Ronnie Thomas experienced first-hand as a player success in the Northridge High School boys basketball program.

Now he hopes to bring that to the table as the new coach of the Raiders.

The 25-year old Thomas, a 2005 Northridge graduate, has been named as the successor to Jason Ridge. Thomas spent last season as the junior varsity coach for the Raiders. Ridge resigned this spring to accept a position as assistant principal at Whitko High School in South Whitley.

Thomas, a 6-9 post player, helped Northridge go 30-17 his final two seasons while playing for coach Steve Austin. He averaged 17.7 points, 8.1 rebounds and 3.5 blocks per game his senior season for the Raiders and finished his high school career with 735 points.

Thomas, who is single, taught this past year at the Northridge Academy (an alternative school which is part of Northridge Middle School).  He played one year at Duquesne University in Pittburgh and then three at Wright State University in Dayton. His older brothers Ryan and  Aaron both played at Northridge too. Ryan went on to play at Bethel College in Mishawaka and Aaron, who ranks third in NHS history in career scoring with 1,262 prep points,  at Robert Morris University in Pittsburgh.

Ridge was 68-60 in his six seasons at Northridge.  The Raiders have had three straight losing seasons, including 10-11 this past campaign, after going 21-1 during the 2008-09 season.