Following-up on my D3 DIRT from 6/13. Chris Thompson has officially been named as an assistant coach at NYU. Here’s the release:

Chris Thompson has been announced as an assistant coach of New York University’s men’s basketball program, becoming the first addition to newly-hired Head Coach Dave Klatsky‘s staff.

Thompson has coached at the Division III level since 2013, most recently serving as head men’s basketball coach and recruiting coordinator at Pratt Institute during the 2021-22 season. He led the Canoneers to the most Division III wins in program history this past year while recruiting and developing the 2022 Coast-to-Coast Conference Rookie of the Year.

“I am thrilled to welcome Chris Thompson to the NYU basketball family,” Klatsky said. “Chris has an energy and work ethic that will be contagious to those around him. In addition, he brings with him a wealth of experience at other high academic institutions and I’m confident Chris will hit the ground running in helping this program reach its potential.”

Prior to Pratt, Thompson worked as an assistant men’s basketball coach and athletic promotions and marketing director at Stevens Institute of Technology from 2016-21. He led the Ducks’ recruiting efforts and helped guide the program to the NCAA Tournament in 2020. Stevens finished with a winning record in all four of his full seasons on staff.

“I want to thank Stuart Robinson, Janice Quinn, and Coach Klatsky for providing me the opportunity to be a part of the standout NYU Athletics community,” Thompson said. “It has become apparent through our conversations that there is a prioritization of creating a holistic experience for these student-athletes on and off court and I’m elated to contribute to that vision.

“I look forward to helping guide our student-athletes in achieving success in all facets of their lives and contributing to create a joyful environment where we can compete on a local, regional and national level within the NYU men’s basketball program.”

Thompson also spent the 2015-16 season as an assistant at Elmira College, directing all recruiting efforts, team travel and scouting reports while serving as the Head Junior Varsity Coach.

His first coaching position began in 2013 at St. John Fisher College, where he helped lead the Cardinals to an Empire 8 Conference title and NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 appearance in 2015 as part of the Empire 8 Coaching Staff of the Year.

Thompson earned a Bachelor of Science in Childhood Education with a Mathematics Concentration from SUNY Plattsburgh in 2011, also serving as a men’s basketball student assistant, and a Master’s Degree in Literacy Education from Elmira in 2017.