(updated 05/21/03)
Lance Thompson enters his second season with the Tigers after being promoted to assistant head coach in charge of recruiting and tight ends for LSU in 2003.
Thompson, who joined the Tigers for the 2002 season after a stint at Georgia Tech, coached the LSU defensive line last season.
In his first year with the Tigers, Thompson coached defensive tackle Chad Lavalais to First Team All-SEC honors as the Tigers’ front four racked up 22 sacks in helping the LSU defense rank among the best in the SEC by allowing only 286 yards and 18 points a contest.
At Georgia Tech in 2001, Thompson coached a defensive line that recorded 21 sacks for the Yellow Jackets, including 10 by All-America defensive end Greg Gathers.
Thompson spent the 1999 and 2000 seasons coaching the defensive line at Alabama, where he helped the Crimson Tide to the Southeastern Conference title in 1999.
Alabama capped the 1999 season ranked No. 2 in the nation in rushing defense (75.3 yards per game) and ranked No. 9 nationally in total defense (297.3 ypg.).
Prior to his two-year stint at Alabama, Thompson was a part of the Georgia Tech staff for 11 years. During his 11-year stay with Georgia Tech, Thompson was defensive line coach in 1998, defensive ends coach in 1996 and 1997 and tight ends coach in 1995. Thompson served as the Georgia Tech’s recruiting coordinator from 1995-98 and then again in 2001.
Prior to serving as an on-field coach for the Yellow Jackets, Thompson held the position of Director of Football Operations at Georgia Tech from 1992-94.
Thompson got his start in coaching in 1989, serving as a graduate assistant for two years at Georgia Tech followed by two more years as a volunteer assistant in 1990 and 1991. Georgia Tech won the national championship in 1990. Thompson coached Marco Coleman to First Team All-America honors and he eventually became and first round draft pick of the Miami Dolphins in 1992.
As a player, Thompson was a four-year letterwinner at The Citadel. He graduated with from The Citadel in 1987 with a bachelor’s degree in education/math.
A native of Riverdale, Ga., Thompson is married to the former Stacy Cambron of Henderson, Ky., and the couple has three daughters — Alexandra, Christina and Lane.
The Lance Thompson File
Year at LSU: Second (appointed Feb. 18, 2002)
Birthdate: June 4, 1964
Wife: Stacy
Children: Alexandra, Christina, Lane
High School: Riveradale (Calif.)
Alma Mater: The Citadel, ’87
Coaching Experience:
1988-91 Georgia Tech (1988-89, graduate assistant; 1990-91, volunteer coach)
1992-94 Georgia Tech Director of Football Operations
1995-98 Georgia Tech (1995, tight ends/recruiting coordinator; 1996-97, defensive ends/recruiting coordinator; 1998 defensive line/recruiting coordinator)
1999-00 Alabama (defensive line)
2001 Georgia Tech (defensive ends/recruiting coordinator)
2002 LSU (defensive line; 2003 asst. head coach/tight ends/recruiting coordinator)