SEAN THOMPSON ELEVATED TO VCU BASEBALL HEAD COACH - Virginia Commonwealth University (2024)

RICHMOND, Va. – Sean Thompson has been named head coach of the VCU Baseball program, Rams' Vice President and Director of Athletics Ed McLaughlin announced Monday.

"Sean bleeds Black and Gold, so I'm thrilled to have him as our new baseball coach. His leadership skills and character have played such a huge role in the success of our program over the last 10 years, even back to him taking the ball in the deciding game of the 2015 NCAA Regionals as a freshman and pitching lights out for the win. No one loves VCU Baseball more than him. Sean has prepared for this role and grown into it over three different stints with us and I look forward to him continuing our tradition of championship success."

Thompson, a 2018 VCU graduate and one of the most accomplished pitchers in program history, assumes the reigns after two separate stints as an assistant with the Rams. Thompson rejoined the program for the 2024 season as pitching coach and guided the VCU staff to the Atlantic 10 Conference's top ERA and helped lift the Black and Gold to a league championship and an NCAA Tournament berth. Thompson also played a pivotal role in the development of All-Atlantic 10 Conference pitchers Christian Gordon and Brian Curley, who were subsequently selected by the Cubs and Pirates, respectively, in the 2024 MLB Draft.

"I am incredibly humbled for the opportunity to lead the VCU Baseball program," Thompson said. "I want to thank Ed McLaughlin and everyone who was involved in this process. I could not be more excited about this opportunity to continue VCU's championship baseball tradition. This program is steeped in history. My goals are to continue to win championships and provide the best student-athlete experience possible. Go Rams!"

Prior to his recent VCU tenure, Thompson spent the 2023 season as an assistant coach at FIU. Working alongside first-year Head Coach Rich Whitten, a former VCU assistant coach, Thompson helped the Panthers to a five-win improvement.

In 2022, Thompson served as pitching coach at Monmouth, where he steered the Hawks to the MAAC's top ERA, as well as the league's second-most strikeouts and second-fewest walks. He also oversaw the development of unanimous 2022 MAAC Pitcher of the Year and First Team All-MAAC selection Trey Dombroski.

Under Thompson's guidance, Dombroski posted one of the best seasons by a Monmouth pitcher in program history with 120 strikeouts – most in program history – and a league-best 3.13 ERA. The lefty was later named Second Team All-American by Collegiate Baseball, ABCA Third Team All-American and ABCA First Team All-East Region for his efforts. He was a fourth-round selection by the Houston Astros organization in the 2022 MLB Draft, while teammate Rob Hensey was picked by the Cincinnati Reds in the ninth round.

In2021Thompson made his first return to Richmond, joining the staff as the Director of Pitching Development, where he worked with a Rams pitching staff that saw a pair of players, Tyler Davis and Mason Delane, named to the Atlantic-10 All-Rookie Team.

Thompson was a four-year standout on the mound for the Rams from 2015-18. During his career, which included an A-10 All-Rookie Team selection in 2015, Thompson compiled a 27-10 record and 3.30 ERA over 300 innings with 249 strikeouts. Thompson's 27 victories are the second-most ever by a VCU pitcher, and include the biggest win in program history. As a freshman in 2015, Thompson threw 5.1 innings one-run ball to earn a decision over Dallas Baptist and clinch VCU's first NCAA Regional Championship.

Upon graduation, Thompson signed with the Chicago White Sox as an undrafted free agent in June 2018 and pitched in the Arizona Rookie League before playing for the Great Falls Voyagers in 2019. He made 14 starts with the Voyagers and struck out 66 across 80 innings.

He also worked previously with Flood City Elite travel baseball as an assistant coach, as well as coaching as an assistant with Paul Carpenter's All-American Amateur Baseball Association Team, helping lead them to a 32-2 record.

Thompson graduated from VCUwitha bachelor's degree in Business Communications in 2018.