Ryan Thompson

Coach Thompson started coaching at MNU in the spring of 2007, and his leadership has been instrumental in guiding the program to national prominence at the NAIA level. From 2009-2012, the Pioneers improved their overall record from the previous year, setting school records for wins and conference wins in 2011 and again in 2012. In 2011, the Pioneers won the Heart of America Athletic Conference (HAAC) West Division and advanced to the HAAC tournament championship game while going 32-17 overall.

2012 saw the program reach unprecedented heights, as the Pioneers shared the HAAC regular season championship, going 19-7 in conference play, and shattered the school record for wins a second year in a row, with a 38-14 overall record. The Pioneers also cracked into the NAIA top 25 poll for the first time ever, landing at #23.

In 2014, MNU won the overall conference title for the first time since 1984 with a record of 22-4 and swept the conference tournament for the program's first title. The Pioneers qualified for nationals for the first time and played in the Faulkner Opening Round, going 1-2. Thompson was selected HAAC Coach of the Year.

In Thompson’s tenure at MNU, the Pioneers have an overall record of 382-265 (.590). During this time, Thompson has coached numerous All-Conference selections, 8 Rawlings Gold Glove award winners, 4 Conference Players of the Year, 5 NAIA All-America honorees, and numerous NAIA Scholar-Athlete selections.

Thompson’s Pioneers were honored with the 2011 Buffalo Funds NAIA Champions of Character Team Award, a prestigious award given to only one team in each sport nationally. The Pioneers have also excelled in the classroom, with a team GPA of over 3.0 in each of the last several years.

Prior to accepting the head coach position at MNU, Thompson spent three seasons as the pitching coach and recruiting coordinator at the Air Force Academy. Under Thompson's tutelage, AFA's pitching staff struck out 151 batters in Mountain West Conference play in 2005, third-highest total in Falcon history.

Prior to his stint at AFA, Thompson served as the pitching coach at Bethel College (IN) for three years. His tutelage helped the Pilots win consecutive conference championships and an NCCAA National Championship. His pitching staffs at Bethel ranked among the national leaders in strikeouts, earned run average, and fewest hits allowed per game. Three Bethel pitchers were selected in the Major League Baseball draft under his guidance, with two of his former Pilots currently pitching in Major League Baseball.

A native of Cowden, IL, Thompson graduated from Bethel in 2000 where he was an All-Conference, All Region, and All-America right-handed pitcher. In addition to his coaching duties, Thompson teaches in the Department of Health and Exercise Science and serves as the Champions of Character liaison for the MNU athletic department. He and his wife Kristie live in Olathe with their children: Ty, Kade, Beau, Bailee, Kamryn, and Taylor.