BALTIMORE- Aki Thomas, acting head men's basketball coach at UMBC, has been appointed as the head coach of the program, Dr. Charles Brown, director of athletics, announced today. Thomas has served as acting head coach since Oct. 10, 2012, following five previous seasons as a Retrievers' assistant coach. Coach Thomas and his staff have led UMBC to more victories (7) and conference wins (5) than in any season since the 2008-09 campaign.