Mr. Thom Coats

Professor of Practice and Director, Center for Professional Selling

Mr. Thom Coats
(615) 904-8505
Room N436, Business & Aerospace Building (BAS)
MTSU Box 40, Murfreesboro, TN 37132

Degree Information

  • MBA, Western Governors University (2017)
  • BBA, Mississippi State University (1985)

Biography

Thom is the Director of the Center for Professional Selling at Middle Tennessee State University, a professor whose entrepreneurial instincts and clear vision have assisted in the growth of multiple companies and individuals.

Thom stands at the forefront of professional sales education. With 25 plus years of New Business Development serving roles from sales, district manager to Vice President of Sales with corporations such as Century II, Paychex, and NFIB.

He is responsible f...

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Thom is the Director of the Center for Professional Selling at Middle Tennessee State University, a professor whose entrepreneurial instincts and clear vision have assisted in the growth of multiple companies and individuals.

Thom stands at the forefront of professional sales education. With 25 plus years of New Business Development serving roles from sales, district manager to Vice President of Sales with corporations such as Century II, Paychex, and NFIB.

He is responsible for providing world-class sales education and training students that are productive on day one. Also, for building business relationships that are seeking high-quality sales applicants and helping both students and the business community connect. Thom’s passion is to help his students succeed by implementing solutions that work.

With an array of interests and affiliations, Thom stays connected to the community through investing time and energy on the Board of Directors and Executive Committee for the Murfreesboro Symphony Orchestra, founder of the UnStuck Business Academy, and active in the Walter Hill Church of Christ.

As a third-generation entrepreneur, Thom has great insight in understanding what clients want and need. He and his wife have three sons and daughters-in-law.  On Thom’s desk is the same Bible that set in his father’s office and his grandfather’s before. This keeps him grounded in remembering who he is and where he came from.

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Publications

Unstuck: 10 Proven Strategies for Breaking Through the Barriers to Small Business Growth

https://www.amazon.com/Unstuck-Strategies-Breaking-Barriers-Business/dp/0996978844/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=unstuck+thom+coats&qid=1610038976&sr=8-1

Awards

Honors, Awards and Achievements   Community Involvement

Advisory Council to Read to Succeed – current

Board of Directors to Tennessee Philharmonic Symphony – 2017, 2018

University Achievement Award – Ethics Team Paper, WGU 2017

Main Street JazzFest Planning Board, Murfreesboro – 2014 ,2015, 2016, 2017

Volunteer of the Year – Read to Succeed 2014

Kentucky Colonel – commissioned 1995

Board of Directors to Oktibbeha County American Heart Association – 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993

Special Projects

UnStuck Nashville Conference 2017, 2018, 2019

Founded the UnStuck Business Academy 2016

Founded C|SUITE Networking Group 2017