Air Force Academy

Ryan Thompson

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Hometown: Cowden, IL Position: Assistant Coach Experience: 4th year at AFA

College: Bethel College, 2000

Ryan Thompson enters his third season as a Falcon baseball coach. Thompson works with the pitching staff and assists with the nation-wide recruiting effort. Working with a young and inexperienced pitching staff the last two years, Thompson has guided his fledgling hurlers towards constant improvement. Last year, the Falcon pitching staff struck out 151 batters in Mountain West Conference play, the third-highest total in MWC play ever for the Falcons. Prior to his stint at the Academy, Thompson served three years under Air Force head coach Mike Hutcheon at Bethel College as an assistant coach. Thompson also handled the pitching staff at Bethel where he helped guide the Pilots to two consecutive conference championships. "I have worked with Ryan as a former player and now a coach," Hutcheon said. "He is a winner and I feel privileged to have him on the staff." In his three years as a coach at Bethel, Thompson's pitching staff garnered numerous accolades. In 2002, the Bethel pitching staff ranked second nationally in earned-run average as the Pilots went on to win the National Christian Collegiate Athletic Association (NCCAA) National Championship. The 2003 Conference Champions also ranked nationally in strikeouts and hits-per-game allowed. Thompson has coached six all-conference and three All-American pitchers. Three Pilot pitchers have also been selected in the Major League Baseball draft under his guidance. In addition to working with all areas of the pitching staff at Bethel, Thompson was also the travel and scheduling coordinator and handled the Bethel baseball camps. "It is an honor and a privilege to be a part of the baseball coaching staff here at the Academy," Thompson said. "I am excited about the opportunity to work with the Falcon players and look forward to building a successful program here." Prior to his coaching stint at Bethel, Thompson was an NAIA and NCCAA All-American right-hander for the Pilot baseball team. As a team captain his senior year, Thompson also garnered Great Lakes All-Region and all-conference honors, and was selected to the AIA Collegiate Summer Team in 1999. Thompson earned a bachelor's degree of arts in liberal studies with a minor in business from Bethel College in 2000. A native of Cowden, Ill., Thompson lives in Colorado Springs with his wife, Kristie and baby son Ty, who was born June 1, 2005.