McLennan's Thompson named ABCA National Coach of the Year

McLennan Baseball's Mitch Thompson has been named the 2021 American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA)/ATEC NJCAA Division I National Coach of the Year after leading the Highlanders to the national championship for the first time in 38 years.

The Highlanders finished the 2021 season with an overall record of 47-16 and ended on a 23-game winning streak as they claimed the NTJCAC Conference Championship, the NJCAA Region V Championship and the NJCAA Division I National Championship. Following the World Series, Thompson was named the Bus Bergman Coach of the Tournament. In eight seasons with the Highlanders, he has led the program to three World Series appearances including a runner-up finish in 2015 and a fifth-place finish in 2017.

"This is a team award that is the direct result of our team winning the National Championship," Thompson said. "Because;of that, I am blessed and honored to share this award with all the people that made it happen including our President, Dr. Johnette McKown, our athletic director, Shawn Trochim; the best assistant coaching staff in America, James Leverton, Tyler Johnson, Peter Stark, and Anthony Miller; and of course, our incredibly talented group of players, the Bosque Boys."

This marks Thompson's second ABCA Coach of the Year honor. In 2006, while on the Baylor University coaching staff, Thompson was named the Baseball America/American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) National Assistant Coach of the Year, recognizing the top assistant coach across all levels of college baseball.