Bio

A former standout golfer at the University of Michigan, Matthew Thompson took over as the Chargers’ interim head coach, effective February 2020, and was appointed to the top job permanently in April 2020.

In his first full season in 2020-21, Thompson quickly achieved excellent results with the Chargers, helping Hillsdale post the most top five team finishes in a season since the program was restarted in 2013, the best finish in a spring conference championship in that time with a runner-up finish at the G-MAC Championships in late April, and the team's second appearance in the NCAA Midwest/Central Regional in three seasons. Thompson also coached freshman Oscar Darlington to a NCAA Regional berth as an individual in 2021-22.

Thompson played for the Wolverines from 2008-12, serving as team captain in his senior year of 2011-12. During his collegiate career, he was a highly honored player on and off the course, highlighted by being a three-time Big Ten Sportsmanship honoree. He was named Second-Team All-Big Ten in 2010 and 2012, and was named the conference’s Player of the Week three times.

He qualified for the NCAA Division I championships once as an individual, and was part of two NCAA championship-qualifying UM teams, in 2009 and 2011. He had seven top-five finishes in his career and 13 top-10 finishes. His single-season scoring average records of 72 in 2009-10 and 72.06 in 2011-12 stood as school records for sophomores and seniors, respectively. Thompson and the Wolverines were NCAA Division I semifinalists in 2009.

“Playing collegiate and professional golf, I’ve been able to see what it takes to compete at a high level,” Thompson said. “I hope I can express that to the players currently on the team, and I hope I can help get them to whatever level they want to get to.”

After his collegiate playing days, Thompson transitioned to the professional level, where he continued to find great success. He was the 2017 Michigan Open champion and played in the 2015 PGA Tour Wells Fargo Championship.

Since 2017, Thompson has served as the head golf professional at the Marshall Country Club, where he oversaw all aspects of the club’s pro shop, daily events, leagues and organized golf outings.

Thompson and his wife Kayla reside in Jonesville with their daughter, Claire.