Craig Thompson (sports administrator)

{{short description|American athletic administrator (born 1956)}}

{{Infobox college coach

| name = Craig Thompson

| image = MountainWestMD-2016-0726-CraigThompson.png

| alt =

| caption = Thompson at a press conference in 2016

| sport =

| current_title =

| current_team =

| current_conference =

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1956|8|1}}

| birth_place = Estherville, Iowa, U.S.

| death_date =

| death_place =

| alma_mater = University of Minnesota

| player_years1 =

| player_team1 =

| player_positions =

| admin_years1 = 1978–1980

| admin_team1 = Kansas State (assistant SID)

| admin_years2 = 1980–1983

| admin_team2 = Kansas City Kings (dir. or public relations)

| admin_years3 = 1983–1987

| admin_team3 = Metro (director of communications)

| admin_years4 = 1987–1991

| admin_team4 = American South (commissioner)

| admin_years5 = 1991–1998

| admin_team5 = Sun Belt (commissioner)

| admin_years6 = 1998–2022

| admin_team6 = Mountain West (commissioner)

| overall_record =

| bowl_record =

| tournament_record =

| championships =

| awards =

| coaching_records =

}}

Craig Donald Thompson (born August 1, 1956) is an American athletic administrator. He became the commissioner of the Mountain West Conference (MW) upon the formation of the league in 1998 and served until retiring from the position at the end of 2022.{{cite web |url=https://themw.com/staff.aspx?staff=3 |title=Craig Thompson |website=themw.com |accessdate=December 19, 2020}}

Thompson previously served as commissioner of the Sun Belt Conference from 1991 to 1998 and as the sole commissioner in the history of the American South Conference from 1987 to 1991. Thompson attended the University of Minnesota, graduating in 1978 with a bachelor's degree in journalism.{{cite news|url=https://www.rgj.com/story/sports/2017/08/18/face-mountain-west-craig-thompson-has-been-conferences-anchor-19-years/104701664/|title=Face of the Mountain West: Craig Thompson has been conference's anchor for 19 years|date=August 18, 2017|agency=Reno Gazette-Journal|author=Murray, Chris|accessdate=April 14, 2019|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20240528094912/https://www.webcitation.org/77cRicVRh?url=https://www.rgj.com/story/sports/2017/08/18/face-mountain-west-craig-thompson-has-been-conferences-anchor-19-years/104701664/|url-status=live|archivedate=May 28, 2024}} After graduating, Thompson held several positions in public relations for Kansas State University, the NBA's Kansas City Kings and the Metro Conference. Thompson was named the first commissioner of the Mountain West Conference on October 15, 1998.{{cite news|url=https://www.deseretnews.com/article/657762/Breakaway-8-select-commissioner.html|title='Breakaway 8' select commissioner|date=October 16, 1998|agency=Deseret News|author=Call, Jeff|accessdate=April 14, 2019|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20190414053447/https://www.deseretnews.com/article/657762/Breakaway-8-select-commissioner.html|url-status=dead|archivedate=April 14, 2019}}

On September 14, 2022, Thompson announced that he would retire effective on December 31 of that year.{{cite press release|url=https://themw.com/news/2022/9/14/general-craig-thompson-stepping-down-as-mountain-west-commissioner-after-24-years.aspx |title=Craig Thompson Stepping Down as Mountain West Commissioner After 24 Years |publisher=Mountain West Conference |date=September 14, 2022 |access-date=December 19, 2022}} The MW announced on November 11 that Thompson would be replaced by Gloria Nevarez, previously commissioner of the West Coast Conference.{{cite press release|url=https://themw.com/news/2022/11/11/general-gloria-nevarez-named-mountain-west-commissioner.aspx |title=Gloria Nevarez Named Mountain West Commissioner |publisher=Mountain West Conference |date=November 11, 2022 |access-date=December 19, 2022}}