Vanguard University

Billy Thompson enters his first season as an assistant coach at Vanguard after playing for the Lions from 2007-12 under Fred Litzenberger and current Lion head coach Rhett Soliday.

Thompson brings several years of coaching experience at the high school level to coach Soliday's staff. He served as head coach at Huntington Beach High School from 2014-19, and had assistant coaching stops at Ontario Christian High School (2013-14) and Fountain Valley High School (2012-13). Thompson also worked as an Assistant Program Director for Fryer Basketball Academy for five years. He is a huge advocate of the underhand (granny-style) free throw and taking charges.

During his playing career, Thompson was a starter for three season and twice was named captain. He led the team in field goal percentage as a junior and in rebounds as a senior. The two-time NAIA Scholar-Athlete All-American earned his degree from Vanguard in Business Administration as well as a Teaching Credential. He also received his Masters in Education from Western Governors University.

Thompson competed for head coach Rico Thompson at Temecula Valley High School, where he was named the 2007 Southwestern League MVP, first team All-CIF and Valley Player of the Year. 

Currently a Social Science teacher at Huntington Beach High School, Thompson and wife, Mackenzie, have been married for six years. They have two children – Huston (3) and Teagan (1).