a teaching certificate, and it wasn’t long before I was researching strength and conditioning—and then, coaching football.”
His coaching career began in 1993 at Carbondale High School under coach John Helmick. During that time, he volunteered at camps and assisted with track. From there, Thomas gained more experience under other esteemed head coaches like Randy Grimes at Lone Oak High School, Mike Rude at JCHS, Kerry Martin at Marion High School, and Jeff Roper at Benton. In 2013, Thomas took the head coaching position at Pinckneyville High School, a role he embraced.
“I always knew I wanted to be a head coach, but it had to be the right situation at the right time,” he says.”
“I always knew I wanted to be a head coach, but it had to be the right situation at the right time,” he says.”
After four years in Pinckneyville at his first job as head coach, Thomas and his young family decided to move back to Johnston City to be closer to family. In 2017 Johnston City welcomed him as our new head football coach—a full-circle moment in his life. Since then, the transformation has been remarkable.
Under Thomas’ leadership, our team has been 47-7 over the past five years with four conference championships and one runner-up. Our football players can also boast 8-4 in the playoffs with second-round appearances in 2021 and 2023, plus semi-final appearances in 2022 and 2024.
One student-athlete who participated in those semi-final appearances is Jace Weaver, who says those games are the team accomplishments he’s most proud of. Weaver, a safety and running back, has played football since he was six years old. He knew being on our high school team was something he had to accomplish.
“There is nothing like it,” he says about being on the football team. “It’s a great experience, and the bond we create is special. On and off the field, we are all close and create a ton of memories we will look back on when we are older.”
It’s not just the memories that Weaver will look back on, but also the values he will carry forward. He believes Thomas has instilled life lessons in him and his teammates, like discipline, respect, and accountability that will remain with them their entire lives.
“These attributes will help us further down the road,” Weaver reflects. “Coach says he prepares us for football and the real world. Overall, becoming better men.”
Sophomore Marcus Leitzen played under Thomas for two years and tried out for the team because of its reputation for success. The outside linebacker led the team in tackles this past season, but agrees with Weaver that it's about the connections you make with teammates and your coach.
“Being on the football team means everything to me,” he says. “To be with my brothers every day, knowing we’re all there to be the best we can, is a feeling hard to describe. You almost feel indestructible.”
Like these players, when asked what he’ll remember the most about being a part of the team, Thomas doesn’t mention the wins.
“What I’ll remember most is the commitment and focus of our 2020 team—really, the Spring 2021 season during the pandemic,” he recalls. “They practiced when no one else was. That group got us over the hump, and the players since then have shown so much coachability, respect, and maturity.”
The word Thomas returns to is camaraderie. For him, the wins are secondary to the bond shared by players, coaches, families, and the greater community.
“Watching these boys develop into responsible, hardworking, unselfish young men is what it’s all about,” he explains. “The closeness and camaraderie, the teams have been like having a second family. The atmosphere and support at our games and our fanbase have been incredible.”
Now, after seven seasons at the helm, Thomas is stepping back from his role as head coach to spend more time with his family. He’ll remain deeply involved in the program, coordinating our strength and movement program and assisting with the offense and defense. His former players know they can always look to him for advice.
“He will be a spiritual role model for me as life goes on and help me through personal things if need be,” Leitzen explains.
The team’s leadership now transitions to long-time lead assistant and Offensive Coordinator Marshall Mummert, who’s a teacher at JCHS and has support from Thomas.
“Coach Mummert has been my right-hand man from day one,” Thomas says. “He’s grown into a fantastic coach and leader. It should be a seamless transition. While our personalities differ a bit, our values are the same, and that’s what matters.”
Looking back, Thomas is quick to share the credit. He thanks the district for trusting him, his wife for the countless sacrifices behind the scenes, and the assistant coaches, whose dedication helped elevate the program. He also acknowledges the parents and community for buying into a vision rooted in accountability, discipline, and heart.
“They let us coach their kids hard and hold them to a high standard—that’s rare these days,” he adds. “The support we’ve received, even during the early years when we weren’t winning yet, has meant everything.”
As the Johnston City football program continues, the imprint Thomas made will remain, not just in records, but in the lives of the young men he's mentored.