 He was the athletic director at Fort Hays State from 1980 to 1981, the University of South Dakota from 1981 to 1982, the University of Nebraska Omaha from 1985 to 1988, and University of Texas at San Antonio (USTA) from 1988 to 1999.Thompson was born on August 2, 1937, in Guthrie, Oklahoma, and attended Guthrie High School there.He played football and baseball at Eastern Oklahoma Junior College—now known as Eastern Oklahoma State College—in Wilburton, Oklahoma and at Adams State College—now known as Adams State University—in Alamosa, Colorado.