Butch Thompson hits 10-year mark: 'This is Auburn baseball's time'

AUBURN, Ala. – In the same complex where he’d been introduced as Auburn’s head baseball coach a decade earlier, Butch Thompson recalled that life-changing day.

“It was a dream,” he said. “The Oct. 22, 2015, press conference day was a blurry, awesome dream.”

Ten years ago, in the middle of fall practice at Mississippi State, where he served as pitching coach for his future boss at Auburn, athletic director John Cohen, Thompson made the four-hour drive from Starkville to the Plains.

“I’m honored, humbled and blessed to stand here today as the head baseball coach at Auburn University,” Thompson said during his 2015 formal introduction. “Rest assured that no one has higher expectations for Auburn baseball and our student-athletes.”

Most college baseball coaching hires happen soon after the season concludes, giving the new coach time to build a staff and a roster. Thompson did not have that luxury at Auburn. 

Demonstrating one of the themes of Thompson’s tenure, he refused to use that unconventionality as an excuse. 

“I think the timing is perfect,” Thompson said in 2015. “I’m excited about what the future holds. That future starts today.”

Off the field, the Thompsons’ future included growing their family by adding two sons-in-law and two grandchildren.

“To see how my wife Robin has stood beside me,” he said. “To see how much our kids have grown, to see how many people in this community have positively impacted us.”

On the field, the Tigers have made two trips to the College World Series during Thompson’s tenure and hosted a super regional last season for the first time in program history.

Through it all, Butch has striven to carry out his dad’s decree to love the players he’s coached. 

“He gave me the best advice anybody’s ever given me to prepare me for this job,” said Thompson, whose father, David, passed away in 2018. “His last real lesson he taught me, coming to Auburn, is to love your family, love your group, love Auburn, love your players, and you’ll be blessed for it.”

After his first season, Thompson connected with former Auburn football coach Pat Dye, who had hired Hal Baird two decades earlier.

“’You better win some ball games,’” Dye told Thompson. “’Secondly, you better get you a Bo Jackson.’ I’ll never forget that.”

In his first three seasons, Thompson benefited from the presence of future Major League Baseball pitchers Keegan Thompson and Casey Mize, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 MLB Draft. 

“Keegan taught Casey how to be great,” Thompson recalled. “You’ve got a Keegan Thompson and Casey Mize headlining a rotation, that was our Bo Jackson.”

Thompson would recruit and develop more big leaguers in years to come.

“There’s been some guys who have absolutely made a difference in my life and the program,” Thompson said. “They’ve set this foundation for us right now to do something great moving forward.”

In Thompson’s fourth season, Auburn advanced to the 2019 College World Series for the first time in 22 years, thanks in part to Steven Williams’ walk-off home run in the Atlanta Regional at Georgia Tech.

“That’s a crazy, crazy moment for me,” said Thompson, recalling how Auburn went on to score 13 runs in the top of the first inning against North Carolina in the deciding game of the Chapel Hill super regional. “That’s the hardest game I’ve coached since we’ve been here, and we scored 13 runs in the first inning.” 

After recording the final out, Auburn first baseman Rankin Woley gave Thompson the baseball.

“I’ll protect it for the rest of my life,” said Thompson, while holding a picture of his family taken 10 years prior at his introduction. “It’s one of the greatest things I have outside of these kiddos here.”

Embarking on season No. 11, Thompson expresses gratitude for Plainsman Park’s recent renovations.

“It’s here,” Thompson said. “We finally put that energy in the ballpark where it’s uncomfortable for opponents. I’ve fallen in love with Auburn baseball. It’s been a home run.” 

Quick to credit staff stability for Auburn’s success, Thompson thanked associate head coaches Karl Nonemaker and Gabe Gross for their loyalty. 

“They’ve been incredible,” Thompson said. “Both have opportunities to be head coaches. Both love Auburn. They’ve continued to choose Auburn.”

In an upcoming Talking Tigers podcast with Andy Burcham, Thompson also saluted pitching coach Everett Teaford, director of player development Scott Foxhall, director of sports performance CJ Joyner, athletic trainer Anthony Sandersen and director of operations Greg Drye, who’s been with Thompson since day one.

“His loyalty over these 10 years every day has been amazing,” Thompson said of Drye. “He’s one of the best examples of what it looks like of somebody who puts their head down trying to make a difference. I love that quality about Greg.”

Another veteran staffer, special assistant to the head coach Sara Elizabeth Jackson, began working for the program during her senior year before graduating from Auburn University in 2020. 

“She is the voice of our program and the face of our program in a lot of instances,” said Thompson, who calls associate director of communications George Nunnelley, in his ninth season promoting and publicizing Auburn’s baseball program, “a trusted confidante.”

Deputy AD for external affairs Rhett Hobart, the administrator for Auburn baseball, helps turn Thompson’s facilities dreams into realities.  

 “You have to have amazing people with amazing vision,” Thompson said. 

Last season’s Plainsman Park super regional fueled Thompson’s drive to return to Omaha.

“Still got some things on the table,” he said. “I don’t feel like we’ve absolutely fulfilled our full vision. I don’t think the program has ever been richer and deeper than it is right now.

“It’s never been greater, and we can celebrate 10 years, but I think we’re right on the cusp of really being able to take our best swing at things. 

“I think we’ve got a chance to win the whole thing now. Last year’s team’s legacy will have a chance to manifest in ’26, ’27, ’28. I’ve never seen the job more urgent or bigger, more exciting, or more pivotal in the history of our program than it sits right now.”

As Butch Thompson reflects on a dynamic decade, he envisions even greater moments to come.

“I see a window where we put the pedal to the metal and we go for it,” he said. “I feel like this is Auburn baseball’s time. I don’t think we should be timid. We absolutely should go for it. This is a time to capitalize. I still think we have a great roster. No more, ‘The best is yet to come.’

“Now I’m saying, ‘Let’s capitalize on the momentum that everybody’s worked very hard to build, stay committed to it, and we’re here for this right now.’”

Jeff Shearer is a Senior Writer at AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on X: @jeff_shearer