Courtney Thompson, a two-time Olympian and a world champion, joined the Pepperdine men’s volleyball program as a volunteer assistant coach ahead of the 2021 season.
“It’s great to add a person of Courtney’s character, volleyball IQ and passion to this coaching staff,” Pepperdine Coach David Hunt said at her hiring. “Her passion and commitment to the game and those around her are contagious. Everything she has done, she has succeeded at the highest level. I’m excited to have the opportunity to work together.”
Thompson said: “I am really excited to have the opportunity to work alongside and learn from David and his staff. Pepperdine is a special program with quality people, who I have long admired, and I’m very grateful to now be a part of this team. It feels great to be back in the gym and I’m fired up for what’s possible with this group.”
Thompson earned a silver medal at the 2012 Olympics and a bronze medal at the 2016 Olympics (Hunt was an assistant coach with the U.S. in 2016). She was also a member of the 2014 FIVB World Championship-winning team. She played for the U.S. from 2007-16.
She played international club volleyball in Switzerland, Puerto Rico, Austria, Poland and Brazil.
Thompson was a three-time All-American first team selection at the University of Washington between 2003-06. She helped the Huskies win the 2005 national championship and reach two other national semifinals. She set a then-Pac-10 record for career assists with 6,552, which at the time was third-best in NCAA history. She won the Honda Sports Award as the nation’s top player as a junior in 2005, and was a finalist as a senior. Thompson became the first player in program history to have her jersey retired.
A three-time CoSIDA Academic All-American as well, Thompson graduated from UW in 2007 with a degree in business administration.
