Sacramento State (Big Sky) head coach Andy Thompson is leaving his position to join the Stanford (ACC) coaching staff. Thompson will be reunited with Troy Taylor, whom he served as the defensive coordinator from 2019 through 2022.
Thompson was named head coach of Sacramento State in December 2022 following Taylor’s departure to Stanford. Taylor went 30-8 overall and 23-1 in the Big Sky with three FCS Playoff appearances from 2019 through 2022. Thompson continued the string of playoff success in 2023 after securing an at-large berth. The Hornets went on the road in the first round and defeated North Dakota 42-35 before falling against 3rd seeded South Dakota in the second round. The Hornets went 8-5 overall including a 30-23 victory against Taylor’s Stanford team on September 16.
The 2024 campaign started 0-2 following losses to FBS opponents San Jose State and Fresno State. The Hornets rebounded with back-to-back non-conference wins and then opened Big Sky play with back-to-back losses against Northern Arizona and Eastern Washington. The 51-48 double overtime victory against Weber State was the final win of the season as Sacramento State lost the final 5 games to finish 3-8 overall and 1-7 in the Big Sky. Four of the 7 conference losses came by a touchdown or less.
Thompson’s coaching career began in 2004 with Eastern Oregon as the linebackers and special teams coach. He was named the running backs coach at Northern Arizona for the 2005 and 2006 seasons, then became the linebackers coach for 2007 and 2008, and defensive coordinator from 2009 through 2018. In 2019, he took the defensive coordinator role with Sacramento State.
Thompson went 11-14 overall and 5-11 in the Big Sky in two seasons including a 2023 FCS Playoff appearance. Sacramento State’s eventual new head coach will begin the 2025 season with a tough road test at South Dakota State on Saturday, August 30.
Photo Credit to Sacramento State University Athletics
