MENOMONIE — Bob Thomas, the former University of Wisconsin-Stout wrestling head coach who helped shape multiple Blue Devil athletic programs for more than two decades, died Sunday, March 15, 2026. He was 88.
Thomas served as Stout's head wrestling coach from 1988 until his retirement in 1997, building a program that produced six All-Americans - including 1994 national champion Corey McCauley - and 17 NAIA or NCAA national qualifiers. His teams compiled the most dual wins in program history and his impact extended well beyond the wrestling mat.
In addition to leading the wrestling program, Thomas was an assistant coach for the Blue Devils football (1986-2013) and baseball (1995-2008) teams and served as the department's equipment manager for much of his tenure at Stout. Working with the football program's offense and special teams, he helped develop five All-American players. On the baseball diamond, he stepped in as acting head coach for the 1997 season, guiding Stout to a 25-8 record, a share of the WIAC Northern Division title and a conference tournament appearance.
Thomas officially retired from full-time work in 1997 but retained a visible presence in Stout athletics for decades, continuing as an assistant coach for football and baseball coaching well into the 2000s, and contributing in various additional roles, including as a basketball scorekeeper and conference officials evaluator. For many years, Thomas was a volunteer at the NCAA Division I Baseball Championships in Omaha, Neb., in various capacities.
Thomas was inducted into the UW-Stout Athletic Hall of Fame in 2005.
Before arriving in Menomonie in 1986, Thomas built a decorated coaching career at nearby Spring Valley High School. There, he helped establish the wrestling program in 1965 and after becoming head coach in 1976, compiled a 129-87-2 overall record, producing two state champions and qualifying 29 participants to the Wisconsin state tournament.
Thomas' football teams went 119-79-4, winning nine conference titles and one state championship in 1978. His teams compiled a state-record 49-game conference winning streak and won nine conference titles. He was named Kodak National Coach of the Year in 1973 and 1978. Thomas began his coaching career at Kickapoo High School in southwestern Wisconsin before coming to Spring Valley in 1964, where he taught for 25 years.
A native of Clear Lake, Wis., Thomas was a standout student-athlete at UW-Superior in the late 1950s. He played four years of varsity basketball, including on the Yellowjackets' 1957 NCAA Tournament team, and three years of baseball, serving as team captain in 1958. He was inducted into the UW-Superior Athletic Hall of Fame in 2004, into Wisconsin chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2004, and into the Wisconsin Football Coaches Association (WFCA) Hall of Fame in 1998.
Thomas is survived by his wife of 66 years, Helen, and four adult children - Mark, who followed in his father's footsteps as a coach at both Spring Valley High School and UW-Stout, Julie, Sarah, and Jane, who coached at Spring Valley - nine grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
A celebration of life is scheduled for Saturday, March 21, from 3-7 p.m at Spring Valley High School, with a funeral service set for Sunday, March 22, at 2 p.m. at Peace Lutheran Church in Menomonie.
A scholarship fund is being established in his name.
