Marcus Thompson – Lake Weekly

Marcus Thompson named OLLU men’s basketball coach

Marcus Thompson has been named Men’s Basketball Head Coach at OLLU. Thompson returned to OLLU as an assistant coach in 2021 and has been chosen as the Saints’ fifth head coach since the program’s inaugural season in 2009. He begins officially on April 1.

Thompson will take over from Chris Dial, who coached from 2018 through March. Later this month, Dial will start his head coaching position for the inaugural men’s basketball program at Texas A&M University—San Antonio.

Athletic Director Tom Norris said, “Coach Thompson has been a great assistant coach the past two seasons, and we are confident that he will continue to excel as the squad leader. He is an OLLU alumnus – both undergraduate and graduate programs – and played on very successful teams for four years. The players respect him and are eager to help him as he begins his tenure. He will bring passion, work ethic and energy to the team, and we look forward to his future with us.”

Thompson started the assistant coach position in 2021 and helped guide the Saints to a Red River Athletic Conference (RRAC) Tournament Quarterfinals. The team repeated as quarterfinalists in 2022 and this past season. In addition, for the first time in program history, the men earned NAIA Scholar Team recognition in 2022-2023, and they are on the path to accomplishing this impressive feat as the 2023-2024 season ends. The team has also been one of OLLU’s most active in the community. They have partnered with the San Antonio Spurs Youth Programs, Haven for Hope and the San Antonio Food Bank.

Thompson was selected to the OLLU Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2022 as well as the Red River Athletic Conference Hall of Fame Class of 2022.

Before coming to OLLU, Thompson was the head coach at Coastal Bend College in Beeville, Texas. He became the head coach at the junior college in 2019, and before that, he was the assistant coach there for one season. While at Coastal Bend, Thompson was also part of the faculty teaching business computer information systems and was an academic adviser.

In The News

Recent media coverage that brought attention to OLLU:

On March 9, a story on Victory Sports Network about alumnus Marcus Thompson becoming the next OLLU men’s basketball coach:

Marcus Thompson Named OLLU Men’s Basketball Head Coach

On March 8, a story on KSAT-12 about the “Refusing To Forget” exhibit at OLLU with comment from Visiting Professor Christopher Carmona:

https://www.ksat.com/news/local/2024/03/09/reign-of-racial-terror-in-texas-involving-latinos-not-widely-known-historians-says/

On March 8, a story in Our Esquina about OLLU soccer player Samantha Valdez competing for the Salvadoran national soccer team:

Samantha Valadez finds home on Salvadoran national team

On March 8, a story on MySanantonio.com about former OLLU student Ashley Paredez becoming a new anchor at FOX San Antonio:

https://www.mysanantonio.com/entertainment/article/ashley-paredez-kabb-18709172.php

On March 7, a story in HoopDirt.com about new OLLU men’s basketball coach Marcus Thompson:

NAIA NEWS: Thompson promoted to Head Basketball Coach at OLLU

On March 7, a story on JamBroadcasting.com about OLLU softball sweeping a doubleheader against Schreiner:

https://jambroadcasting.com/softball-drops-double-header-against-our-lady-of-the-lake/

On March 7, a story in the Laredo Morning Times about OLLU sprinter Julian Verastegui and his finish at the NAIA national indoor track meet:

https://www.lmtonline.com/sports/article/alexander-alum-verastegui-places-7th-naia-indoor-18709233.php

On March 6, a story on NAIA.org about OLLU softball climbing to the No. 1 ranking in the nation:

https://www.naia.org/sports/sball/2023-24/Releases/National_1

On March 6, a story on Victory Sports Network about the OLLU softball team sweeping a doubleheader against Texas Wesleyan:

Our Lady of the Lake University Sweeps No. 21-Ranked Texas Wesleyan University in Doubleheader

OLLU held inaugural Athletics Hall of Fame induction ceremony

OLLU held its first-ever Athletics Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on Aug. 5 in Mabee Gymnasium. The event cerebrated members of the Class of 2020 Aaron Flores and Gaby Lopez, and Class of 2022 Nashae Owens Peña and Marcus Thompson.

Athletic Director Shane Hurley commented, “We are honored to recognize these four tremendous student-athletes and alumni, and we look forward to continuing this traditional annually.”

The university first announced the Class of 2020 two years ago, but with COVID restrictions, the ceremony had to be postponed.

See full story on the Saints website.

Marcus Thompson returns to OLLU as men’s basketball assistant coach

Men’s basketball team is delighted to welcome back Marcus Thompson – an OLLU alumnus and four-year student-athlete – as assistant coach. He replaces three-year Assistant Coach Dustin Karrer, who is the new head coach at Brentwood Christian School in Austin, Texas.

Head Coach Chris Dial said, “Coach Karrer was a huge part of what we wanted to accomplish when coming to OLLU, and he is still part of our family. As tough as it is to lose someone so integral to what we are doing, we feel extremely fortunate to be able to bring on Marcus Thompson.”

Thompson comes to OLLU after the head-coaching position at Coastal Bend College in Beeville, Texas. He became the head coach at the junior college in 2019, and before that, he was the assistant coach there for one season. While at Coastal Bend, Thompson also was part of the faculty teaching business computer information systems, and he was an academic adviser.

“It is an honor and privilege to be able to come back home to Our Lady of the Lake University – a place that has really been the foundation for all the success I have had in my career,” Thompson commented. “I would like to thank President Dr. [Diane] Melby, Athletic Director Shane Hurley and Coach Chris Dial for the tremendous opportunity to be able to come back and be a coach here at OLLU. Our Lady of the Lake men’s basketball has been able to accomplish and do a lot of great things, and I am hoping to be able to come in and contribute to the success of the program.”

At OLLU from 2010-2014, Thompson led the men’s basketball team to a 2011-2012 Red River Athletic Conference Regular Season Championship, runner up at the postseason tournament and a round of 16 finish at the NAIA National Tournament. In 2010-2011, the team was postseason semifinalists; in 2012-2013, the Saints were postseason quarterfinalists; and in 2013-2014, the men finished as postseason semifinalists.

Thompson’s accolades included National Association of Basketball Coaches Honors Court recipient, All-Conference, Red River Athletic Conference (RRAC) Defensive Player of the Year, three-time RRAC Scholar-Athlete. Thompson holds several records that still stand today: most games played (128), most assists (630), most steals (315), season-best assists average (7.1), season most steals (131) and season-best steals average (4.1). Thompson also owns the record for the most steals in a game at OLLU and throughout the NAIA, with 15 in a game against Paul Quinn College in 2014.

“Coach Thompson is an excellent young coach and is a product of the university and city he’ll be serving,” Dial said. “Our players are lucky to be around a man of his character and caliber. He will bring an extraordinary passion, work ethic and energy to our team.”

Before his time at Coastal Bend, Thompson was the head coach for the UC Hoops – Adidas Gauntlet Program and head coach at Great Hearts Monte Vista. Before that, he was an accountant at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio.

Thompson received his Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting in May 2014 and his Master of Business Administration in Management in 2016 – both from OLLU.

He and his wife Julie – an OLLU alumna and four-year Saints’ softball student-athlete –are parents to two boys.

OLLU men’s basketball loses close game to MidAmerica Nazarene

Marcus Thompson scored a career-high 21 points during the game.

The men’s basketball lost its home opener against NAIA No. 15-ranked MidAmerica Nazarene University (MNU) 99-97 before an enthusiastic Mabee Gymnasium. The Saints drop to 1-3, while MNU improves to 6-0. Head Coach Ryan Wall said, “The kids played hard, but we made some mental mistakes and the ball just wasn’t falling in for us when we needed it to. But MidAmerica is a good team with a coach who will be in the Hall of Fame one day. The game was a good practice for us to get ready for conference.” Saints’ senior captain Marcus Thompson scored a career-high 21 points, including 8-of-12 from the field and 5-of-5 from the free throw line. He added eight rebounds, eight assists and two steals. Xavier Roberson scored 29 points consisting of 8-of-12 field goals, 4-of-7 field goals and 9-of-12 free throws. Dylan Elias scored 20 points for the Saints to include 8-of-14 from the field and 4-of-9 from 3-point range. The Saints committed 12 turnovers while forcing 23.

The Saints will return to Mabee Gym next Friday and Saturday to host their third annual Halo Classic. On Nov. 22, Northwood University will face the University of St. Thomas at 5:30 p.m. At 7:30 p.m., the Saints will play Texas Wesleyan University. On Nov. 23, St. Thomas will play Texas Wesleyan and at 4 p.m., the Saints will play Northwood. Read more online.