Born on June 6, 2001, Cole Hocker is an American athlete who has established himself as one of the top young talents in middle and long-distance running. He ran for the Oregon Ducks from 2019 to 2021 before turning pro in 2021.
Hocker signed a sponsorship deal with NIKE and participated in the 2020 Tokyo Games where he finished sixth in the 1500m event. He also finished seventh in the 2023 World Championships and has emerged as a top contender in the 2024 Paris Olympics. Hocker qualified for his second Olympics by registering his personal best of 3:30.59 in the 2024 Olympic trials in Eugene, Oregon.
Quick Facts on Cole Hocker's Coach
Coach Name | Ben Thomas |
DOB | May 4, 1969 (Age 54) |
Hometown/Birthplace | Lynchburg, Virginia |
Nationality | American |
Employers/College Team | Head track and field coach of Virginia Tech |
Occupation | Coach |
Sports | Track and Field |
Height | Not specified |
Weight | Not specified |
Cole Hocker's Coach
Cole Hocker is coached by Ben Thomas. He is the current head track and field coach for the Virginia Tech Hokies. Hocker graduated from Virginia Tech with a Bachelor’s degree in English and returned to his alma mater in 2023 as the new track and field coach.
Ben Thomas’s Wife
Ben Thomas is married to a fellow runner Ann McGranahan. Born on January 8, 1979, McGranahan went to Vilanova University where she timed 16:59 to win the 2000 Big East Conference Cross Country Championships. After her graduation in 2001, she worked as a volunteer assistant at Virginia Tech alongside her husband, Ben Thomas, who was the head cross country and distance coach. In 2008, McGranahan joined Radford University as one of the assistant coaches of their track and field program.
Ben Thomas’ Kids
Ben Thomas has two kids, Reilly and Seamus Thomas.
Ben Thomas’ Coaching Career
Ben Thomas started his college coaching career at Appalachian State where he was the women’s cross country and assistant track coach from 1995-1999. He was named 1996 South Conference Coach of the Year. After that, he served as the head track and field and cross country coach at Brevard College for just one season before transferring to the University of Georgia to work as an assistant track and field coach in 2001.
After a brief spell with Georgia, Thomas joined his alma mater, Virginia Tech, as the head cross country and distance coach. He would stay with the Hokies for the next 17 seasons and would win a combined 12 ACC team titles for the program. From 2018-2022, Thomas spent four seasons as an assistant head coach at the University of Oregon before returning to Virginia Tech in July 2023 as the head track and field coach for the Hokies.
Ben Thomas’ Awards & Achievement
3X USTFCCCA National Assistant Coach of the Year
Led Virginia Tech Hokies to 12 ACC team titles during his 17-year spell with the program
FAQ's On Cole Hocker Coach
A. Cole Hocker was born on June 6, 2001, in Indianapolis, Indiana, United States.
A. Cole Hocker stands at a height of 1.77 m (5 ft 10 in).
A. Cole Hocker has been training at Virginia Tech since the fall.
A. Cole Hocker announced his intention to go professional in 2021.
A. Cole Hocker finished sixth in the 1,500 meters in the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.