Kenny Thomas, the former head baseball coach for the University of South Carolina Aiken Pacers, is currently managing the Williamsport Crosscutters through a record-setting season in the MLB Draft League. The Crosscutters achieved an overall record of 47-24 by Monday, August 31, 2026, against the State College Spikes, nearing the league’s all-time win mark set by the 2022 West Virginia Black Bears. The team also scored 500 total runs, six shy of a single-season league record, and boasts a plus-166 run differential, nearly double the previous MLB Draft League record.
Thomas’s journey to Williamsport follows a distinguished three-decade coaching career, including 12 seasons at Volunteer State Community College. He led the Pacers for many years, guiding them to nine NCAA tournament appearances and over 750 wins before his final season in 2021. That year, the Pacers finished 20-17 after a series split against Lander on May 1.
The move north for Thomas was influenced by a personal tragedy. In the same year as his last season at, his wife, Judy Thomas, was diagnosed with cancer. Following a two-year battle that included chemotherapy, appointments, surgery, and treatments, Judy Thomas passed away on September 8, 2023. In July 2021, established a scholarship in honor of Kenny and Judy. Additionally, Aiken’s Roberto Hernandez Stadium dedicated a plaque at Judy’s usual seating spot, known as Ms. Judy’s Place.
Eight months after Judy’s passing, Thomas was introduced as the bench and hitting coach for the Williamsport Crosscutters in 2024. He described the baseball diamond as a return to what feels like home during his transition. Now in his second season as manager, Thomas is widely regarded at Bowman Field for his passion and work ethic, maintaining a determined approach to winning, which he attributes to his late wife’s spirit.
