James “JJ” Thatcher has been named as the new head men’s basketball coach at Bryant & Stratton College – Rochester in New York.
He will be no stranger to the league that is within the USCAA, a league that coach Thatcher has spent some time coaching during his time in Florida. Thatcher said I am very excited and thankful for this opportunity Athletic Director “Darren Wynne” has giving me to lead the men’s basketball program at Bryant & Stratton College-Rochester. To be able to coach and walk the sidelines at any collegiate level is a blessing. I know the Players, Coaches and teams well in the USCAA from around the country and respect them all. Furthermore, I look forward to building a team that represents the College and institution mission, with high character student – athletes within the classroom, community and on the court. Coach Thatcher said, the landscape of college sports and basketball has changed dramatically, you learn fast who is there by your side along with you on the sideline. Bryant & Stratton College – Rochester has invested in me to lead their men’s basketball team to a National Title.
Before coming to BSC-Rochester coach Thatcher was a big part of building the program and organization at Prestige Worldwide Sports Academy working alongside CEO/President Ken Wilcox. Helping build the program into one of the best Post Grad institution within the state of Florida. Coach Thatcher help set the academic success standards along with the financial marketing and post-secondary college scholarships opportunity for student athletes needing a clear understanding of the change in the collegiate athletic landscape.
Coach James JJ Thatcher spent a half season as the Chokers Head Men’s Basketball Coach at Grays Harbor College in Aberdeen, Washington. The season was shorting due to unforeseen reasons with the administration of the college struggle financially from COVID. For the most part coach Thatcher was able to get the opportunity to build relationships in the NWAC.
Before coming to GHC coach Thatcher, spent the past eight season at Florida National University an NAIA located in Hialeah, Florida. FNU became one of the top NAIA programs in the state and around the country during coach Thatcher’s time. During the 20-21 season that saw the country hit with COVID and many season coming to an end, the conquistadors would see a short season before shutting it down. In the 2019-2020 season, Coach JJ was able to lead his team to 24 wins (24-6) and receiving another #1 seed in the USCAA National tournament. Unfortunately, the season ended just before tip-off does to COVID-19. During the 2019-2020 season, the Conquistadors saw three players reach USCAA All-American status with Kenneth Santos 19ppg as First Team All-American averaging 20 ppg, Jeffrey Hernandez First Team All-American, and Jose Benitez 15ppg a Second Team All-American. Santos, Benitez and Hernandez
Their Careers started at FNU as Freshman’s by being recruited from well-known around the country as one of the best AAU programs to ever play on the summer circuit the Miami Tropics and coach Art Pilin Alvarez.
In 2018-2019, Thatcher led the Conquistadors to another 20-win season (23-9) with a USCAA Final Four run, also with receiving the #1 seed in the National Tournament. The 2017-2018 season was a season to remember. The Conquistadors posted the most wins in school history with a 25-7 record. This was good enough for the first USCAA Final Four appearance in the short history of the program, with two First Team All-Americans (Christopher Hall & Terence Johnson), and one-Third Team All- American (Kenneth Santos).
The Florida National University men’s basketball team under coach Thatcher’s guidance had the opportunity to play two major exhibitions games with the Women’s Team USA that went on to win the gold medal in the Olympics and the Bahamas Sr. National Team with NBA players (DeAndre Ayton, Buddy Hill and Lourawls “Tum Tum” Nairn Jr.
Prior to Florida National University Coach Thatcher spent one season at State College of Florida, a NJCAA D1 Junior College in Bradenton, Florida. Head Coach Brock Erickson (Associate Head Men’s Basketball Texas -Rio Grande Valley) said “Coach Thatcher will be missed in the SCF family and Athletic staff. He was a hard worker every day he was here, if he was not in the office, he was somewhere around the state of Florida, putting SCF on the map.” Coach Erickson said he will be missed deeply and hard to replace with the work he performed at State College of Florida. Coach Erickson also said, “He has a great eye for the game, and he can just flat out recruit with the best of them.” Coach Thatcher help lead the SCF basketball to a 24-7 record and the Sun Coast Conference Championship.
Coach Thatcher was the Head Women’s Basketball Coach at Trinity Baptist College for the 2011-2012 season. Before leaving TBC, he recruited the best female player in school history, Nicole Collins, who went on to be an NCCAA All-American, posting 32ppg, 19rpg, 3apg, 3spg, and 2bpg. She is the all-time leading scorer in Trinity Baptist College Women’s Basketball history. Athletic Director and Head Men’s Basketball at the time, Coach John D. Jones said in his 21 years as an assistant and head coach, that JJ Thatcher was one of the greatest recruiters he has ever worked with. Thatcher led the Lady Eagles to their first win in school history and an overtime win with only four players after the remainder of the team fouled out. He was also an assistant and recruiting coordinator for the Men’s Basketball team. The men’s program, with four of Coach Thatcher’s NCAA Division I transfers won a National Championship in the Small College National Tournament. This was one of the best teams in school history at TBC. A school only known for playing against small Christian colleges soon became a national power. Coach Thatcher help put together a very strong schedule with the likes of Jacksonville University, Savannah State University, Florida Tech, Valdosta State University, and many other NCAA Division II, and NAIA powers. Coach Thatcher recruited 3 All-Americans while at Trinity Baptist College and in just two seasons put the Eagles on a National and worldwide map.
Before TBC, Coach Thatcher spent two seasons as the top assistant men’s basketball coach at Brewton Parker College. An NAIA program in Georgia, Thatcher helped Coach John D. Jones establish a program that consistently competed with the best in the nation. Jones credited Thatcher with helping to bring in some of the top NCAA Division I transfers in the country to BPC. In two seasons at BPC, the Barons made back-to-back SSAC Conference Tournament berths. BPC knocked off 20th ranked Emmanuel College, and 16th ranked Southern Poly State University during the 2010-2011 season. Coach Thatcher also spent time recruiting for the Lady Barons basketball team and helped them reach the SSAC Conference Tournament both years. Coach Thatcher is credited with recruiting Erica Brown, a transfer from LSU to the Barons. Brown is considered one of the best female athletes to ever come out of the South Florida area.
College Thatcher next stop was the top assistant coach at Florida State College at Jacksonville for the women’s program. FSCJ is a highly regarded NJCAA program that plays in one of the toughest regions in the country. He helped lead the team to a #11 National Ranking. While at Florida State College at Jacksonville, Thatcher helped Head Coach Debora Woods recruit two First-Team All-State players, three top 25 scorers in the country, and one Academic All-American student athlete. Coach Thatcher was also active in community service, organizing summer basketball programs for young men and women.
His first position as a college basketball coach would come on the women’s side of the game where coach Thatcher was the top assistant coach under Head Women’s Coach Craig Wilsman at Warner Southern now (Warner University) at the time was a NAIA D2. Coach Wilsman said, “I just don’t know how he knows all these players, but he sure can recruit.” While at Warner, Thatcher worked in many areas including fundraising, community service, team camps, scheduling, and player development. Coach Thatcher helped lead WU in his first season to a 16-15 record and a win over top-ranked NCAA D3 School St. Francis.
James JJ Thatcher credits a group of people who have made it possible for him to have the opportunities he has, and they are: Teresa & Bill Bollinger who adopted JJ into their family at a young age they are his mother and father. Coach JJ Thatcher said coach Bill Bollinger played one the biggest roles in JJ life and basketball has his coach and the recruiting side of the game, Bobby Kennen Associate Head Coach at (UNF) who has mentored Coach Thatcher throughout his career, Ken Wilcox who has been a colleague and family friend while working together in the basketball world, Tae Norwood Head coach at PBSC who has been a close friend more supporter of JJ during his career. Mr. Jerry Sokol friend and mentor to coach Thatcher. Eric Rodriguez for assistant coach, Pilin “Art” Alvarez who has been a friend and mentor and pleased more student – athletes from around the world on each of Coach JJ’s college teams he has coached. There are so many more coaches and families that played major roles in his life that could be mentioned, and I am thankful to them all.
AAU has also played a big part in Thatcher’s basketball coaching career. He founded the AAU program Florida Hoopsters to help put young men and women athletes into college. He has been instrumental in assisting many young men and women to get an opportunity to play at the next level. One of Thatcher’s alumni is Simone Durden, who played for NCAA Division I Florida A&M on a full scholarship. The Florida Hoopsters are still active on the summer AAU circuit. Coach Thatcher has helped put more than 100+ student-athletes into college all over America.
Coach Thatcher started his coaching career in Florida (FHSAA) basketball leagues, including Newberry High School in Gainesville, FL where he served as an assistant. He helped lead them to the district playoffs with a 17-6 record. Before that, he spent two seasons as an assistant women’s coach at Westwood Hills Christian Academy, achieving a 42-10 record.
Thatcher got his start as a player at Shores Christian Academy, which at one point was one of the top prep basketball programs in the country. He played for Coach Allan Adams a former NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Coach. Coach Danny Smith and Coach Doug Davison.
Coach Thatcher has enjoyed success in building championship programs at the youth and collegiate levels, (High School, AAU, NJCAA, NWAC, NCCAA, NAIA, USCAA).
Coach Thatcher holds degrees in Education and Business Administration, with an MBA in Business Administration. He also holds an overall record of 105-65 during his time as a head coach.
James Thatcher was born in Philadelphia, PA. He graduated from Shores Christian Academy in Ocala, FL. He is single and resides in Miami FL, when not coaching in Rochester NY.
https://rochester.bscbobcats.com/sports/mbkb/coaches/To_Be_Announced
