FCA is honored to announce South Dakota State University Women’s Soccer Coach Brock Thompson as the recipient of the 2024 Layton Shoemaker Award. The award recognizes a soccer coach who honors God on and off the field and models a strong relationship with Christ to their players.
“Fellowship of Christian Athletes is pleased to present the Layton Shoemaker Award to Brock Thompson,” said FCA President and CEO Shane Williamson. “We congratulate Coach Thompson not only for his coaching accomplishments but also for the way he uses his coaching position to influence countless athletes for the Kingdom of God.”
Under Thompson’s coaching, the SDSU women’s soccer program has developed into one of the most consistent in the country. Thompson has a 67-20-12 record at South Dakota State over the last five seasons and a 133-69-22 career mark in 11 seasons as a head coach. SDSU has gone 40-3-4 at home under Thompson’s guidance. In the past four years of Summit League play, the Jackrabbits boast a 38-4-6 record. South Dakota State has recorded at least 10 wins in nine consecutive seasons, as well as in 13 of the 14 seasons, and holds the longest active streak of double-digit wins among its conference foes.
Thompson said, “I feel blessed and humbled to receive the Layton Shoemaker Award for two reasons. The first is that there are so many of my coaching peers who I consider to be amazing Christian role models who are deserving of this award, so to be chosen is a true honor. The second is the FCA ministry has had and continues to have such an important role in my faith journey, so to receive an award from this ministry is truly humbling.”
Thompson's program was also nationally recognized by his peers from the United Soccer Coaches organization in December of 2021. The Jackrabbits were one of eight teams across the country to be selected as a Pinnacle Award Winner which honors teams that have achieved a high level of fair play, education, excellence, and success on the pitch.
FCA’s South Dakota State Director TJ Carlson said, “Brock has demonstrated not only success in building champions on the pitch but off as well. Brock is a 3-dimensional Coach who aims to grow his student-athletes in all phases of life. While doing so he has also won conference titles (Summit League) and conference coach of the year awards. Brock also helps with local youth soccer programs, serves at FCA Camps, and serves on the SDSU FCA Board of Directors.”
Thompson successfully navigated the Jackrabbit soccer program through the COVID-19 pandemic and the delayed 2020 season, which was played in the spring of 2021. South Dakota State posted an unbeaten 12-0-5 record, earning Thompson the second Summit League Coach of the Year honor of his career.
Thompson has a very strong faith in Jesus which shows through his program in the way he coaches and treats his players and others that he competes against. He is very intentional in everything that he does for his athletes both on and off the pitch, building character and leadership in his girls through reading books as a team, training, and speakers who come and share. Brock has also been involved in Soccer at other levels over the years, serving as an ND Directory of Coaching for youth soccer from 2002-2004 and a Regional Staff coach for the Region II Olympic Development Program in 2003-2005 and 2009-2012.
The award is named after famed Messiah University soccer coach Layton Shoemaker. Over 23 years, Shoemaker directed the Falcons to a .751 winning percentage, with a 316-96-27 overall record, eight NCAA playoff berths, and two NCAA Final Four appearances in 1986 and 1988. Two of his teams, in 1978 and 1981, won the national NCAA championship. His influence led many Messiah soccer alumni to go on to coach soccer at the high school and collegiate levels. As a tribute to his lasting legacy, Messiah’s soccer field is named Shoemaker Field.
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Photos courtesy of South Dakota State University Athletics