Lewis University Athletics

Stephen Thompson begins his seventh season as the head coach of the Lewis University men's and women's swimming teams in 2011-12. Hired in August, 2005, as the fourth head coach in program history, Thompson has consistently improved the Flyers' performances at the GLIAC and NCAA Division II Championships. Under Thompson's direction, the Flyers have earned 37 All-America awards, produced 16 individual GLIAC champions, and broken 18 school records 49 times. In addition, the men's team has finished in the top 25 in each of Thompson's first six seasons. The women's team finished 30th in 2007 and 28th in 2008. In the classroom, Lewis teams have been recognized as Academic All-America in 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010. Also, a program-best 12 swimmers were named Academic All-GLIAC in 2009 and 2010.

The 2011 National Championships saw Kevin Coates become Lewis' most decorated swimmer in program history with All-American and school record perormances in the 500, 1000 and 1650 freestyle events. Coates graduated with seven All-America and three All-America Honroable mention swims for a school-record 10 career awards. Brandon Drogemuller swam in the same races at nationals, taking home two honorable mention and one All-American accolade.

In 2010, Coates became the second student-athlete in school history to be named the GLIAC Male Swimmer of the Year thanks to winning the 500, 1000 and 1650 freestyle championships. Coates continued his success at Nationals where he finished third in the 1650 and fourth in the 1000. His third place finish in the 1650 was the best single race performance in school history for a male at nationals. Drogemuller took sixth in the 1650 freestyle to earn All-American honors as a freshman.

In 2009, Coates turned in All-American swims in the 1650 and 1000.

At the 2008 GLIAC Championships, Lewis swimmers enjoyed unparalleled success. Kevin Coates and Deirdre Mikolajcik were named the conference Freshman Male and Female Swimmers of the Year. The Flyers also broke two GLIAC records, recorded eight individual championships, and secured 4th place in the men's team standings and 5th place among the women's teams.

In 2007, Michael Lapustin earned the GLIAC Male Swimmer of the Year, a first in program history. Jared Zimmer and Adam Brown joined Lapustin as the 3rd and 4th male All-America's at Lewis, while Stephanie White-Olson became the first female Flyer to represent Lewis at the NCAA Championships since 2004.

During Thompson's first season, the Flyers received points from five of the six men's team members and 10 of the 11 women's swimmers at the GLIAC Championships. At the NCAA DII Championships, Lapustin became an All-America in the 100 and 200 backstroke events.

Thompson is a 1995 graduate of the University of Tennessee and has extensive coaching experience with teams throughout the country. Prior to coming to Lewis, he was at the Greenville Swim Club in North Carolina. At GSC, he coached two nationally ranked swimmers. Thompson began his coaching career in Knoxville, TN, as the head coach of Farragut High School.

Thompson is married to the former Katherine Wendt, a collegiate swimmer and captain at the University of Minnesota. They have two daughters, Kylie Anne and Abigail Jane, and a dog, Colorado. They live in La Grange.