Cooper Thomas is the assistant wrestling coach at North Idaho College. After serving one season interim, he now begins a more permanent role for the wrestling program. Thomas grew up in Maple Valley, Washington where he wrestled for Tahoma High School. He attended North Idaho College as an athlete on the wrestling team from 2015-2017.  

After NIC, Thomas transferred to Grand View University, an NAIA school in Des Moines, Iowa where he studied Kinesiology & Health Promotion. While attending Grand View, he was a part of the 2018 and 2019 NAIA National Championship wrestling teams. 

Thomas met his wife at NIC their freshman year of college, and after pursuing his wrestling and educational endeavors, the two moved back to the area to be closer to family and be back in the beautiful Pacific Northwest.  

During his interim season as assistant coach, Thomas contributed to NIC’s wrestling success for the 2022-23 season by helping coach the team to a 5th place finish as a team at the NJCAA National Tournament. The Cardinals also had four individual All-Americans for the 2022-23.