Building a Relationship Culture with Brock Thompson, South Dakota State Head Soccer Coach

By Cindra Kamphoff | February 28, 2019

Brock Thompson was named head coach of the South Dakota State women’s soccer program on Jan. 31, 2017 after a nine-year stint as an assistant with the Jackrabbits. He just completed his second season at the helm. Under his leadership, the Jackrabbits have claimed back-to-back Summit League regular season championships in 2017 and 2018.

The 2017 Summit League Coach of the Year, Thompson has a 23-11-4 overall mark on the sidelines at South Dakota State with a 14-1 record in league games. Originally from Blair, Nebraska, he has coached 15 All-Summit League selections, including the 2017 and 2018 Defensive Player and Goalkeeper of the Year award winners.

He has been on board for all of SDSU’s Summit League titles, claiming four tournament titles (2008, 2014, 2015 and 2016) and six regular season crowns (2008, 2009, 2011, 2014, 2015, 2017 and 2018). He is active in the local soccer community serving in various roles and is a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes Board of Directors for the Northeast South Dakota chapter.

In this interview, Brock and Cindra talk about:

  • His journey from a results-driven coach to a relationship-driven coach
  • How to create a relationship-driven culture
  • How love is a big motivator
  • His perspective on how outcome goals hinder performance
  • How he used mental training with his team

You can learn more about Brock and the SDSU Soccer Team at https://gojacks.com/index.aspx?path=wsoc and you can find Brock on Twitter @Thompson_Brock.

“Love is a big motivator within a team” @Thompson_Brock 
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“Players need to know that you care before they care about how much you know.” @Thompson_Brock
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“You being a better you, makes us a better us.” @Thompson_Brock
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“We talk about habits and dreams rather than goals. That is the terminology we use. Because we stripped that word aware from our team, it is easier for them to not have outcome-based goals.” @Thompson_Brock
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“Outcome-based goals can make things an obligation versus a habit.” @Thompson_Brock
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“If you do something out of obligation, the level you do it at is never really at your absolute best.” @Thompson_Brock
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“A coach is a profession that rewards those that are willing to sacrifice.” @Thompson_Brock
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“You can’t control the time, you just have to have the belief that it will be worth it” @Thompson_Brock
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