Prior to Cuyamaca, Thom Hunt coached the distance runners at Mesa College. While at Mesa, he coached nine individual state champions and led the men's cross country team to eight cross country conference titles. He was also coach of the United States Junior Men at the World Cross Country Championships held in Edinbrough, Scotland in 2008.

In addition to coaching, Hunt is the secretary of the Cross Country Executive Council of USATF. Locally, he serves as the men's long distance running chair for the San Diego-Imperial Association of USATF. Coach Hunt is a Level 1 USATF certified coach.

Before coaching, Hunt had a successful international running career that spanned 17 years. In high school, Hunt set the national record in the indoor mile with a time of 4:02.7. As a freshman at the University of Arizona, he won the Junior International Cross Country title. He was also a seven-time NCAA All-American. During his post collegiate career, Hunt competed in four US Olympic Trials and set an American Record in the 10k on the roads with a 28:12 in 1981.

Coach Hunt is married to Caroline Marshall, and they have three children; Marshall, Claire, and Chloe. He also plays drums for The Jackals, a no-frills rock n roll band.