The former South African quick, who took 1,029 wickets during his illustrious career, takes over from Tom Smith after his departure to Yorkshire
Alfonso Thomas has joined Leicestershire as assistant and lead bowling coach ahead of the new county season.
The South African replaces Tom Smith, who left Grace Road last month to join the new era at Yorkshire, in head coach Paul Nixon's backroom team.
Thomas occupied a similar role at Hampshire as a No.2 to director of cricket Giles White for three years before his departure at the end of 2021.
Capped once by South Africa in a T20 international against Pakistan in 2007, the 45-year-old brings him with a wealth of experience from 16 years as a player.
Between 2008 and 2015 he memorably played county cricket for Somerset, taking 558 wickets across the formats.
The spell was illuminated by a haul of four wickets in as many balls against Sussex in the County Championship in 2014.
In franchise cricket, he managed to collect two Big Bash League crowns with Perth Scorchers, a Bangladesh Premier League title at Dhaka Gladiators and turned out for Pune Warriors in two seasons of the Indian Premier League.
Having earlier played with Warwickshire, he was later loaned to Sussex for their One-Day Cup campaign in 2015 and retired later that summer.
It was at Taunton where Thomas made his name on the county circuit (Charlie Crowhurst/Getty Images)
He hung up his bowling boots with 1,029 professional wickets but quickly took that knowledge into a coaching career.
After being the cricket professional at Exeter School, he was enlisted as a bowling consultant at Kent and Surrey, either side of being the West Indies bowling coach.
More recently he was an assistant coach at BPL side Khulna Titans and spent three years at Hants before opting to depart at the end of last year.
"I had a conversation with Nico (Paul Nixon) and (director of cricket) Claude (Henderson)," said the 45-year-old," they had a clear vision in terms of where they wanted to take this team and that aligned with mine.
"It’s a young team, but it’s a talented team. They look like a very close-knit unit, and every successful team I’ve been a part of as a player or a coach has had that, so it certainly aligned with my outlook for what a successful team looks like.
"When I got offered the role, it was a no brainer. I can’t wait to get stuck in."
The appointment comes just a fortnight before Leicestershire kick-off their Championship campaign against Worcestershire on April 7.
Lead image courtesy of John Mallett/Leicestershire CCC
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