bart thompson

Bart Thompson

Bart Thompson enters his second year as San Diego men's rowing's head coach in 2022 after being named to the position on September 29, 2021 by University of San Diego Associate Vice President/Executive Director of Athletics Bill McGillis.

"I am thrilled that Bart Thompson will serve as the next leader of our men's rowing program," McGillis said. "We have big-time momentum in our program right now, and I'm confident Coach Thompson will successfully build on the foundation established by every individual who has been a part of USD crew. I believe Bart will provide the positive, inspirational leadership necessary to achieve our vision of Winning in the Community, Winning on the Playing Field and Winning in the Classroom. Bart's values truly align with those of USD and I am confident that when they are coupled with his passion for teaching, his expertise, and his ability to connect with prospective and current Torero scholar-athletes, we will enjoy great success." 

Thompson takes over for Ben Hise, who departed the program last summer, and joins the Toreros from Adrian College, where he was tasked with founding the Bulldogs' program from scratch and oversaw the design and construction of the teams' $4 million boathouse.

A rising star in the college rowing world, Thompson led the Bulldogs from 2017-2021, and managed all aspects of the program.  His final season coaching the Bulldogs saw the program take four boats to the Mid-Atlantic Rowing Conference (MARC) championship and win all four events in addition to winning the Men's Points Trophy. Thompson was voted the 2021 MARC Men's Coach of the Year for his efforts.

"I'm humbled, honored, and excited to be the next Head Coach of Men's Rowing at the University of San Diego," Thompson said. "From my first conversations with Athletic Director McGillis and his wonderful staff, it was evident that their mission and values align with my own. They have a strong desire to build a winning program, but even more importantly a desire to develop young people of character who will succeed in all aspects of their lives. USD is a premier Catholic university in an equally great city, set on a beautiful body of water for rowing. The previous head coach did a wonderful job developing this roster, and I'm excited to work with Coach Janiak and these driven young men to take the program to even greater heights. I had the opportunity to visit with three outstanding and passionate members of the USD alumni rowing community during the hiring process, and I am very much looking forward to engaging with them, and the many other alumni who care so much, to preserve and strengthen the tradition of the Torero program."

Prior to Adrian College, Thompson was an assistant founder and served as an assistant coach at the University of Missouri's Kansas City Rowing Club in Kansas City (2016-2017), as well as the co-founder and head coach for the men's & women's juniors program at the Kansas City Boat Club (2015-2017). 

He began his coaching career at his high school alma mater St. John's Jesuit High School in Toledo, Ohio, where he was the associate head coach and novice coach from 2012-2014 as the program won more medals than in any other two-year span in program history.

Thompson, who has completed USRowing's Level II Advanced Coaching certification, attended Stanford University and graduated with a degree in American History. While at Stanford, Thompson was a two-sport athlete (lacrosse and rowing), picking up lacrosse after suffering a recurring back injury that forced him into retiring from rowing. 

Thompson is a native of Ann Arbor, Michigan.