Connecting with today’s student-athletes with Timberline's Allen Thomas SBLive's Preps Lab with T.J. Cotterill

High school sports programs have dealt with enough problems as it is connecting and staying in touch with their players during the pandemic. But there were already plenty of other challenges in building relationships with student-athletes of this generation – in an age of limitless distractions. Timberline boys basketball coach Allen Thomas has thrived though on relating and connecting with the players in his program. Just ask one of his former stars, Donaven Dorsey, who even after heading to the University of Washington and Montana, he still recently called Thomas the best coach he’s ever had and the ultimate player’s coach. Thomas has been at Timberline for 18 years, and he’s reached the state tournament six of the past eight years since he took over as its head coach. He shares his experience and perspective on why relationships are No. 1 in his program and how he goes about building them.