Coaches

Bob Thompson

Bob Thompson enters his fourth season as the head coach of Boston College men's soccer in 2023. He joined the staff as associate head coach in 2018 and was officially named the head coach of the program in January of 2020.


The 2022 season saw a pair of Eagles earn All-ACC recognition. Striker Stefan Sigurdarson was named to the All-ACC Second Team after leading the league in goals and points, while defender Victor Souza was named to the All-ACC Third Team. Additionally, seven of Thompson's players were selected to the ACC All-Academic Team.


Following the season, five different players signed professional contracts, including three affiliated with MLS clubs. Souza (New England Revolution) and fellow senior Amos Shapiro-Thompson (New York Red Bulls) were both selected in the MLS SuperDraft.


In 2021, Thompson led the Eagles to an unbeaten 5-0-2 record in seven home matches, including ACC victories over Syracuse and Wake Forest. Boston College had a pair of players receive All-ACC honors as Souza was named to the All-ACC Third Team, while Aidan Farwell earned a spot on the All-Freshman Team.


As interim head coach in 2019, Thompson led BC on a six-game unbeaten streak which included a win over then-No. 3 Wake Forest and a tie against then-No. 1 Virginia. The team advanced to the NCAA Tournament and earned a first round win over Yale before falling in the second round at Washington.


A former student-athlete and assistant coach at the Heights, Thompson returned to BC after four seasons as the associate head coach at UMass Lowell. In 2016, he was named one of the top-12 assistant coaches in the nation by College Soccer News.


During his four seasons with the River Hawks, Thompson helped guide the men’s soccer program from 192 in the national ranking to as high as No. 3 in the NCAA RPI and No. 11 in the NSCAA Poll in 2016. The River Hawks finished the season with a 13-1-2 record, the best in program history, and were crowned America East Champions.


The 2016 season also culminated with the team being honored with a number of awards including America East Coaching Staff of the Year, Goalkeeper of the Year, Defender of the Year, Striker of the Year, and Rookie of the Year. The team also saw three players named to the NSCAA All-Region Team. Wuilito Fernandes was named a First Team All-American and was selected in the 2017 MLS Draft.


Thompson and the River Hawks coaching staff were also named NSCAA Regional Coaching Staff of the Year.


Prior to UMass Lowell, Thompson spent two seasons in the ACC as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Boston College.


In 2012, Thompson helped guide the Eagles to an NSCAA National Ranking of as high as No. 18 and the Eagles advanced to both the ACC Tournament and the NCAA Tournament. The 2012 season also saw two players from the Eagles' senior class drafted in the first round of the MLS. Kyle Bekker was drafted No. 3 overall by Toronto FC while Charlie Rugg was drafted No. 18 overall by the LA Galaxy.


As recruiting coordinator at the Heights, Thompson helped bring in two talented classes in 2013 and 2014, highlighted by Zeiko Lewis who was named ACC Rookie of the Year in 2013. Lewis’ stellar career culminated in him being named an NSCAA All-American as a senior and being drafted in the first round of the MLS Super Draft in 2017. Thompson's two recruiting classes also played a major role in the team's run to the NCAA Elite 8 in 2015.


Prior to Boston College, Thompson spent two seasons as the assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Tufts University where he played a major role in a historic turnaround.


In 2011, after only two seasons, the Jumbos improved from a record of 2-10-2 the season prior to Thompson’s arrival to a record of 9-3-2 and a national ranking as high as No. 14.


In 2014, while Thompson was coaching at UMass Lowell, the Jumbos completed the historic turnaround by winning the Division III NCAA National Championship. Thompson’s two recruiting classes played a vital role in the title run, including Sam Williams who was named a First Team NSCAA All-American and Gus Santos who was named the MVP of the National Final.


Prior to Tufts, Thompson spent two seasons at Northeastern University where he helped guide the Huskies to consecutive conference finals appearances.


As a player, Thompson ranks among the BC greats as he was named as an NSCAA Honorable Mention All-American his senior year and was twice named Big East Tournament MVP in 2000 and 2002. Thompson finished his career at Boston College in the top-10 in school history in a number of categories, and his team’s finished with two Big East Championships, a Big East Regular Season Championship, three NCAA Appearances, an NCAA Elite 8 Appearance, and the most wins in school history with 18.


Thompson played three seasons of professional soccer following college, including two seasons in the MLS with the New England Revolution. He holds a UEFA B coaching license with the Irish Football Federation and an NSCAA Advanced National Diploma.


Thompson resides in Berlin, Massachusetts with his wife Emily and three children William, Anna and Matthew.