Coach Thompson Named Vice President, Athletics

Rocky Mount, N.C.—John Thompson, North Carolina Wesleyan College’s Athletic Director and Head Men’s Basketball Coach, will be using his talents campus-wide as Vice President, Athletics, the College has announced.

In his new role, Thompson will join Wesleyan’s primary advisory and leadership group, the President’s Council. He will continue as Head Men’s Basketball Coach.

In announcing Thompson’s promotion, Wesleyan President James A. Gray III said, “John has been with Wesleyan for 14 years, serving for the past 11 as both Director of Athletics and Head Coach, Men’s Basketball. His contributions have been major, and I expect John will be a great addition to my senior team.”

Thompson wears many hats at Wesleyan and in the community. In addition to his coaching duties, he served as President of the USA South Athletic Conference from 2001-2005. Currently he is chairman of the USA South Basketball Coaches Committee and serves on the National Association of Basketball Coaches Legislation Committee and the NABC Congress. In 2007, he began a four-year appointment to the NCAA Men’s Basketball Rules Committee. Also widely known as an excellent speaker, Thompson has spoken at the North Carolina Basketball Coaches Association and the Florida Athletic Coaches Association basketball coaching clinics, among many others.

Originally from Durham, N.C., Thompson played basketball at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, where he was captain of his team prior to his graduation in 1984 with a degree in communications. After graduation, he was invited to try out with the Florida Suncoast Stingers of the Continental Basketball Association. Thompson also earned a Master of Sport Science degree in 1989 from the United States Sports Academy.

“I am excited about this opportunity and look forward to working with the President and the rest of the college community to make this the best place it can be,” Thompson said.

He and his wife, Laura, live in Rocky Mount and have three sons: Andrew, 13, and twins Jackson and Walker, 6.