Josh Thompson is in his second season overall with the Utah Tech cross country program in 2025 and first as the head men's cross country coach after serving as an assistant coach in 2024.
In his first season with the Trailblazers in 2024, the women's cross country team finished fifth at the WAC Championships, tied for its best-ever finish, while the men's team came in seventh. Sophomore Ryan Hatch earned Second Team All-WAC honors placing 17th overall.
In addition to his work with the men's cross country program, Thompson was also named the first head coach of the men's distance track & field program that will begin in the spring of 2027 on Aug. 7, 2025.
A distinguished professional track and field athlete for Nike, specializing in the 1500 meters, Thompson competed at the 2025 USA Track and Field Championships in the 1500 meters clocking a time of 3:52.04 in Eugene.
Thompson is a product of Moapa Valley High School in Nevada, where he excelled in track and cross country, winning two state championships each in the 3200m and cross country, and played a key role in his team's 2010 Nevada State Track & Field championship and the 2011 Nevada State Basketball championship.
Recruited by Central Arizona College, Thompson made his mark in both track and basketball before serving a two-year LDS mission in Nicaragua.
He continued his athletic career at Oklahoma State where he won five Big XII titles and qualified for the NCAA Championships five times. Notably, in February 2016, Thompson made history as the first Nevada native to run a mile in under four minutes with a time of 3:58.33 at the Husky Classic and placed fourth at the 2017 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships.
After graduating, he signed a professional contract with Nike and joined the Bowerman Track Club based in Portland, Oregon. Over his seven-year professional career, Thompson has competed in two World Championships and was a World Finalist in both the 2022 Indoor World 1500m in Serbia and the 2022 Outdoor World 1500m in Eugene, Oregon.
Thompson's notable achievements include winning the 1500m at The Match Europe vs. USA in 2019, the 2019 ISTAF Berlin and the 2020 USATF Indoor 1500 meters. Thompson also earned silver in the 1500 meters at the 2022 USATF Indoor Track & Field Championship. Thompson placed third in both the 2019 USATF Outdoor Track & Field Championships and the 2022 USATF Outdoor Track & Field Championships. He has qualified for 13 USATF National Championship meets and competed in the 2021 USA Olympic Trials where he placed sixth in the U.S. 1500 meters final. Thompson holds personal bests of 3:34.77 in the 1500 meters and 3:52.49 in the mile.
Thompson and his wife, Bryce, have three children, Jett and Remi and a newborn daughter born in December 2024.
