Jimmy Thompson joined the Vanderbilt staff in January of 2021 and coaches the stars and nickels. Thompson was promoted to senior defensive analyst in 2024 after spending his first two seasons as a graduate assistant and one year as an analyst.
In 2024, Thompson mentored Randon Fontenette as he emerged at the star position as a leader of Vandy’s defense. The sophomore transfer was third on the team with 73 tackles including a team-high eight for loss. He added an interception and eight pass break-ups, tied for 10th in the SEC.
Fontenette went five-straight games with at least half of a tackle for loss later in the season, including 2.5 each in consecutive games against Texas and Auburn. He also had a key interception in Vandy’s win over No. 1 Alabama, the school’s first-ever victory over the nation’s top-ranked team.
In 2023, Thompson worked primarily with the anchor position (now called star). CJ Taylor emerged as a leader of the Commodore defense while playing anchor. Taylor was third on the team in tackles in ’23 despite missing three games due to injury. He contributed 7.5 tackles for loss and a pair of interceptions.
Thompson spent the 2020 season as a quality control assistant with the safeties at LSU. He was responsible for daily practice cards, safety meeting materials and opponent breakdowns. His in-game duties included identifying route concepts and assisting the defensive coordinator from the sideline.
During the 2019 season, Thompson was a volunteer coach at Hinsdale Central High School and mentored the team’s linebackers.
From January to July of 2019, he was an intern with Notre Dame and worked with the linebackers and safeties. He assisted the defensive staff during practice and was responsible for post-practice film breakdowns and daily positional grading.
Thompson, a Hinsdale, Illinois, native graduated from Notre Dame in 2018 with a degree in business administration and minor in history. He was a linebacker on the Fighting Irish football team for four seasons (2015-18), including two where Vanderbilt head coach Clark Lea was on the staff, first as linebackers coach, then defensive coordinator. During Thompson’s time as a player, the Irish went to three bowl games and made College Football Playoff.
The Thompson File
Hometown: Hinsdale, Ill.
High School: Hinsdale Central
College: Notre Dame (business administration, 2018)
Playing Experience
2015-18 • Notre Dame (linebacker)
Coaching Career
2019 • Hinsdale Central H.S. • Linebackers Coach
2020 • LSU • Quality Control
2021 • Vanderbilt • Graduate Assistant
2022 • Vanderbilt • Graduate Assistant
2023 • Vanderbilt • Defensive Analyst
2024 • Vanderbilt • Stars Coach
Postseason Experience
2015 • Notre Dame • Fiesta Bowl (player)
2017 • Notre Dame • Citrus Bowl Champions (player)
2018 • Notre Dame • College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Cotton Bowl (player)
2024 • Vanderbilt • Birmingham Bowl Champions