University of North Carolina Athletics
Staff Directory
- Title:
- Assistant General Manager
Thompson enters his second season at North Carolina and his first as Assistant General Manager in 2026. Thompson joined the Tar Heels in 2025 as Assistant Director of Player Personnel after more than three decades as a college football coach.
Prior to arriving in Chapel Hill, Thompson spent three seasons at Maryland from 2022-24 as the Terrapins’ inside linebackers coach. During his tenure, he helped develop multiple standout linebackers, including All-Big Ten selection Ruben Hyppolite II and FWAA Freshman All-American Jaishawn Barham.
Thompson previously coached at Florida Atlantic, South Carolina, Auburn, Tennessee, Alabama, UCF, LSU, and Georgia Tech. His career includes three separate stints at Alabama, where he coached the defensive line and linebackers, as well as time as assistant head coach at LSU and South Carolina and defensive coordinator at UCF. He has been a part of national championship staffs at Georgia Tech, LSU, and Alabama.
Widely recognized for his work in recruiting, Thompson was named Rivals National Recruiter of the Year in 2008 and ranked as the No. 1 recruiter in the Ultimate ESPN 300 recruiting power rankings in 2014 while at Alabama.
A native of Riverdale, Georgia, Thompson was a four-year letterwinner as a defensive lineman at The Citadel. He graduated in 1987 with a bachelor’s degree in education and mathematics before beginning his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Georgia Tech in 1988.
