Jocelyn Thomas calls herself a woman of faith and credits God for guiding her throughout her life, from her beginnings in Montgomery, Alabama to her current role as Crew Coordinator at ESPN. Thomas has played professional women’s soccer, college football, and college basketball, but the journey she took between childhood and today is why she credits her superpowers.
“I am a woman of faith.”
This faith was a cornerstone of his life and it can probably be related to his upbringing in Alabama. Thomas’ mother lived with cancer most of her life until she passed away three years ago. Her maternal grandparents also died of cancer, so health and fitness are still important to her today.
“It’s the equalizer for me,” Thomas said. “I train four times a week when I’m not traveling and I still play tennis.”
From Alabama to the Army
Another lesson Thomas’ mother taught here was that he could do anything he set his mind to and that he loved sports. Thomas played basketball and tennis, the latter of which he still enjoys. He described himself as shy as a child and sports helped him in this regard.
“Sports and sports have always been a connector for me,” he said. With the skills he learned from playing sports and the ambition his mother gave him, Thomas must figure out what he wants to do as an adult. The military was his answer at first because being in the service could also help him finish college, like many who enter the service. However, the military was much more to him.
“The army almost became my third parent besides my mother and father.”
Thomas would serve for 20 years, traveling around the world as part of his service to America, including four deployments to places like Afghanistan, Kuwait and Guantanamo Bay. During that time, he served twice as a company commander and led military units of 100 to 250 soldiers. When his career ended, Captain Thomas had many things to be proud of, but he was most proud of the connections he made throughout his journey.
“To this day, I still have people that I served with, whether they were my superiors, my peers or my subordinates, come up to me to tell me all the different things I wanted for them.”
Leading the way in sports media
As Thomas prepared to leave the service, he tried to figure out what was in store for him. His initial thought was that he would focus on fitness and rely on his experience as a trainer to eventually buy into the gym business. When she told battalion commander Matthew Turcotte this, he asked her what she would do if she could do anything she wanted, and she replied that she wanted to work in sports.
“He said if I figured it out, he would sign whatever I had to sign,” he said. “It lit a fire in me.”
He credited God for putting Turcotte in his life to begin the tour, which took place at Disney World Sports in Orlando, Florida. Through various connections, Thomas is interviewed by Sean McNally, who wants to bring Thomas on as an intern. In two weeks, Thomas will be the first intern at Disney Sports. Thomas later learned that McNally also came from a military family.
He affirmed, “God will guide the right people in your path.”
Thomas was the first intern, which means there was no template or program to follow. So she and McNally create something together. During their time together, McNally sets Thomas up with a one-on-one interview, allowing Thomas to execute. Eventually, Thomas met with Rosalyn Durant, ESPN’s VP of Talent Acquisition. Thomas accepts three offers and becomes part of the ESPN family, resulting in many experiences that he treasures to this day.
“I love ESPN. I love Disney as much as I love sports. I was on Radio Row during Super Bowl week, I’ve done a lot in a short amount of time. It hasn’t even been two years since I retired.”
From service to advocacy
When Thomas isn’t working at ESPN, she still plays tennis and raises her son, Legend. She also became an author and advocate for women and diversity in sports media. She feels that the path she has taken is living proof that one can excel and achieve their dreams even when there is no clear path in front of them.
“I call myself a branch of diversity because I’m what people tell you you can’t be, but somehow it still works. Black, woman, veteran, mom, most of all proud. But I’m Jocelyn, regardless of all the different titles.”
She concluded, “My job is to continue to pay it forward and pave the way for other women, whether they’re in the field, behind the cameras, or in the front office.”
Thomas is also an advocate of being active and focusing on health. He shared that health is wealth and a big reason why he is as successful as he is today. Thomas has seen firsthand what being active can do for people in or out of service, and it can be one of the strongest assets that people with big dreams can have. He has seen and felt it.
“That’s why health and holistic healing have become an important part of my life.”
You can follow Thomas on Instagram @jocelynknowssports.
M&F Senior Military Editor Rob Wilkins contributed to this Fit to Service article.
