Rick Thompson is entering his fifth season as an Assistant Men’s Basketball Coach at Emory & Henry College. In his first season on staff in 2019-20, he helped guide the Wasps to a berth in the ODAC Tournament. The team finished the season on a three-game home winning streak, defeating No. 13 Virginia Wesleyan University in double overtime, in the process. The Wasps also led the ODAC in free throw percentage (75.3%) and finished second in scoring (75.7 ppg). Senior Colin Molden was named to the All-ODAC Second Team and VaSID All-State Second Team after leading league in scoring.

Prior to Emory & Henry, Thompson was an assistant coach at his alma mater, SUNY Canton. He assisted the Roos to a 20-win season en route to the inaugural American Collegiate Athletic Association Conference Championship and its first Eastern College Athletic Conference playoff win in school history. The ECAC win was the first NCAA-sponsored win in school history, for any sport, and the ACAA conference championship was the first NCAA conference championship in program history as well.  During his time at SUNY Canton, the program posted the two highest GPAs in program history as well as a 100 percent graduation rate. The Roos also saw a record five Specialty Student Award winners, two ACAA All-Academic Team members, led the state of New York for Division III attendance, and also received votes while being named as a team to watch in D-III News Top 25 National Poll for the first time in program history.

Prior to his time at Canton, Thompson had three decades worth of coaching experience in Southwest Virginia that includes a 1991 VHSL State Championship at Lebanon High School. He was named the VHSL Coach of the Year in addition to a VHSCA All-Star Game Coach and coached a total of nine 1,000-point scorers (six at LHS). Most recently, Thompson served as the Head Boys' and Girls' Basketball Coach at St. Paul High School where he reached three VHSL Regional Tournaments, the first of which came after a 20-year absence. He also held head coaching positions at Pocahontas and Honaker, as well as serving as the Athletic Director at Castlewood High School.

Thompson lettered in basketball and tennis at Clinch Valley College, now UVA-Wise. The Southwest Virginia native continues to reside in Lebanon, with his wife Brenda. They are members at Spring City Baptist Church in Cleveland, Virginia. and enjoy spending time with their family, especially their three grandchildren: Ashley, Elena and Joshua.

"It is such an honor to have my father continue on our staff," said Head Coach Ben Thompson. "He has a wealth of knowledge of the game, as well as this area. The impact that I’ve seen him have over so many years and individuals, has been such an inspiration to me and is a big reason for me becoming a college basketball coach. Him being on our staff and part of our program is a dream come true for me and our family."

-9/28/2021