Thompson Hired As Men's Basketball Assistant

PEMBROKE – UNCP head men's basketball coach Ben Miller has announced the addition of Ben Thompson to his coaching staff for the 2011-12 season. Thompson takes over the roles formerly occupied by Corey Thompson, who left in July to take a similar position at Fayetteville State after five years in Pembroke.

"We are all excited to add Ben Thompson to our coaching staff," Miller said. "He grew up in the gym with his father, Rick, who was a great high school coach in the state of Virginia. Ben brings a variety of experience from both the Division II and Division I levels at Saint Leo, UNC Greensboro and Virginia Tech. During that time he learned from some great coaches at every stop. Ben comes highly recommended from a variety of people that I know and trust and he will help our program continue to grow and improve on many levels."

"Coach Miller and his staff have done a great job of elevating Braves Basketball to an exciting height and I look forward to building upon an already firm foundation," Thompson said. "I'm excited about the opportunity at UNCP and in getting to know the people on campus and in the community. I'd like to thank Coach Miller, Coach (Dan) Kenney, and Dr. (Tommy) Thompson for their support and confidence in me throughout this process."

Thompson heads to UNCP following a one-year stint as the video coordinator and assistant to the head coach at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Va. There he was charged with assisting in-game and practice preparation, running the film exchange program, assisting with travel operations and additional duties that involved coaching clinics, on-campus recruiting visits, and being director of the Virginia Tech summer basketball camps. Last season, the Hokies topped then-No. 1 ranked Duke by a 64-60 final at Cassell Coliseum in Blacksburg.

During the 2009-10 season, Thompson served as an assistant coach at Saint Leo, a NCAA Division II institution that competes in the Sunshine State Conference in Saint. Leo, Fla. That season he coached All-SSC forward Jordan Paris as well as all-freshman guard Dominick Robinson and he recruited and signed 2010-2011 SSC Freshman of the Year Nate Johnson. Despite a down season, the Lions defeated No. 2 ranked Florida Southern in 2009-10.

Prior to his stop in Florida, Thompson was the Director of Basketball Operations at UNC Greensboro during the 2008-09 season. There he was primarily responsible with team travel, film exchange, budgeting, video logging as well as directing the program's summer camps. He also assisted with in-game and practice preparation, scouting reports, player development, on-campus recruiting, academic advising and scheduling. He also served as a lecturer in the Physical Education department. 

He got his start in collegiate coaching at his alma mater, Virginia Tech, where he served as a graduate assistant and co-video coordinator during the 2006-07 and 2007-08 seasons. In the former, the Hokies advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament after finishing the season third in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) standings. In the latter, the Hokies advanced to the quarterfinals of the National Invitation Tournament (NIT).

He is a 2006 graduate of Virginia Tech where he earned a bachelor's degree in interdisciplinary studies along with minors in residential property management and leadership. He earned his master's degree in education with a specialization in sports promotion from Virginia Tech in 2007.  He spent time as an assistant coach at Blacksburg High School while he was an undergraduate.

Thompson lettered in seven sports at Saint Paul High School in St. Paul, Va.  He was a three-year starter and two-year captain in basketball while playing for his father, Rick.