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Before One Knoxville SC ever had a badge, a stadium or a roster, James Thomas believed in an idea.
The English defender arrived in Knoxville − a city he knew nothing about − as the first player signed in club history in 2022. At the time, One Knox was still mostly a vision: a pre-professional club with an advancing integration plan in a collegiate sports city without professional soccer roots.
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Thomas has since become an integral part of building one of the USL League One's most successful on-field products and shifted this season to become an assistant coach with One Knox − the right-hand man to head coach Ian Fuller.
"James is one of the most important players in One Knox history," One Knox owner Drew McKenna told Knox News. "No question."
Starting a club from scratch meant finding players willing to invest in a vision before viability had been proven.
McKenna started by luring away Mark McKeever, a championship-winning head coach for the USL League Two Des Moines Menace. When it came time to build a roster, McKeever pushed for Thomas, the captain of the USL2 champions.
When Thomas and McKenna met, they aligned on the same goal of being a successful all-around product. The club announced the contract Feb. 8, 2022.
"Seeing (McKenna's) ambition for the club and his passion and his excitement about what he wanted to try and achieve here ... was probably the thing that excited me the most in those first couple of days," Thomas told Knox News.
Thomas earned the captain's armband for the 2022 season, the only year One Knox competed in the USL2 as a pre-professional squad. He played through the transition to USL League One the following season and capped his playing career with a league title in 2025.
A broken tibia changed Thomas' playing timeline, and he opted to retire after reaching the pinnacle. He didn't know what would come next, but the path was already created.
Thomas, 29, didn't expect to get into coaching so soon. The club already knew what came next: One Knox needed an assistant coach, and Thomas wanted to stick around the sport.
"I feel like I'm in a new chapter of my life and my career, and I have so much energy to give," Thomas said. "I've got so much passion, not only for this football club but for the guys in this locker room, for the people around me. I just want to help them as much as possible."
McKenna said he knew Thomas would be an "incredible coach" and was sure that'd be the next step after retirement. Keeping Thomas around One Knox was pivotal.
"There's a value in continuity," McKenna said. "There's a value in retaining folks who've seen this place from Day One. ... It's hard to educate the next person in the door about how things have been. But with James, we don't have to. He's been building it with us since the start."
Thomas is one of two players on the original roster still involved with the club. The other is Dani Fernandez, who's still an active player.
Thomas' experience as a captain in the early days makes him a well-respected leader.
"He understands the physical side of things," Fuller said. "He's gone through injuries ... the difficulties of travel, the camaraderie side of it. He's just in tune with just about everything, and I love working with him."
As One Knox has grown from a startup club to the defending USL League One champion, Thomas believes the club's mission has also evolved. Now, the expectation is to continue raising the standard.
"I want to be the best organization," Thomas said. "I want to have the best guys in our locker room. I want to be the best people in the community for us. And I think we're on that path. We're not there yet, but I am confident in saying we will be one day."
Thomas never scored in 44 appearances with the club, but McKenna never saw his impact through statistics. Thomas was one of few constants through every phase of growth.
"Other players have scored more goals than James, but I'm not sure many players have contributed more," McKenna said. "I'm not sure any players have contributed more to the club than he has."
Trevor McGee covers the Knoxville Smokies and One Knox SC for Knox News. Email: [email protected]; X: @TrevorMcGee12
Match time: 7:30 p.m. July 18 vs. AV Alta FC (gates open at 6 p.m.)
One Knox record: 10-2-3
USL League One standings: One Knox enters tonight’s match in first place with 33 points, while AV Alta (6-4-7) sits in fifth place with 25 points.
Support strong local journalism and unlock premium perks at subscribe.knoxnews.com.
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: One Knox SC's first signee shines on the sideline as coach James Thomas
Continue reading...
The English defender arrived in Knoxville − a city he knew nothing about − as the first player signed in club history in 2022. At the time, One Knox was still mostly a vision: a pre-professional club with an advancing integration plan in a collegiate sports city without professional soccer roots.
Buy One Knox tickets
Thomas has since become an integral part of building one of the USL League One's most successful on-field products and shifted this season to become an assistant coach with One Knox − the right-hand man to head coach Ian Fuller.
"James is one of the most important players in One Knox history," One Knox owner Drew McKenna told Knox News. "No question."
Building a soccer foundation in Knoxville
Starting a club from scratch meant finding players willing to invest in a vision before viability had been proven.
McKenna started by luring away Mark McKeever, a championship-winning head coach for the USL League Two Des Moines Menace. When it came time to build a roster, McKeever pushed for Thomas, the captain of the USL2 champions.
When Thomas and McKenna met, they aligned on the same goal of being a successful all-around product. The club announced the contract Feb. 8, 2022.
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"Seeing (McKenna's) ambition for the club and his passion and his excitement about what he wanted to try and achieve here ... was probably the thing that excited me the most in those first couple of days," Thomas told Knox News.
Thomas earned the captain's armband for the 2022 season, the only year One Knox competed in the USL2 as a pre-professional squad. He played through the transition to USL League One the following season and capped his playing career with a league title in 2025.
A broken tibia changed Thomas' playing timeline, and he opted to retire after reaching the pinnacle. He didn't know what would come next, but the path was already created.
From the pitch to the sidelines, James Thomas wasn't leaving soccer
Thomas, 29, didn't expect to get into coaching so soon. The club already knew what came next: One Knox needed an assistant coach, and Thomas wanted to stick around the sport.
"I feel like I'm in a new chapter of my life and my career, and I have so much energy to give," Thomas said. "I've got so much passion, not only for this football club but for the guys in this locker room, for the people around me. I just want to help them as much as possible."
McKenna said he knew Thomas would be an "incredible coach" and was sure that'd be the next step after retirement. Keeping Thomas around One Knox was pivotal.
"There's a value in continuity," McKenna said. "There's a value in retaining folks who've seen this place from Day One. ... It's hard to educate the next person in the door about how things have been. But with James, we don't have to. He's been building it with us since the start."
Thomas is one of two players on the original roster still involved with the club. The other is Dani Fernandez, who's still an active player.
James Thomas has become a pillar of One Knox SC
Thomas' experience as a captain in the early days makes him a well-respected leader.
"He understands the physical side of things," Fuller said. "He's gone through injuries ... the difficulties of travel, the camaraderie side of it. He's just in tune with just about everything, and I love working with him."
You must be registered for see images attach
As One Knox has grown from a startup club to the defending USL League One champion, Thomas believes the club's mission has also evolved. Now, the expectation is to continue raising the standard.
"I want to be the best organization," Thomas said. "I want to have the best guys in our locker room. I want to be the best people in the community for us. And I think we're on that path. We're not there yet, but I am confident in saying we will be one day."
Thomas never scored in 44 appearances with the club, but McKenna never saw his impact through statistics. Thomas was one of few constants through every phase of growth.
"Other players have scored more goals than James, but I'm not sure many players have contributed more," McKenna said. "I'm not sure any players have contributed more to the club than he has."
Trevor McGee covers the Knoxville Smokies and One Knox SC for Knox News. Email: [email protected]; X: @TrevorMcGee12
Match day at Covenant Health Park
Match time: 7:30 p.m. July 18 vs. AV Alta FC (gates open at 6 p.m.)
One Knox record: 10-2-3
USL League One standings: One Knox enters tonight’s match in first place with 33 points, while AV Alta (6-4-7) sits in fifth place with 25 points.
Support strong local journalism and unlock premium perks at subscribe.knoxnews.com.
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: One Knox SC's first signee shines on the sideline as coach James Thomas
Continue reading...
