Samantha Dabbs-Thomas, a native of San Antonio, was announced as the seventh head coach of the University of the Incarnate Word women’s volleyball program on Dec. 19, 2017.
Under her leadership during the spring 2021 season after the fall 2020 season was postponed, the volleyball team made clinched its first ever spot as the No. 8 seed in the Southland Conference Tournament, Bethany Clapp was named SLC first team all-conference and Chase Jackson was named SLC Newcomer of the Year.
During the 2019 season freshman outside hitter Bethany Clapp was announced 2019 Preseason All-Southland Conference Volleyball first team and Southland Conference freshman of the year. Clapp had a team-high 324 kills marking the most kills by a UIW student-athlete in their freshman season in DI program history.
Prior to UIW, Dabbs-Thomas spent six seasons at North Florida, where she served as head coach of the beach volleyball program and associate head coach of the indoor volleyball team, joining the coaching staff in 2012.
At the conclusion of the 2016 sand volleyball season, Dabbs-Thomas and Director of Volleyball Steve Loeswick garnered Atlantic Sun Conference Coaching Staff of the Year honors. The duo led the Ospreys to a record 24 wins and the program's fourth ASUN Tournament title.
During her time at UNF (2013-15) five players garnered Atlantic Sun conference awards including a freshman of the year, a pair of all-freshmen team and all-conference team nod. She also had three pairs win conference awards including Pair of the Year, Most Valuable Pair, two all-conference honors, handful of tournament titles.
UNF complied an 22-12 indoor record and 11-7 in conference play in 2012, making UNF’s first 20-win season. UNF also reached the Atlantic Sun Championship match for the first time in program history. The 2012-14 volleyball team was named to UNF Athletics' Hall of Fame Spring 2021.
Prior to UNF, Dabbs-Thomas had stints as an assistant coach at Cincinnati and Appalachian State.
Before moving to the sidelines, Dabbs completed an illustrious playing career as a setter for Louisville and LSU. She was tutored by North Florida head coach Steve Loeswick during her playing days in Baton Rouge.
As a senior in 2009, Dabbs started in 30 of the 32 matches for the Tigers. She was All-Louisiana and All-SEC First-Team along with AVCA All-South Region Honorable Mention. Dabbs is still ranked seventh in LSU program history for 2,025 assist and second in SEC averaging 11.33 assist per set in 2009. Dabbs became the first player in program history to earn AVCA National Player of the Week after winning SEC Offensive Player of the Week. As a junior, she was one of the five to play all 28 matches. Dabbs was ranked high fifth in the SEC for assists, averaging 9.22 assist per set. She was selected ALL-LSWA Second Team and LSWA Newcomer of the Year.
In 2007, she spent the summer as a member of the USA Volleyball A2 Junior National team and played in Croatia where they defeated Italy to become the first American team to win the Global Challenge in its three years of existence.
Prior to LSU, Dabbs spent two years as the starting setter at Louisville, where she led the Cardinals to a No.17 national ranking in 2007. That same year she posted the second highest hitting percentage on the team, with a .318 mark, while averaging 1.63 kills per game. Dabbs, in 2005 she was the highest ranked recruit Louisville ever had and the No. 22 recruit in the nation by Prep Volleyball.com coming out of high school where she attended Churchill High School.
Dabbs-Thomas earned her bachelor’s degree in Sports Administration-Sport Commerce from LSU in 2010.
Dabbs-Thomas was married in May 2019 to Latarrius Thomas, a police officer.
