Jackson County Boys Head Basketball Coach Kevin Thomas retiring after 30 years of coaching at the high school level.
Thomas said the decision to step away follows a career that included 27 years as a head coach. Thomas said he felt the timing was right to pursue personal interests and provide a chance for his long-time assistant coach BJ Upchurch.
“I thought about it for a little while and we’ve got some other things going on in our personal life with my wife and her business, and I just felt like, you know, now is a good time to get out and give BJ an opportunity,” Thomas said. “He’s been with me ten years and a young guy that you don’t have very many people stay with somebody 10 years and not want to move on and become a head coach, and he’s ready for the job and just felt like it was a good time.”
Thomas said his career included 13 years as the boys head coach at Shelbyville and four years leading the girls program there before returning to Jackson County for the last decade. Thomas said he feels he was able to improve every program he led during his tenure.
“But you know, I think everybody will tell you in coaching it’s just so great to see your kids, the men and women that’s played for me, to see how well they’re doing in life and being good dads and moms and just being great assets to the community, both here in Shelbyville and Jackson County and having kids play for you going back teaching and want to get into coaching, and it’s just been a it’s been a lot of pleasurable moments for sure for me to see the past players do well in life after high school,” Thomas said.
Thomas said his teams reached the state tournament multiple times, including a state runner-up finish with Shelbyville in 2006 and a final four appearance with Jackson County in 2023. Thomas said the pinnacle of these accomplishments was winning the state championship with Jackson County in 2026.
“Well, first and foremost, I you know they can always tell you that we held them to a standard,” Thomas said. “I think they’re going to remember that Coach Thomas, he expected us to behave in a manner that represented the program and the school and hard work.”
Thomas said he grew up in the Jackson County community where his grandfather, Kermit Forkum, coached from 1956 to 1970. Thomas said the gym where he coached for the last 10 years is named after his grandfather.
“Your whole life you grow up and you want to be the head coach just like your granddad and it didn’t work out and went away to Shelbyville for right at 20 years and been able to come back here and do what we’ve done the last 10 years, winning four district championships and two regional championships and four substates and a final four appearance and a state championship, is just extraordinary for me and my family and my mom. I’m just so proud that we could represent Jackson County Boys Basketball the way my granddad with his teams back in the late 50s and all through the 60s of getting to the state tournament back when there was no classification It’s just been an honor to be able to do it, that’s for sure,” Thomas said.
Thomas said the game has evolved over three decades with players becoming more skilled and athletic while playing year-round. Thomas said the speed of the game has increased as more teams utilize various pressing and trapping defenses compared to the half-court style common when he started.
“Well, there’s no doubt that the culture is here,” Thomas said. “It’s already established of the work ethic and the things that the standards that we hold these Blue Devils up to and BJ’s going to continue that.”
Thomas said the program currently features updated facilities, including a renovated dressing room and an internal weight room. Thomas said he plans to spend his retirement raising cattle on his farm and assisting with his wife’s medical practice.
“Well, you know, the word forever to me is pretty tough to say, you know, I would think one of these days if it’s something I could do to help BJ out along the way or who knows, I may have grandkids come along and I want to get involved with basketball a little bit more,” Thomas said. “So I’m not going to say forever because basketball will always be a part of my life.”