By: Holly Weber, TTU Sports Information Coordinator
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. — Bringing more than 20 years of coaching experience, Evelyn Thompson has been named as an assistant coach for the Tennessee Tech women's basketball team, announced head coach Jim Davis.
Thompson joins the Tech basketball staff with coaching experience in a variety of different positions. She has served roles as a student-athlete, Division I coach, national AAU coach, and program coordinator at the high school and collegiate levels.
"We are thrilled to have her," Davis said. "Evelyn brings a lot of experience and a wealth of knowledge and enthusiasm to Tennessee Tech. She will blend right in with the staff we already have and will serve as a great role model and encourager for the basketball team."
Thompson graduated from Auburn University in 1990 with a Bachelor of Arts in English and a minor in Psychology. Before that, she received her Associate's Degree in English and Psychology at Northeast Mississippi Community College in 1988
She comes to Tech with 13 years of college coaching experience at both head and assistant levels, at schools such as Michigan State, Buffalo, Arizona State, Western Kentucky and Stony Brook. Thompson also served as a recruiting coordinator for nationally ranked programs and her tenure included a Sweet Sixteen appearance while at Michigan State, five NCAA tournament appearances and several players garnering all-conference selections and national recognition.
Her coaching trail began in 1990 at Arizona State University, a three-year stint where she helped the Sun Devils to a Top 20 ranking and the NCAA Tournament spot in 1993. She spent the next season at Western Kentucky University, and the Hilltoppers advanced to the NCAA Tournament.
In 1996 she started a three-year post as Senior Program Coordinator at a Community Center in Fulton County, Ga., one of the largest community centers in the Southeast. From 1999 to 2002 she spent one year each at three different Georgia high schools working as a basketball coach and teacher.
Thompson returned to college coaching in 2002 as an assistant at the University of Buffalo where she spent five seasons, before moving to an assistant position at Michigan State in 2007. During her two-plus seasons with the Spartans, two players she recruited were selected to the Big Ten All-Freshman team and Michigan State was WNIT runner-up in 2008 and reached the NCAA Sweet 16 in 2009.
She was named assistant head coach at Stony Brook in 2009, and in January 2011 she was elevated to interim head coach for the final three months of the season.
Following that she was named head coach of the Michigan Crossover AAU Nike Elite team where more than a dozen of her players were among the top recruits in the nation. Most recently, she has served as a consultant and evaluator for Blue Star Basketball since 2013.
Thomson enjoyed an award-winning career as a player, starting at Northeast Mississippi Community College and wrapping up at Auburn University. On the Junior College level she helped win an NJCAA National Championship in 1986-87 and in 2009 was inducted into the Northeast Mississippi Community College Hall of Fame.
While a player at Auburn, Thompson helped the Tigers to two NCAA National Championship runner-up finishes (1989 and 1990). Her team also won two SEC Championships, and she was named to the SEC All-Tournament team and NCAA Region All-Tournament team.
Thompson was inducted into the Georgia Metros AAU Hall of Fame in 2006.
Thompson has been an avid member of her communities, serving as a volunteer at Hospice, the Special Olympics, the Boys and Girls Club, Franklin Street Housing and Turning Point Mentoring Program.
