By TOMMY REZAC
St. Joseph Post
Missouri Western athletics announced the hiring of Nicole Thompson as the seventh head softball coach in program history Wednesday.
This concludes about a month-long search after the dismissal of former head coach Joe Yegge in May.
"We are excited to welcome Nicole and her family to the Griffon family," MWSU athletic director Andy Carter said. "She is a proven head coach, a proven culture-builder and a proven winner in all aspects on and off the field."
"I am confident that she will be able to continue the success from the foundation that is already in place and re-establish our program amongst the MIAA's elite."
Thompson comes to Missouri Western from NCAA Division II Regis University in Colorado, and is fresh off a Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) Tournament championship and an NCAA South Central Regional appearance this past season.
In her five seasons at Regis, Thompson compiled a 132-101 record, leading the Rangers to 33 wins or more in each of the last three seasons. Her 2024 squad won an RMAC Tournament title as a five-seed and earned the program's first NCAA Tournament bid since 2015.
The Rangers then defeated No. 1 nationally ranked West Texas A&M in the tournament's opening round.
"I am extremely excited and grateful to be joining Griffon Nation," Thompson said in a statement. "I want to thank Andy Carter and the entire MWSU athletic department for giving me this opportunity to lead a such a tradition-rich program.
"From the minute I got on campus and met with administration, it was clear that we shared the same collective passion and drive. I am ready to get to St. Joseph and get to work."
Prior to Regis, Thompson spent three seasons as the head softball coach at NAIA Union College in Barbourville, Kentucky, where she compiled an 82-70 record, including a remarkable 50-20 mark in Appalachian Athletic Conference play. She earned AAC Coach of the Year honors in 2017.
Thompson had a unique start to her coaching career. Originally accepting a position as the Assistant Director for Communications at Union College in February 2016, Thompson served as the Interim Head Softball Coach, starting in September 2016 before being named the full-time head coach.
In May 2016, Thompson completed her Master's Degree in Athletics Administration as a Graduate Assistant for Sports Information at William Woods University in Fulton, Missouri.
Thompson was a dual-sport athlete in college, playing both softball and basketball for Bethany College in Lindsborg, Kansas. As a softball player, she was a three-time All-Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC) First Team selection at shortstop.
Her team won two KCAC regular season championships, and one KCAC Tournament title, making two NAIA National Tournament appearances (2012, 2013).
Thompson ended her collegiate career with a .362 average, .394 slugging percentage, 203 hits, and 61 RBIs. She ranks second in Bethany history with 87 career stolen bases and fourth all-time in runs scored with 128.
Thompson is married to JT Thompson and has a daughter named Kramer.