Billy Thompson

Director of Coaching, Crew Youth

Former Crew midfielder Billy Thompson serves as director of coaching for the Crew youth development system, encompassing the Crew Soccer Academy and Crew Juniors Gold levels, having rejoined the club in 2008.

He also serves as head coach of the CSA U-15/16s, a role in which his teams have qualified for the U.S. Development Academy league playoffs in each of the last three seasons. In 2010-11, he was named Central Conference Coach of the Year after leading the 15/16s to the Great Lakes Division title and into the postseason.

Thompson previously spent eight years as Worthington United’s director of coaching (2000-08), where he was named the 2005 Ohio South Youth Soccer Association Boys' Coach of the Year and led the 1990 boys team to the Ohio South State Cup championship in 2008.

His coaching experience also includes stints with the Ohio Wesleyan University men’s and women’s programs and the Wellington High School girls, which followed a standout playing career.

Thompson capped four stellar years at UCLA by captaining the Bruins to the 1990 NCAA Championship and being named a First-Team All-America. He embarked on his professional career with three years in France from 1991-94, then spent his final four seasons in Columbus, scoring four goals and assisting on 18 more in 75 games for the Crew from 1996-99. He earned one cap with the U.S. National Team, in a 1-0 victory over Costa Rica in 1988.