[4] Thomas coached for 37 years in the "IAHSAA" (Iowa High School Athletic Association) football program; winning two state titles and a total of 292 games.
[6] Landon Schrage was signed in 2006 as a long snapper for the Baltimore Ravens, making him the 5th player under Coach Thomas to reach the NFL.
Ed Thomas was murdered on June 24, 2009, by Mark Becker, a mentally ill former player who had been released from a Waterloo Hospital less than 24 hours prior to the shooting.
On August 28, 2009, the national cable network, ESPN, televised his high school's first football game of the year in memory of Coach Thomas.
[8] Members of Thomas' family have approached the Iowa Legislature to consider legislation requiring hospital personnel to notify law enforcement before releasing a psychiatric patient facing criminal charges.