After five successful seasons as the men's golf coach at Hillsdale College, Matt Thompson is stepping aside.

Thompson made the difficult decision to resign his position earlier in June in order to spend more time with his family.

"I want to thank Hillsdale College and the entire athletic department, especially (former athletic director) Don Brubacher who hired me and (current athletic director) John Tharp who's done a lot to support our program over the last two seasons," Thompson said. "During my time here I got to work with and learn from so many excellent staff and coaches who all do a tremendous job as leaders of their own programs and as co-workers.

"My love for Hillsdale made this an extremely difficult decision, but ultimately I felt I had to do what was best for my family, and make sure I was doing what I needed to do to support them as best I can."

Thompson took over the program in the winter of 2020 and has overseen several impressive accomplishments in the history of Hillsdale College men's golf. Two of the program's three NCAA DII Regional berths came under his watch, in 2021 and this past spring in 2025, and he also led the Chargers to their best finish in the spring G-MAC Championship in program history with a runner-up placement in 2021. Hillsdale also set and reset the program's 54-hole team scoring record during his tenure, and Thompson recruit Filippo Reale broke the program's single-round record with a nine-under 61 in the Music City Invite in 2025.

Seven different players earned All-G-MAC honors for Hillsdale College under Thompson's tutelage, and the program also boasted the 2022 G-MAC Freshman of the Year during his tenure.

"We're sorry to see Matt go, but we understand and respect his desire to do what's best for his family," Hillsdale Athletic Director John Tharp said. "We're grateful both for what Matt has accomplished during his time at Hillsdale, and the excellent state he leaves the program in for the next person to take on this role."

Thompson's final time on the course with the Chargers was Hillsdale's first return to the NCAA DII Central/Midwest Super Regional in early May, the program's first team appearance in the NCAA tournament in four years. 

"It was a great ending, to see our team back in the super regional and to know that I'm leaving the program in a good place with four of our five golfers from that event returning this fall," Thompson said. "More than the accolades, however, I'm most proud of the type of men our players have become, the success they've had in the classroom, and the personal growth they show from arriving on campus to graduation. 

"When I took over this program in 2020, I knew I was taking a job at a place that had very high standards for its athletes, both on and off the playing field, and I'm happy that the players we've brought in have been able to meet and,often, exceed those standards."

Hillsdale is in the midst of a national search to fill the men's golf head coaching position, and is aiming to have a new head of the program in place shortly.