Leah Thomas joined the Biola swimming and diving staff as Lead Assistant Coach in the fall of 2024, after serving two seasons as the graduate assistant coach at Augustana College.
"I am very excited to have Leah on staff to serve our student-athletes!" said Head Swim & Dive Coach Nathan Harding when she was hired. "Leah will make an immediate impact in our program in regards to recruiting, training, and operations. While interviewing Leah, it was apparent that she fully understood the Biola student-athlete experience and was eager to be a part of the Biola community. I'm looking forward to partnering with Leah to continue the elevation of the Biola Swim & Dive program."
In Thomas' first two seasons, the Biola men finished second at the Pacific Collegiate Swim Conference (PCSC) Championships in both 2024-25 and 2025-26, and the women placed fourth in 2024-25 and third in 2025-26. In 2024-25, Samuel Slezak earned NCAA Division II Second Team All-American honors after placing 10th in the 1,000-yard freestyle at the national championships.
While at Augustana, Thomas assisted the men's program in earning back-to-back CCIW Conference Championships during the 2023 and 2024 seasons. She also helped the women's team to a runner-up finish in 2023 and a CCIW Conference Championship in 2024. Both programs achieved academic excellence in 2023-2024: the men's team posted the highest GPA among Augustana's men's teams, and the women's team posted the top GPA among CCIW swimming and diving programs.
She graduated from Western Illinois University with a Master's Degree in College Student Personnel with an emphasis in Higher Education Leadership.
Before beginning her coaching career, Thomas was a standout student-athlete and a decorated swimmer at the University of the Cumberlands. While competing, she was a NAIA & CSCAA All-American, specializing in the freestyle. She helped her women's team accomplish a third-place overall finish at the NAIA National Championships and was the Mid-South Conference (MSC) Champion in the 200 free and 800 free relay.
Thomas graduated from the University of the Cumberlands with a degree in Human Services and Public Health and a minor in Sports and Wellness Psychology.
Thomas grew up in the Riverside area while swimming for RAA and Martin Luther King High School in Riverside. While at King, she was a CIF-SS Finalist, CIF-State qualifier, and school record holder.
