McLennan Community College Women's Basketball

Thomas joined the Highlassies coaching staff as an assistant coach in 2014 after spending the 2013-14 season as a volunteer assistant. Before joining the McLennan staff, Thomas spent a year working as a physical education aide at South Waco Elementary and a year as a physical education teacher and coach at Carver Middle School. She coached the 2012-13 seventh grade girls basketball team to an undefeated Waco City Championship. Thomas also worked as a recreational aide at the Bledsoe Recreational Center. Thomas, a 2006 graduate of Wacos University High School, was a four-year starter for the Lady Panthers at Prairie View A&M University. As a freshman in 2006, she led the team to the programs first SWAC Championship and NCAA Tournament appearance, and she was named the SWAC Tournament MVP. Thomas led the team to regular season conference championships in 2008 and 2009; tournament championships in 2007 and 2009, another NCAA appearance in 2009, and an NIT appearance in 2008. She was a three-time SWAC First-Team All-Conference selection, earning Player of the Year honors in 2008. Thomas earned her bachelors degree in human performance from Prairie View in 2011. Coaching experience 2014-present: Assistant coach, McLennan Community College 2013-14: Volunteer assistant coach, McLennan Community College 2012-13: Head coach, Carver Middle School Playing experience 2006-2010: Prairie View A&M University Education 2011: Bachelors in human performance, Prairie View A&M University

Bio Alecia Smith joined the McLennan women’s basketball staff as an assistant coach in June 2023. In her first season, she helped lead the squad to a North Texas Junior College Athletic Conference Championship with an 11-2 record and an appearance at the Region V Tournament. Four players earned all-conference selections including Defensive Player of the Year Aysia Ward. Mersadez Nephew was named an all-Region selection and an NJCAA Honorable Mention All-American. Smith came to McLennan after spending the 2022-23 season as the assistant women’s coach at Tyler Junior College (TJC), working primarily with the guards and scout team. She was also responsible for recruiting, overseeing the academic progress of the student-athletes and supervising the student managers. Additionally, she coordinated the team’s strength and conditioning program, managed the program’s social media channels, and served as a liaison with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Prior to joining the TJC staff, Smith was the head varsity basketball coach at Hillcrest High School in Dallas and Tarkington High School in Cleveland, Texas. Smith was a four-year letterman at the University of Houston, finishing her career ranked among the top-30 in seven statistical categories: 3-point field goal attempts (2nd, 575), 3-point field goals made (5th, 143), minutes played (6th, 3,346), games played (12th, 118), games started (13th, 87), assists (13th, 260) and steals (22nd, 138). At Cedar Hill High School, she was named among VYPE Magazine’s DFW Fab. 50 to Watch entering her senior season, and was rated a four-star recruit and the No. 15 overall prospect in Texas by Premier Basketball Report. Smith earned a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology from the University of Houston in 2015 and a master’s degree of science in coaching and athletics administration from Concordia University Irvine in 2021. Coaching experience 2023-present: Assistant coach, McLennan Community College 2022-23: Assistant coach, Tyler Junior College 2020-22: Head varsity coach, Hillcrest High School 2018-20: Head varsity coach, Tarkington High School Playing experience 2012-15: University of Houston 2009-12: Cedar Hill High School Education 2021: Master’s of science in coaching & athletics administration, Concrodia University Irvine 2015: Bachelor’s in kinesiology, University of Houston