Cameron Loses Football Coaches

By Ross Martin, St. Joseph News Press

A whirlwind week at Cameron leaves the Dragons’ football program minus two coaches, including the most successful head coach in school history.

Eric Thomas resigned his position Monday to accept an assistant head coaching job at Columbia-Hickman (Mo.), leaving behind a program he took to the pinnacle of Missouri football. Thomas compiled a 38-20 record in five years, including two Class 2 state title game appearances and a record-setting championship in 2005.

Thomas assumes the offensive coordinator duties at Hickman, a Class 6 school, after accepting the position late last week.

“The things that we’ve accomplished ... it’s been a great ride,” Thomas said. “Last year at this time, I was looking to buy a house in Cameron and stay here. That didn’t work out. Sometimes opportunities present themselves, and you have to jump on them.”

Cameron assistant Jeff White also won’t return next season after signing a contract last week to assume Gallatin’s head coaching duties. Part of Thomas’ staff three of the past four years, White will take on his first head coaching responsibilities after three years at Cameron (2004, 2006-2007) and Richmond (2005).

White is taking over a program with three playoff appearances in the past four years.

“Gallatin’s always been a good football school with great tradition,” said White, who replaces Mark Cole. “They’re consistently one of the best football schools in the GRC.

“The timing was right when it came open. Gallatin ended up being the one I wanted and the one I walked into.”

White hopes to take much of what he learned from Thomas to Gallatin.

Thomas took over a downtrodden Cameron program in 2003 and used his innovative spread offense to immediately reverse fortune. Cameron won 11 games and reached the Class 2 state title game in Thomas’ second season — the Dragons’ first playoff appearance in nearly a decade.

The next year, Cameron went 14-0 and blitzed through a tough schedule while putting up overwhelming offensive and defensive numbers. It’s considered one of the most dominating season in Missouri history.

Cameron also upgraded its football facilities with new locker rooms and FieldTurf during Thomas’ tenure.

“I have goose bumps just thinking about it,” Thomas said. “You’ll never be able to replace those memories, and they’ll always live with me.

“I’d like to say Cameron is a different place than it was five years ago. Hopefully, a little bit to do with me, but more to do with the community and the kids jumping on board.”

The new position moves Thomas, a graduate of Jefferson City High School, closer to family. Thomas values the merit of moving to a larger school, leaving behind a Cameron team that went 10-10 during his final two seasons.

“It would’ve been hard to leave anytime,” Thomas said. “It would’ve been hard to leave after a state championship situation in 2005.

“Four years from now, it would’ve been just as difficult as it is now.”