Ross Thompson just finished his second season at the conculsion of the 2024 season as an assistant coach for the Fighting Illini women's gymnastics program. Head coach Nadalie Walsh announced his hiring on Thursday, Sept. 27, 2022. 

In his first season, Thompson helped lead the Illini to their 19th straight NCAA Regionals appearance. He also had a hand in the floor team breaking the team record (49.525) against Kentucky/Illinois State on March 11. 

In the 2024 season, In the 2024 season, Thompson helped his vault team tied the sixth-highest team score with a 49.300.

Thompson competed with the Orange and Blue from 2016-2019, where he was a two-time Academic All-American, a Big Ten high bar finalist, co-captain, the team’s spirit award recipient and the 2018 CGA First Team All-American Scholar-Athlete.