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Features
ABOUT THE COACH...Mitch Thompson is in his 14th season as assistant coach at Baylor in 2008. No stranger to championship-level baseball, he has helped coach nine teams to 40-win seasons and has seen more than his share of postseason action. Thompson's primary duties involve serving as the Bears' hitting coach and outfield position coach, and coordinating recruiting efforts.
- In November 2006, Thompson was named National Assistant Coach of the Year by the American Baseball Coaches Association and Baseball America. The honor came on the heels of Baylor's 2006 incoming class being ranked first nationally by Baseball America.
- As hitting coach, Thompson has seen the program achieve tremendous success. Since arriving at Baylor, Thompson has helped the Bears set team season records in virtually every category, including batting average, hits, runs, doubles, home runs, RBI, total bases, stolen bases, slugging percentage and on-base percentage.
- Thompson's hitters have also set many individual records, including single-season marks for hits, runs, doubles, triples, home runs, RBI and extra-base hits. Through his efforts, recent Bears have set school career marks for hits, runs, doubles, triples, home runs, RBI, extra-base hits and total bases. Of the 18 major offensive statistical categories in Baylor's record book, school records have been established in 15 categories during Thompson's tenure (both season and career).
- Furthermore, since Thompson's arrival, the Baylor program has had 69 all-conference players, nine All-Americans and eight freshman All-Americans.
- As recruiting coordinator, Thompson has helped bring in classes ranked in the top 25 in six of the past 10 years (23rd, 1998; 25th, 2001; 13th, 2002; 19th, 2003; 23rd, 2005; first, 2006). Thompson's recruiting prowess has not been limited to the Lone Star State as he has regularly scoured the nation for talent. Some of Baylor's top players in the past 14 years have come from out-of-state, including but not limited to Ross Bennett (Missouri), Jace Brewer (Oklahoma), Zach Dillon (Iowa), Kyle Evans (New Mexico), Tim Hartshorn (Minnesota), Kevin Russo (Colorado), Josh Scott (California), Kevin Sevigny (Maine), Jared Theodorakos (Missouri), Preston Underdown (Arizona), Beamer Weems (Virginia), Matt Williams (California) and Paul Witt (Arkansas).
- Thompson joined the Baylor staff after serving as an assistant coach at Auburn during the 1994 season. While at Auburn, he helped guide the Tigers to a then-school record 44 wins and a place in the 1994 College World Series (one of three CWS appearances during his collegiate coaching career). Thompson worked with the catchers and outfielders and was also the defensive coordinator at Auburn.
- Prior to joining the Baylor staff, Thompson and Steve Smith coached together at Mississippi State in 1990 and 1992-93. Thompson's coaching career began in 1990 as a graduate assistant for the Bulldogs. He then moved to Radford (Va.) where he served as the assistant coach for the 1991 season. While at Radford, Thompson coordinated recruiting, worked with team defense and assisted with hitting. He rejoined coach Ron Polk at Mississippi State as a full-time assistant in 1992, working with the hitters and outfielders.
- Thompson is a 1988 honors graduate of Fort Hays State in Kansas where he twice earned academic all-conference honors as a baseball standout. Lettering both as a first baseman and a third baseman, Thompson was named team captain as a senior. He toured Europe as a player in the summer of 1987 with Athletes in Action, the athletic ministry of Campus Crusade for Christ. He continued his education by earning his master's degree in physical education from Mississippi State in 1991.
- Thompson, 42, is a native of Goodland, Kan. He is married to the former Amber Kennedy of Brandon, Miss. They have two daughters, Mary Conley (11) and Caroline (8).
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