Brianna Thomas enters her first season as an assistant on the Duquesne women’s basketball coaching staff during the 2025-26 season.
Thomas, a native of Ajax, Ontario, returns to her alma mater after spending the past two seasons as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Brown University. During her tenure in Providence, Rhode Island, the Bears recorded over 28 wins, including the program's first 16+ win season since 2016-17 in 2023-24. She played a key role in developing both guard and post players through individual workouts, helping produce standout athletes such as Second Team All-Ivy guard Grace Arnolie (2025) and Kyla Jones, who earned All-Ivy First Team honors at the conclusion of the 2023-24 season.
"I'm extremely grateful and excited to return to a place that has always been like my second home," Thomas said. "I'm appreciative of Coach Burt for the opportunity to bring my family back to the Bluff and believing in my ability to help continue building the legacy that is Duquesne Women's Basketball. Being an Alumna allows me a unique perspective where I can hopefully share and connect my experiences with our current roster. It's been a fun start so far this summer, and I can't wait to see what this group of women do into the season."
Before joining the staff at Brown, Thomas spent two seasons as an assistant coach at NCAA Division III Colby College in Waterville, Maine. There, she contributed to all facets of the program, including recruiting, scheduling, and developing a leadership curriculum for team captains. As the lead assistant for the guards, Thomas made a notable impact by recruiting the program's first Hungarian player, Lili Nagy, as part of the 2022 freshman class. During her time with the Mules, she helped develop two Maine Women's Basketball Coaches Association (MWBCA) honorees: Caroline Smith, who earned All-State Second Team recognition, and Lydia Mordarski, who was named to the MWBCA All-Rookie Team.
Thomas also spent time at Boston College as a graduate assistant in 2020, following a successful stint as an assistant coach at Merrimack College. During her time with the Warriors, she played a key role in helping the program achieve a 20-9 overall record in its inaugural season as an NCAA Division I member. She worked closely with the forwards in individual sessions, contributing to the development of Denia Davis-Stewart, who earned both Northeast Conference Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year honors.
A three-year captain and two-year starter for the Duquesne women's basketball team, Thomas returns to the Bluff after a standout four-year playing career with the Dukes. Her class amassed 89 wins, second most in program history, and played a pivotal role in leading Duquesne to its first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance in 2016. That historic season saw the Dukes crowned Atlantic 10 regular season champions and earn a 97-76 victory over Seton Hall in the NCAA First Round.
Thomas was instrumental in helping Duquesne break new ground nationally, as the team was ranked in both the AP Top 25 and the USA Today/Coaches Poll for the first time in program history, reaching No. 25 in each during the 2015-16 campaign. She also helped guide the program to four consecutive postseason appearances from 2013 to 2017, including three WNIT berths and the historic NCAA Tournament run. In recognition of her contributions, Thomas was inducted into the Duquesne Hall of Fame in 2024, alongside the 2015-16 women's basketball team.
Thomas is graduate of Duquesne where she earned her bachelor's degree in Psychology while earning a minor in Communication and graduating Cum Laude in 2017. She would go on to earn her Master of Science in Leadership in 2019 before securing a Masters of Science in Sports Administration from Boston College in 2021.
She is married to Keith Davis, the defensive backs and cornerbacks coach for Duquesne football, who will also be joining the program for his first season in 2025. Together, they have one son, Knox.
