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katie thornton

Katie Thornton

Katie Thornton was hired in September 2015 as SCAD’s first head men’s and women’s bowling coach.

Thornton is a USBC Silver certified coach and currently serves as a coaching seminar instructor for USA Bowling and Assistant Coach for Team USA.

Thornton began her coaching career as an assistant coach for Webber International University, where she helped lead the team to a first place finish at the NAIA Invitational Championship.

As a bowler, Thornton competed for Webber International University from 2010-2013. While there, she helped lead the Warriors to three collegiate national championships and was named the 2013 NAIA Collegiate Player of the Year. Thornton was part of Webber's inaugural women's bowling team that began in 2009. Thornton was also a four-time Academic All-American at Webber.

Thornton led the bees to both men's and women's NAIA National titles in just the third season. She was named the 2018 & 2022 NAIA Men’s Coach of the Year as well as 2022 NCBCA Men’s Coach of the Year becoming the first women in history to do so.

A 2014 graduate of Webber International University, Thornton holds a Master's Degree in international business and a Bachelor's Degree in sport management.

KATIE THORNTON'S COACHING RECORD
 

YEAR HONORS
2022-2023 Men: Ranked #5 in the NAIA; Tier 1 Finishes: Bowlero Southern Classic – 1st, National Collegiate Match Games – 5th, ISBPA Kegel Collegiate Classic – 1st, Hoosier Classic – 28th.; Tier 2 Wins: Southern States Athletic Conference Championship; 7th NAIA Championship; 4 All-tournament team awards; 4 SSAC All-Conference Awards; SSAC Champion of Character; 7 named to the SSAC Barnes & Noble College All-Academic Team; 2 NAIA All-Americans; 5 Daktronics NAIA Scholar-Athletes
 
Women: Ranked #1 in the NAIA; Tier 1 Finishes: Bowlero Southern Classic – 2nd, National Collegiate Match Games – 7th, ISBPA Kegel Collegiate Classic – 5th, Hoosier Classic – 2nd; Tier 2 Wins: MSC Cincinnati, SCAD Shootout I, SCAD Shootout II, MSC Lynne Jordan Memorial; NAIA National Champion; Top 8 Intercollegiate Team Championship; 5 All-Tournament team awards; 5 SSAC All-Conference Awards; SSAC Champion of Character; 7 named to the SSAC Barnes & Noble College All-Academic Team; SSAC Co-Player of the Year; 2 NAIA All-Americans; 7 Daktronics NAIA Scholar-Athletes
2021-2022 Men: Ranked #1 NAIA; Ranked #3 Power Points; Tier 1 Finishes: Midwest Classic - 1st, Brunswick Southern - 5th; Lehigh Valley - 3rd, Kegel ISBPA - 2nd, Hoosier - 2nd; Tier 2 Wins: Southeast Match Play Challenge, SCAD Baker Challenge; 3rd NAIA Championships; Top 8 Intercollegiate Team Championships; 7 All-tournament team awards; 1 Top Individual Finishers

Women: Ranked #4 in NAIA; Ranked #7 in Power Points; Tier 1 Finishes: Midwest Classic - 1st, Brunswick Southern - 5th, Lehigh Valley - 1st, Kegel ISBPA - 7th, Hooiser - 2nd; Tier 2 Wins: Seminole Classic 1. SCAD Baker Challenge; NAIA National Champion; Qualified for Intercollegiate Team Championships
2019-2020 Men: Ranked #1 in NAIA for entire season; Tier 1 Finishes: Midwest Classic - 2nd / 40 teams, Brunswick Southern - 3rd / 34 teams, Hoosier Classic - 3rd / 77 teams; Tier 2 Wins: Spring Hill Tournament, McKendree Baker Challenge; 2nd Place Finishes: SCAD Collegiate Shootout I & II, SCAD Bee Bash I & II, Peach State Classic; 16 All-Tournament Team Awards; 4 Top Individual Finishers; Finished no lower than 3rd in any event entire season; Power Ranking - 12

Women: Ranked #2 in the NAIA; Tier 1 Finishes: Midwest Classic - 8th / 28 teams, Brunswick Southern - 1st / 22 teams (First tier 1 win in program history), Hoosier Classic - 17th / 63 teams; Tier 2 Wins: SCAD Collegiate Shootout II, Spring Hill Fall Tournament, SCAD Bee Bash I & II, Peach State Classic, SCAD Collegiate Shootout I - 2nd place, McKendree Baker Challenge - 4th place; 8 All-tournament team awards; 4 top individual finishers; Power Ranking - 10
2018-2019 Men: Ranked #2 in NAIA; Tier 1 Finishes: Midwest Classic - 13th / 40 teams, Brunswick Southern - 3rd / 29 teams, Kegel ISBPA - 10th / 68 teams, Hoosier Classic - 3rd / 77 teams; Tier 2 Wins: SCAD Collegiate Shootout, Striking Knights Classic - 2nd place, SCAD Baker Challenge - 2nd place, SCAD Bee Bash I & II - 2nd place, Orange and Black - 5th / 38 teams; 7 All-tournament team awards; earned automatic bird (highest ranking team in NAIA group) to NAIA invitational championships; 2019 NAIA Invitational National Championships- 1st / 12 teams (National Title); First Men's National Title in SCAD history; First tournament win in program history; Qualified for intercollegiate team championships (made it to top 12 before elimination)

Women: Ranked #4 in the NAIA; Tier 1 Finishes: Midwest Classic - 7th / 32 teams, Brunswick Southern - 6th / 21 teams, Kegel ISBPA - 15th / 57 teams, Hoosier Classic - 6th / 65 team; Tier 2 Wins: SCAD Collegiate Shootout, SCAD Baker Challenge, SCAD Bee Bash I, Striking Knights Classic - 2nd place, SCAD Bee Bash II  - 2nd place, Orange and Black - 3rd / 29 teams, 9 All-tournament team awards, 2 top individual finishers, Earned automatic bid (highest ranking team in NAIA group) to NAIA invitational championships; 2019 NAIA Invitational National Championships - 1st / 12 teams (National Title)
2017-2018 Men: Ranked #5 in NAIA; Tier 1 Finishes: Midwest Classic - 14th / 40 teams, Brunswick Southern - 7th / 32 teams, Collegiate Match Games - 5th / 25 teams, Kegel ISBPA - 12th / 72 teams, Hoosier Classic - 5th / 79 teams; Tier 2 Wins: UCF Baker Shootout - 2nd place; SCAD Baker Shootout - 2nd place; Southeast Baker Shootout - 2nd place; Peach State Classic - 3rd / 10 teams; 5 All-tournament team awards; 1 top individual finisher; NAIA Men's Coach of the Year; Earned a bid to NAIA Invitational Championships; NAIA National Championships - 12th-16th / 20 teams; Qualified for Intercollegiate Team Championships

Women: Ranked #14 in the NAIA; Tier 1 Finishes: Midwest Classic - 12th / 32 teams, Brunswick Southern - 5th / 23 teams, Kegel ISBPA - 12th / 66 teams, Hoosier Classic - 36th / 67 teams; Tier 2 Wins: UCF Baker Shootout, UCF Collegiate Clash - 2nd place, Peach State Classic - 2nd, Southeast Baker Challenge - 2nd place; 3 All-tournament team awards; 1 top individual finishers; Earned bid to NAIA invitational championships, NAIA National Championships - 12th -16th / 20 teams; Qualified for Intercollegiate Team Championships; Intercollegiate Team Championships - finished 3rd 
2016-2017 Men: Keystone Quaker Classic - 13th / 31 teams, Lehigh Valley Classic - 15th / 31 teams, USF Classic - 4th / 7 teams, UCF Classic - 3rd / 7 teams, Kegal / ISBPA - 30th / 63 teams, Norse Collegiate Classic - 3rd / 17 teams, Eagle Classic - 3rd / 12 teams, ITC Sectionals - 14th / 18 teams

Women: Keystone Quaker Classic - 6th / 14 teams, Lehigh Valley Classic - 6th / 13 teams, FSU Seminole Classic - 2nd / 9 teams, UCF Classic - 3rd / 5 teams, Norse Collegiate Classic - 3rd / 15 teams. Eagle Classic - 2nd / 12 teams, Hoosier Classic - 27th / 66 teams, ITC Sectionals -  2nd / 18 teams; Qualified for Intercollegiate Team Championships in first ever collegiate season; Qualified for NAIA National Championships - 12th-16th; ITC Nationals - seeded 9th going into bracket play (won in first round; lost in second round of bracket play)