Eastern Nazarene College Athletics Director Nancy Detwiler announced the hiring of Nick Thompson as the head men's soccer and golf coach.

"This is an incredibly exciting opportunity to be a part of the Eastern Nazarene community," Thompson said. "I feel especially blessed to lead the men's soccer and golf programs and look forward to building upon the foundation that has been laid over the last couple years. 

"Throughout my coaching career, I have worked with outstanding coaches who have provided me with immense knowledge of the game and more importantly how to use the vehicle of athletics to develop Christian character in young men. I am eager to build a program that is special and relevant both at ENC and in (NCAA) Division III. I can clearly see how God has prepared me to serve these teams and community, and I am grateful for the Athletics staff and ENC administration for entrusting me with the responsibility to impact and build these programs."

Thompson comes to ENC following a one-year stint as an assistant women's soccer coach at NCAA Division II member California Baptist University in Riverside, California.

The Lancers posted an 11-4-3 overall record in Thompson's first year while going undefeated in the PacWest Conference with a 9-0-3 mark.

Prior to his time at California Baptist, Thompson spent two years at Commonwealth Coast Conference foe Gordon College in Wenham, Massachusetts, from 2012 to 2013. Thompson helped the Fighting Scots to a 19-3-0 overall record in 2013 after a 6-12-1 mark the previous fall.

He also served as a volunteer assistant coach at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, and at North Carolina State University in Raleigh, North Carolina, in addition to coaching at soccer camps hosted by the University of Akron, Messiah College, and the U.S. Naval Academy.

Thompson graduated from Messiah College in 2011 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sports Management. He played four years of soccer for the Division III Falcons and was a part of three NCAA National Champion teams in 2008, 2009, and 2010. Thompson also helped Messiah reach the NCAA semifinals in 2007.

While at Messiah, Thompson was chosen as Commonwealth Conference Player of the Year and earned NSCAA All-American honors in 2010. After earning All-Commonwealth Conference second team honors as a rookie, Thompson garnered All-Region and All-Commonwealth Conference first team accolades in his final three seasons.

Thompson went on to play professional soccer for the Carolina Railhawks of the North American Soccer League after graduation.
--Eastern Nazarene College