Amari Thomas began shooting archery in elementary school and enjoyed watching his coaches plan and strategize for tournaments. Little did he know, he'd be in that position several years later as the Head Coach for the Emmanuel Lions program.
 
Amari is a 2024 graduate of Emmanuel, shooting for the Lions program all four years and serving as the team captain.
 
Coaching wasn't always a part of his plan, instead, it happened organically.
 
"As I was going through the process, I didn't give it much thought but after being in a leadership role in the last two years of college, it just happened," he said. "I felt I could give the program a sense of direction and consistency."
 
In his first semester with the program, Thomas has gained a new perspective on the sport he loves and is impressed with how his team has responded. 
 
"The team has been extremely responsive to my feedback and how I'm leading the team," he said. "It does create an interesting dynamic because I am just a year or two older than most of them, with one athlete being a year older than me. I love it though; we work well together, and they have an incredible team chemistry."
 
Protecting that chemistry has been Amari's focus as he continues to add to the growing team.
 
"That's my central focus in recruiting," he said. "We all have similar humor styles, so it's been awesome to work with this group."
 
For Amari, his recruiting pitch centers around what the team is chasing.
 
"We're focused on Christ, but we're also making sure you leave here a well-rounded person," he said. "These students go through many things, and at larger universities, they may not get the same personal relationships we have here at EU."
 
With 10 athletes on the team, the Lions have had opportunities this season that they haven't had the past few seasons, including Amari's favorite memory from 3D Nationals. 
 
"At the end of the tournament they do a Mixed Equipment shoot," he said. "There's a big banquet and shoot at an event center, it's a crazy atmosphere almost like a college football game. The team shot well but made a few mistakes because they hadn't been in that situation before."
 
Instead of being discouraged, the team saw the experience as something to build on.
 
"I told the team the experience was something to build on," he said. "You don't just become a national champion overnight. You must win the little battles of being on time, shooting your best, and doing all you can in practice. Winning those little battles is what's going to get us where we want to go."
 
As a new coach, what piece of advice would he give to new coaches?
 
"Remember to make it fun," he said. "You don't always know what student-athletes are going through. You want to be a beacon of light and a good foundation for them."
 
The future is bright for Emmanuel Archery!