Eureka College President J. David Arnold has appointed EC Director of Athletics Steve Thompson interim Eureka women’s basketball head coach, according to an announcement Monday. Thompson, who has appeared in four NCAA Division III Tournaments as a student-athlete and assistant coach, will be the 11th head coach in program history and begin his responsibilities immediately.
"Steve’s commitment to building a strong Eureka College athletics program is evident as he expands his responsibilities to include the continued success of our women’s basketball program," Arnold said. "With his leadership, enthusiasm, and keen vision, I am confident our student-athletes will continue to excel in the classroom and in athletic competition."
Thompson boasts a rich tradition of success as a basketball student-athlete and coach at the NCAA Division III level. The Rittman, Ohio native was a three-year letterwinner at Wooster (Ohio) from 1998 through 2001, scoring 780 points in 78 career appearances. He served as team captain as a senior in 2000-01, leading the Fighting Scots to their first #1 national ranking in program history. In all, Thompson’s Wooster squads won 75 games, two North Coast Athletic Conference regular season titles, three NCAC Tournament championships and secured three NCAA Division III Tournament bids.
Shortly after earning a B.A. in history from Wooster, Thompson joined the men’s basketball staff at Division III Illinois College in 2001 for two seasons. He ultimately helped the Blue Boys to the 2003 Midwest Conference Tournament championship and the program’s first-ever bid to the NCAA Division III Tournament. The team was later inducted into the Illinois College Athletics Hall of Fame in 2009.
"I see each upcoming season as a new challenge and I feel Coach Thompson has the experience and skills to lead us through all of the challenges we might encounter," two-time All-St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference senior forward Kelsey Shoemake (Groveland, Ill./East Peoria H.S.) said.
"I’m so excited for the upcoming season," senior guard Jenna Brooks (Peoria, Ill./Limestone H.S.) added. "Coach Thompson is experienced and brings tremendous energy to the table. I believe this season will be one to remember."
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