Aug. 2, 2005
NORMAL, Ill. -
Former NCAA high jump national qualifier Tim Thompson is the new assistant track coach for jumping events at Illinois State. He joins associate head coach Chris Bailey, assistant coach Brent Chumbley and graduate assistant Aaron Decker on the staff of head coach Elvis Forde.
"I'm excited to be working with coach Forde and the other coaches," said Thompson. "I like what they have done with the program and the direction it's heading. Since I've been on campus, everyone has been extremely friendly. The proximity to home and the coaching style and abilities of the coaching staff were the main selling points."
Thompson comes to ISU from UMKC after a five-year stint as assistant coach for the jumps, sprints, throws and multi-events. While at UMKC, Thompson coached three NCAA Division I Outdoor Championship participants, one all-American high jumper, a 2001 World Championships participant, 17 UMKC school record-holders, 88 all-conference award winners, three Mid-Continent Conference outdoor records holders, 34 Mid-Continent Indoor and Outdoor Conference Champions, three Mid-Continent Athlete of the Year honorees and the 2001 and 2002 Mid-Continent Academic Athlete of the Year. He was also an adjunct instructor in the physical education department.
Prior to working at UMKC, the Peoria, Ill., native and graduate of Chilicothe's Illinois Valley Central High School, was a graduate assistant jumps coach at Eastern Illinois while working towards his master's degree in education administration. Thompson also received his Bachelor of Science degree from Eastern Illinois in physical education. Thompson holds the Eastern Illinois indoor and outdoor records in the high jump and was also a three-time Ohio Valley Conference Champion in the event. Thompson, a member of two OVC championship teams, was a four-year varsity letterwinner.
Forde believes that Thompson's experience will be an asset to the Redbird track and field program.
"One of the things that attracted us to Tim was his longevity at UMKC, which is very important to us, and also because he's from the area," said Forde. "His familiarity with the territory and the experience he has gained over the years will help in aiding a stable coaching staff. He will be able to bring back the maturity that we need for the program right now, and get us back to an area of jumping and the level that we want to compete at in the conference."
Thompson has also obtained the USATF Level I and Level II certifications while serving as the Director of the Eastern Illinois High Jump Camp since 2000.
