Dan Thompson '08 returned to HWS in August of 2021.
Thompson returns to HWS after spending the past four years serving as an assistant coach at Cornell. With the Big Red, his charges qualified for five national championships. He helped Cornell claim three conference championships, the MAISA Women's Dinghy in 2018 and 2019 and the Faye Bennett Trophy in 2019. Thompson mentored five ICSA All-Americans, 17 All-MAISA selections and 25 ICSA All-Academic picks.
Thompson previously served as an assistant coach for the HWS sailing teams from 2008-17. In his nine seasons, the Colleges made 29 appearances at ICSA national championships, securing 16 top-10 finishes at nationals. He mentored 14 ICSA All-Americans and 11 ICSA All-Academic selections.
In addition to his coaching experience, Thompson has been a member of the ICSA All-Academic committee, serving as chair for the past year. He is also works as a scheduler for the Middle Atlantic Intercollegiate Sailing Association.
A 2008 graduate of Hobart, Thompson was a four-year standout member of the HWS sailing team.
Thompson’s success on the water is highlighted by back-to-back third-place finishes at the 2006 and 2007 ICSA Team Race National Championships. A team captain as a senior, he is also a two-time recipient of the Class of 1994 Award, which is given to an HWS sailor who demonstrates outstanding commitment and dedication to the welfare of the team.
He began coaching as a junior sailing instructor in 2003 at White Bear Sailing School in his home state of Minnesota, where he prepared, organized, and implemented daily sailing lessons for beginning Opti and X-boat sailors. Thompson held the position until 2005, when he became a head race coach at the same sailing school, and began coaching competitive youth sailors. His responsibilities included designing and implementing lessons for X-boat, Opti, and Laser racing classes, as well as attending youth regattas throughout the Midwest. While coaching, Thompson guided his students to a second-place finish at the 2008 X-Inland Junior Championships.
A North Oaks, Minn., native and the 2002 senior X-Inland Champion, Thompson holds a bachelor’s degree in economics and public policy. He currently resides in Geneva.
