Maple Heights High School is proud to announce the hiring of Andree Thomas as the next Head Coach of the Varsity Boys Basketball Program. Coach Thomas brings a wealth of basketball knowledge, coaching experience, and leadership to Maple Heights. His background spans the high school, junior college, and NCAA Division II levels, where he has consistently demonstrated a commitment to player development, competitive excellence, and building strong program cultures.
Coach Thomas succeeds the late Coach Robert Yates, whose impact on Maple Heights basketball and the broader community will never be forgotten. Coach Yates courageously battled cancer before his passing, and his legacy of leadership, mentorship, and commitment to student-athletes leaves enormous shoes to fill.
"Our goal throughout this process was to be patient and deliberate in finding the right leader for the next chapter of Maple Heights basketball," said Athletic Director Josh Frazier
Coach Yates built a foundation that we are incredibly proud of, and we wanted to ensure we found someone who could honor that legacy while moving the program forward. We are confident that
Coach Thomas is that person."Since leaving Northeast Ohio in 2017, Thomas has intentionally built his coaching career across multiple levels of the game, gaining valuable experience and refining his approach to player development and program leadership. Most recently, he served as the lead varsity assistant coach at North Marion High School in Florida, where he helped guide the program to one of the most successful seasons in school history.
His contributions were instrumental in developing a defense that ranked among the top-performing units in the state, while helping establish the school as one of Florida's premier Division 4A programs. In addition to his coaching success, Thomas is also the founder of Paid Dues Basketball, a faith-based basketball training and consulting company that has helped train professional, collegiate, and high school athletes, further demonstrating his commitment to player growth and long-term development.
Throughout his career, Thomas has helped develop numerous athletes who advanced to four-year colleges and professional basketball opportunities. Beyond his impressive resume, what stood out during the hiring process was Coach Thomas's vision for Maple Heights basketball and his commitment to developing young men both on and off the court. "My coaching philosophy centers on holistic player development, discipline, accountability, and community engagement," said Thomas. "I believe great programs are built by developing young men academically, socially, culturally, and athletically. I am honored to join the Maple Heights family and excited to build upon the strong foundation that has already been established."
The values of Character, Integrity, Discipline, and Leadership were central themes throughout the hiring process and align closely with
Coach Thomas's philosophy. School leaders believe his emphasis on player development, accountability, and mentorship will help prepare student-athletes for success long after their playing careers are over. “We are excited about the future of our basketball program,” said Frazier. “ Coach Thomas is a proven teacher of the game, an outstanding developer of talent, and most importantly, a leader of young men. We believe he will build on the proud tradition of Maple Heights basketball
and help our program compete at a high level for years to come."
Please join us in welcoming Coach Andree Thomas to the Maple Heights family.