King hires Thompson to lead women’s basketball program
BRISTOL, Tenn. – King University Vice President for Athletics David Hicks has announced the hiring of Josh Thompson as the next head coach of the King University women’s basketball program. This will be the second stint at King for Thompson, who previously coached the Tornado from 2011-2021, a stretch where he took the Tornado to the Conference Carolinas championship game in three consecutive seasons.
During his career at King, Thompson amassed a record of 157-120, going 118-82 in Conference Carolinas games. He recorded two 20-win seasons, coming in 2014-15 and 2016-17, those were the first two 20-win seasons since 2007-08 and the 25 wins are the third most in school history, trailing only four seasons’ when King Hall of Fame coach Al Nida’s squads posted two straight years with 27 wins and followed that with consecutive 28-win seasons. Thompson’s 157 wins trails only Nida’s 182 victories on the King all-time list.
The Tornado finished in the top four in the Conference Carolinas standings in six of Thompson’s 10 seasons as King registered a record above .500 eight times. Under Thomson’s tutelage, 13 individuals garnered All-Conference Carolinas, including one defensive player of the year and one freshman of the year. King also earned five Conference Carolinas Messick Awards for sportsmanship.
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