Men’s Tennis Inserts Thompson as Assistant Coach
6/11/2025 11:26:00 AM | Men's Tennis
LYNCHBURG, Va. – Liberty men's tennis and Head Coach Derek Schwandt has announced the hiring of Nathan Thompson as the program's new assistant coach. Thompson joins Liberty following a decorated career as a college tennis player and over 20 years coaching collegiate men's and women's tennis.
Thompson joins the Flames following a successful season coaching women's tennis at Princeton for two seasons. In the 2023-24 season, Thompson helped lead the Tigers to a 16-7 overall record, an Ivy League championship, a No. 30 national ranking, and a Round of 32 appearance in the NCAA Tournament. Last year, he guided Princeton through a 10-11 year, including a victory over No. 69 Maryland.
"We are excited to welcome Nathan to the Liberty Tennis family, Nathan has incredible experience as a college and professional player with over twenty years of coaching experience, which will be a great advantage for our team," said Schwandt. "Most importantly, Nathan is an incredible person. He is a great communicator, has a total person approach and will be all in to make our team better."
Prior to his time at Princeton, Thompson was an assistant coach for Clemson women's tennis from 2021-23. He helped guide the Tigers' rise to a No. 29 national ranking (ITA) on Feb. 21, 2023.
From 2017 to 2021, Thompson served as the Head Men's and Women's Tennis Coach at Southern Wesleyan. He guided the program to significant competitive success, coaching six All-Conference honorees and earning Conference Carolinas Men's Tennis Coach of the Year honors in 2021.
Entering the collegiate coaching ranks, Thompson began his career at the Junior Tennis Champions Center (JTCC) in Washington, D.C., where he trained some of the nation's top junior players. His experience included coaching future ATP star Frances Tiafoe and All-American Mitchell Frank, as well as serving as a travel coach for ITF-level junior competition.
A decorated collegiate player himself, Thompson competed for Clemson University from 2001 to 2005. He was a three-time All-ACC First Team selection, the 2005 ACC Player of the Year, and an ITA All-American in 2004. He helped the Tigers reach the NCAA Elite Eight and was an NCAA Doubles Semifinalist in 2004. Following his collegiate career, Thompson played professionally on the ATP Tour from 2005 to 2010, achieving career-high rankings of No. 356 in singles and No. 287 in doubles.
Thompson joins the Flames following a successful season coaching women's tennis at Princeton for two seasons. In the 2023-24 season, Thompson helped lead the Tigers to a 16-7 overall record, an Ivy League championship, a No. 30 national ranking, and a Round of 32 appearance in the NCAA Tournament. Last year, he guided Princeton through a 10-11 year, including a victory over No. 69 Maryland.
"We are excited to welcome Nathan to the Liberty Tennis family, Nathan has incredible experience as a college and professional player with over twenty years of coaching experience, which will be a great advantage for our team," said Schwandt. "Most importantly, Nathan is an incredible person. He is a great communicator, has a total person approach and will be all in to make our team better."
Prior to his time at Princeton, Thompson was an assistant coach for Clemson women's tennis from 2021-23. He helped guide the Tigers' rise to a No. 29 national ranking (ITA) on Feb. 21, 2023.
From 2017 to 2021, Thompson served as the Head Men's and Women's Tennis Coach at Southern Wesleyan. He guided the program to significant competitive success, coaching six All-Conference honorees and earning Conference Carolinas Men's Tennis Coach of the Year honors in 2021.
Entering the collegiate coaching ranks, Thompson began his career at the Junior Tennis Champions Center (JTCC) in Washington, D.C., where he trained some of the nation's top junior players. His experience included coaching future ATP star Frances Tiafoe and All-American Mitchell Frank, as well as serving as a travel coach for ITF-level junior competition.
A decorated collegiate player himself, Thompson competed for Clemson University from 2001 to 2005. He was a three-time All-ACC First Team selection, the 2005 ACC Player of the Year, and an ITA All-American in 2004. He helped the Tigers reach the NCAA Elite Eight and was an NCAA Doubles Semifinalist in 2004. Following his collegiate career, Thompson played professionally on the ATP Tour from 2005 to 2010, achieving career-high rankings of No. 356 in singles and No. 287 in doubles.
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