In April of 2022, the Montreat athletic department announced the hiring of Josh Thompson as the head coach of the Cavalier women’s basketball program. Thompson coached two seasons with the Cavs through 2023-24.
YEAR-BY-YEAR HIGHLIGHTS
2023-24
- Won eight straight games, matching the longest win streak since 2011-12.
- Also had a six-game win streak and started conference play 4-0.
- Ended the year 16-13 (13-9 AAC) to grab the No. 6 seed in the AAC Tournament.
- Athlete achievements: 1 All-Conference (First Team), 1 AAC All-Freshmen Team, 2 AAC All-Defensive Team, 1 AAC Player of the Week, 1 CSC Academic All-District, 5 AAC All-Academic, 5 Daktronics NAIA Scholar-Athletes.
2022-23
- Tallied first win at Montreat on 11/1 against Carolina University (53-47).
- Started year 5-0 for first time since 2010-11.
- Won seven consecutive games, the longest win streak since the 2012-13 season.
- Finished year 20-10 (15-9 AAC), marking the winningest season since 2011-12.
- Advanced to the semifinal round of the AAC Tournament for the first time since 2015-16.
- Athlete achievements: 3 All-Conference (2 First Team, 1 Second Team), 2 AAC All-Defensive Team, 3 AAC Player of the Week, 1 AAC All-Tournament Team, 2 CSC Academic All-District, 8 AAC All-Academic, 3 Daktronics NAIA Scholar-Athletes.
PRIOR TO MONTREAT
Thompson, who brought a plethora of experience in the field with him to North Carolina, joined the Montreat family after an extended stint at King University. While the head coach for the NCAA Division II Tornado, the Mechanic Falls, Maine native amassed over 150 victories. Upon arriving at King in 2011, Thompson quickly turned the program around from a 5-21 team to one that regularly achieved records over .500. After his first season with the Tornado, Thompson never had a losing year, going 157-120 overall and 118-82 in Conference Carolinas (CC) action.
Thompson saw particular success late in the 2010s as he led the program to three consecutive conference championship games from 2016 to 2018, including a 2017 Conference Carolinas Tournament Championship in 2017. That year, the Tornado tallied a 25-7 (19-3 CC) record and reached the NCAA Tournament, while Thompson was named the Conference Carolinas Coach of the Year.
Prior to his decade as King’s head coach, Thompson held the same position at Nyack College in New York for eight years. From 2002 to 2010, Thompson captained the Warriors to several notable achievements, highlighted by conference accolades. After leading Nyack to an NCCAA East Region Championship in 2009, the team progressed to win the 2010 Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) north division regular season and tournament. Due to the program’s feats, Thompson earned the 2009 NCCAA East Region co-Coach of the Year award and the 2010 CACC Coach of the Year honor. The Warriors also reached their initial NCAA Tournament with Thompson at the helm in 2010.
As a collegiate athlete, Thompson played all four years of his undergraduate degree for Nyack, where he led the CACC in assists as a senior. The team’s captain helped his squad to a CACC Tournament Championship in 2000 as the tournament’s MVP. Thompson went on to coach as an assistant at his alma mater before being promoted to head coach in 2002.
Thompson graduated from Nyack with a degree in interdisciplinary studies: youth ministry and psychology. He and his family made the move from Bristol, Tenn. to the Montreat area in summer of 2022.
COACHING RECORD
| Years |
School |
Overall Record |
Conference Record |
|
|
W |
L |
Pct. |
W |
L |
Pct. |
| 2023-24 |
Montreat |
16 |
13 |
0.552 |
13 |
9 |
0.591 |
| 2022-23 |
Montreat |
20 |
10 |
0.667 |
15 |
9 |
0.625 |
| 2 seasons |
|
36 |
23 |
0.610 |
28 |
18 |
0.609 |
| Years |
School |
Overall Record |
Conference Record |
|
|
W |
L |
Pct. |
W |
L |
Pct. |
| 2022-24 |
Montreat |
36 |
10 |
0.610 |
28 |
18 |
0.609 |
| 2011-21 |
King |
157 |
120 |
0.567 |
118 |
82 |
0.590 |
| 2002-10 |
Nyack |
73 |
152 |
0.324 |
46 |
119 |
0.279 |
| 20 seasons |
|
266 |
295 |
0.474 |
192 |
219 |
0.467 |
