Lonnie Thompson enters his 10th season as head coach at Cumberland after leading the Bulldogs to the NAIA National Tournament for the third time in seven years in 2009 and picking up his 200th career victory in the coaching profession.

Thompson has produced two TranSouth Conference Players of the Year – Alonzo Evans in 2004 and Brandon Springer in 2010 – along with 14 All-Conference performers. Three players have earned All-Freshman Team accolades along with eight TranSouth Players of the Week and one NAIA Player of the Week honor.

Cumberland played in the 2009 NAIA National Tournament in Kansas City, Mo., for the second consecutive year, a first in program history. The Bulldogs lost in the first round of the tournament to Auburn-Montgomery, 72-62. Thompson collected his 200th career coaching victory during the 2009 season with a 72-69 triumph over Lambuth University.

CU participated in the 2008 NAIA National Tournament in Kansas City as well, dropping an 81-64 decision in the first round to Oklahoma City Univ.

Thompson's best coaching job may have come in 2010 when only one letterman returned to the club. The Bulldogs started the year very slowly but finished 12-17 overall, including 10-8 against TranSouth competition, finishing third in the conference tournament. The 2011 club began the year 3-7 but posted an 11-5 mark in TranSouth play and completed the season 18-12 overall.

The Woodbury, Ga., native led the Bulldogs to the first NAIA National Tournament appearance in program history during his second season, a club that reached the Sweet 16 in Kansas City. Cumberland finished with a school-record 28 victories in 2004 and Thompson was a unanimous selection for TranSouth Coach of the Year honors.

He captured his 100th career victory as a head coach in 2004 and Cumberland won its first TranSouth Conference championship. Thompson has produced three 20-win campaigns during his seven seasons in Lebanon.

Thompson came to CU from Motlow State Community College in Tullahoma, Tenn., where he led the Bucks to back-to-back TJCCAA Eastern Division Championships. He was named TJCCAA Eastern Division Coach of the Year three times while at Motlow.

Thompson has a depth of coaching experience at all levels of college basketball, serving as an assistant coach at South Alabama, Middle Tennessee, Tennessee State, Creighton and Odessa Junior College, where he coached former NBA All-Star Larry Johnson.

Lonnie and his wife, Felicia, have two sons, Destin and Darius, and one daughter, Devin, and the family resides in Murfreesboro.

Thompson's Coaching Career