Thomas Returns to Northeast Missouri as Highland’s Next Head Coach

Lewistown, MO – The Lewis County C-1 School District announced via Facebook that Matt Thomas will take over as the next head coach of the Highland Cougars boys basketball team. Thomas steps in following the departure of Coach Whitney Edmonson, who led the program for two seasons and finished with a 9-39 overall record, including a 3-22 mark in the 2024–25 season.

Thomas brings a wealth of experience to Highland, having 21 years teaching and coaching. A native of southeast Iowa, Thomas most recently worked as an assistant coach at Warrensburg. He also spent seven years teaching and coaching at Palmyra, giving him strong familiarity with the Clarence Cannon Conference.

“It’s time to move back, get back in this direction a little bit, get back closer to some family,” Thomas said of the move.

That connection to northeast Missouri made Highland an appealing fit. “It’ll be fun,” he added. “This area is where a lot of our contacts are from. I’ve spent most of my career in northeast Missouri.”

With several years of experience in the Clarence Cannon Conference, Thomas understands the level of competition Highland will face. “It’s a highly competitive conference. It’s night in and night out,” he said. “Knowing a lot of guys already in the area and what they do—it kind of helps.”

Thomas inherits a young Highland team with just one projected senior for the 2025–26 season. Despite that, he sees opportunity. “I told them today when I met them, I made some phone calls before I got here,” he said. “And the biggest thing I heard was there’s talent there—there’s a lot of young talent to work with. It’s on the uprise, and for me that was a big thing coming back.”

He also outlined what fans can expect from his teams. “I think for us it’s about developing high-character young kids that our community can be proud of,” Thomas said. “They’re going to play hard, work hard, be passionate about the game of basketball, and give effort. I think that’s our mission—to help raise and develop young men for our community and for the future.”

Matt and his wife, Carey, have three children. Natalie and Josh are both in college, while Malia is a freshman in high school.

With roots in the region, experience across multiple levels, and a strong vision for growth, Thomas now sets out to lead the Cougars into a new chapter.