NEW WILMINGTON, Pa.--Westminster College Director of Athletics Jason Lener '93 announced Monday that Phil Thompson has been named head coach of the College's cross country and track and field programs.

"I am delighted to welcome Coach Thompson to the Westminster community," Lener said. "Phil knows what it takes to win, having developed championship-caliber cross country and track and field programs, and we felt he was uniquely positioned to take our programs to the next level. That's the goal, and I believe Phil's vision, leadership and competitive experience will get us there."

Thompson, a New Castle native, has served as Geneva College's director of cross country and track and field for the past six years. He has led the Golden Tornadoes' track and field programs since 2014 and the cross country programs since 2019 after joining Geneva as an assistant coach in 2011.

"Westminster has a championship tradition that has earned respect throughout the conference and across Division III. The opportunity to lead these programs and build on that tradition was one I couldn't pass up," said Thompson.

Thompson succeeds Tim McNeil '96, who announced his resignation in June after an outstanding 19-year run leading Westminster's cross country and track and field programs.

"Coach McNeil created a program (at Westminster) that has become a model for success. My goal isn't to reinvent what's already working, but to honor that foundation while helping our student-athletes continue competing for conference and national success," said Thompson.

Thompson arrives at Westminster following one of the most successful stretches in Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) history. The Golden Tornadoes completed an unprecedented sweep of the PAC's men's and women's cross country, indoor track and field and outdoor track and field championships during the 2025-26 academic year. Overall, Thompson guided Geneva to 13 PAC championships, including five men's outdoor track and field titles, four men's indoor track and field championships, and conference titles in men's and women's cross country, women's indoor track and field and women's outdoor track and field. He was named PAC Coach of the Year 11 times during his tenure.

Under Thompson's leadership, Geneva produced numerous conference champions, All-PAC performers and school record holders while consistently competing among the region's elite programs. He has coached 17 NCAA Division III Championships qualifiers, including Nicole Bartoletta, who became Geneva's first NCAA national champion after winning the 60-meter hurdles at the 2018 Division III Indoor Championships in Birmingham, Alabama.

A standout distance runner at Shenango High School, Thompson went on to earn a bachelor's degree in elementary education from Robert Morris in 2008. He was a multiple All-Northeast Conference (NEC) honoree during his time with the Colonials.

Thompson is both a USA Track & Field^® (USATF) and U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCA) Level 1 certified coach and is USTFCCCA Level 2 event-specialist certified in sprint/hurdles, jumps, throws and endurance. He also holds a performance enhancing specialist certificate (PES).

Thompson resides in New Castle with his wife Sarah and son Dash.