Thompson to be Inducted into Slippery Rock University Hall of Fame Sept. 29

The University of the District of Columbia head men's soccer coach, Matt Thompson, will be inducted into his alma mater, Slippery Rock University's, Athletic Hall of Fame, Sept. 29.

Thompson was a two-time All-Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) selection as a student-athlete, three-time PSAC Coach of the Year as head coach of The Rock men's soccer team, two-time PSAC champion as head coach and the second winningest coach in the program's history.

Thompson could have been inducted on the merits of either his playing career or his coaching career, which were both exceptional during his tenure at Slippery Rock. As a player, he appeared in 72 games from 1994-97, tallying 58 career points on 25 goals and eight assists. He still ranks 14th all-time in goals, 16th in games played and 18th in points in SRU history. Thompson bookended his playing career with All-PSAC honors in 1994 and 1997.

Following a playing career at SRU, Thompson embarked on a coaching career that saw him named head coach of his alma mater in 2002. He coached The Rock men's soccer program from 2002-09, winning the second-most games in program history and posting an 81-66-9 overall record. His last six seasons at the helm produced the most wins in SRU history over a six-year stretch and resulted in a PSAC title and No. 1 seed in the Atlantic Region in the NCAA playoffs in 2009. That title was the second of his tenure as head coach, joining a 2005 title, but came in dramatic fashion as SRU knocked off the No. 1 team in the nation, Millersville, in the PSAC title game in front of more than 1,200 fans. Thompson's 2009 team finished the year ranked 12th in the final national poll. He was honored three times by his peers as the PSAC Coach of the year, including both of his last two seasons at SRU in 2008 and 2009.

Thompson, who was inducted into the SRU Soccer Ring of Honor in 2013, left The Rock after the 2009 season. He became head coach at the University of the District of Columbia in 2011 where last season he led the Firebirds to their first ever NCAA tournament berth in men's soccer.