ORLANDO – UCF rowing head coach Mara Allen announced Friday afternoon Tess Thompson will join the Knights for the 2024-25 season as an assistant coach.
“I’m excited to bring on both Tess and Tanner to our staff for the upcoming season,” Allen said. “They bring a lot of passion to the sport, and they’re exactly what we’re looking for to take this program to the next step.”
Thompson joins the program after wrapping up her fifth year rowing for the Ohio State Buckeyes.
“I’m so grateful for the opportunity to join this amazing staff, program and department,” Thompson said. “The energy and vision are inspiring, and I can’t wait to contribute to it.”
This past season, Thompson was named a Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association Second Team All-American.
Thompson started her rowing career with the Buckeyes in 2020 as a freshman. As a sophomore, she competed in the top novice boat and moved into the First Eight during her junior year, aiding the boat to a Big 10 Championship and a seventh-place finish at the 2022 NCAA Championship.
As a senior in 2023, Thompson became the first Ohio State rower to earn the NCAA Elite 90 Award given to the student-athlete with the highest cumulative grade-point average participating at the finals site of each of the NCAA’s 90 championships. The Naperville, Illinois, native is also a Big Ten Distinguished Scholar, Academic All-Big Ten recipient, CRCA Scholar-Athlete and an Ohio State Scholar-Athlete.
Thompson graduated with her Master's in Kinesiology. She received two Bachelor's degrees in Education and Human Development.