LOWELL, Mass. -- UMass Lowell Track and Field Head Coach Gary Gardner has announced the hiring of Allyson Thomas as the Associate Head Coach.

Thomas, a 2009 graduate of the University of Maine, joins the River Hawk staff after serving as an assistant coach at Virginia Commonwealth University.

"Her experiences at VCU are very similar to what we have here in Lowell," said Gardner. "We liked her skill set; she's a grinder, she's not afraid to work hard."

For Thomas, a Maine native, the job was an opportunity to take on new challenges and move closer to her home.

"It was time to take the next step in my career," said Thomas. "I look forward to working hard to grow the program and built it into a powerhouse in America East."

Thomas is the first full time track and field assistant ever hired at UMass Lowell. Her focus will be working with the multi-event athletes and long and triple jumpers; she will assist with the pole vault and high jump. Thomas will also be deeply involved in the recruiting process and be the main contact for academics and compliance.

At VCU, Thomas served, first, as a graduate assistant and part time assistant in her first two years with women's track & field program, before she became a full-time assistant coach for the newly combined men's and women's track and field programs. She oversaw the pole vault, multi-events and the high jump. Several of the athletes she worked with helped to rewrite the school's record book.

"I was lucky to have some very hard working athletes to work with," said Thomas.

In making the move to UMass Lowell, Thomas also returns to the America East Conference where she excelled as an athlete at Maine.

"I'm really excited to be back in America East," said Thomas. "I always enjoyed the experience as an athlete. I know many of the coaches and look forward to renewing those friendships."

A four-year standout member of the women's track & field team at the University of Maine, Thomas was a consistent contender in the pole vault at the America East Indoor and Outdoor Championships. She finished in the top eight at the New England Indoor and Outdoor Championships in three of her six appearances.

Thomas was outstanding in the classroom as well. She graduated cum laude with a B.S. in Kinesiology and Physical Education as well as earning her teaching certification. She was also named to the America East Academic Honor Roll during all four years. In 2009, Thomas graduated summa cum laude with a M.S. in Sports Management from VCU.

The Auburn, Maine native got her first taste of coaching during her college days when she was a youth and middle school soccer coach and as a volunteer pole vault coach at her alma matter Edward Little High School, where she coached numerous state meet contenders and a state champion.