Andy Thompson was named the 12th head coach in Sacramento State history on Dec. 13, 2022. Thompson had served as the Hornets' defensive coordinator and linebackers since January of 2019.
In his first season as head coach, Thompson guided the Hornets to the second round of the NCAA FCS Playoffs and earned the team’s first DIv. I postseason road victory. His eight wins were the second most by a first-year head coach in program history and the season was highlighted by a 30-23 win at Stanford. Eleven players earned all-Big Sky honors, including linebacker Armon Bailey, safety Cameron Broussard, tight end Marshel Martin IV and tackle Jackson Slater who were all first team selections.
Thompson saw the defense make significant improvements from the prior year as the team allowed 132 less yards per game during the 2019 season. Sacramento State led the Big Sky in defensive pass efficiency and red zone defense and team recorded 44 sacks for the second most in program history. Individually, defensive end George Obinna earned FCS All-America honors from multiple outlets after he set the Sacramento State single-season (14.0) and career (33.5) record for sacks. Defensive tackle Dariyn Choates, cornerback Daron Bland and Obinna were each named to the all-Big Sky first team. Linebackers Marcus Bruce and Marcus Hawkins and safety Caelan Barnes were all second team selections, defensive tackle Elijah Chambers was named to the third team and defensive end Josiah Erickson earned honorable mention.
Thompson's unit followed that effort by allowing 19.1 points per game — the lowest in the school's Div. I era. Sacramento State was even stingier in conference games, limiting the opposition to 15.3 points per game and not giving up more than 24 points in any of the eight conferene contests. Six Hornet defenders earned all-Big Sky honors headlined by defensive end Josiah Erickson who was named to the first team. Erickson led the team with 18.5 tackles-for-loss and had 10 sacks. Linebacker Marcus Hawkins was named to the second team for the second time and was joined by cornerback Munchie Filer III and nickelback Marte Mapu.
In 2022, Mapu became just the second player to earn Big Sky Defensive Player of the Year in school history and earned first team All-America honors from the Associated Press. The Hornet defense allowed 21.8 points per game through the regular season and helped the team to an undefeated record through its first 12 games by recording stops on potential game-winning or tying drives in the final two minutes of four contests. Along with Mapu, linebacker Armon Bailey was named to the all-Big Sky first team after leading the Hornets with 88 total tackles, including a team-high 12.5 for loss and six sacks. Defensive tackle Jett Stanley and cornerback Caleb Nelson were on the second team while defensive end Killian Rosko was a third-team selection.
An experienced defensive coordinator in the Big Sky, Thompson spent 13 seasons at Northern Arizona. He started his coaching career with the Lumberjacks directing the running backs for two years. He then coached linebackers for two seasons before becoming the defensive coordinator for 10 years. Thompson coached more than 60 all-Big Sky selections during his time in Flagstaff, Ariz.
In 2018, NAU ranked third in the Big Sky in total defense after allowing a Big Sky best 1,797 passing yards along with 17 interceptions.
The Lumberjacks also ranked first in the Big Sky in pass defense in 2014 (177.2) and opponents third down percentage (.333), second in scoring defense (25.7), pass defense efficiency (122.2) and opponent first downs (19.2). That season, six NAU defensive players earned all-Big Sky honors, including cornerback Marcus Alford who was an All-American. Austin Haquet also became the school's first National Football Foundation Scholar-Athlete and William V. Campbell Trophy semifinalist.
In 2013, his defense led the FCS with eight touchdowns en route to a playoff appearance. Ten Lumberjacks were named all-Big Sky with Lucky Dozier also taking home Associated Press All-America honors. That year, NAU finished first in total defense (348.3), pass defense (190.8), pass defense efficiency (107.7), opponent first downs (17.7), opponent third-down conversions (34.9) and opponent fourth-down conversions (29.4). NAU was also second in scoring defense (22.0) and tallied 21 sacks on the season. The Lumberjacks finished eighth in the FCS in opponent fourth-down conversions, 13th in team passing efficiency defense and 18th in scoring defense.
NAU also paced the Big Sky in pass defense in 2012 at 203.7 yards per game and ranked second in scoring defense (23.6) and total defense (342.5). A pair of players were named to the all-Big Sky first team defense and another was voted to the second team.
Thompson helped make an immediate impact on defense during the 2008 season as Northern Arizona ranked second nationally with just 59.8 rushing yards allowed per game. That mark set the school and conference record and more impressive when you consider no Lumberjack earned first team all-league honors and just one was named to the second team.
Prior to coming to NAU, Thompson coached at Eastern Oregon in 2004 under current assistant Travis Baker. At EOU, he tutored Nick Hannaw, a linebacker who signed as a free agent with the Indianapolis Colts. His special teams’ punt and kickoff return units both ranked among the NAIA top 10.
A native of Walla Walla, Wash., Thompson played for Montana for four seasons (1999, 2001-03). He helped the Grizzlies to five Big Sky championships and one national championship (2001) during his five-year career in Missoula. He played in 44 career games with 103 total tackles, including 8.5 tackles for loss.
Thompson graduated with a degree in health enhancement from Montana in May 2004. He married the former Mikal Mickleson in the summer of 2008. They have three sons, Mac, Austin, and Teague.
