Ken Thompson will return to North Idaho College as men's soccer coach, the school announced earlier this week.

Thompson served as assistant coach to departing coach Scott Moorcroft for four seasons from 2006-09 before leaving to become the director of coaching for the Coeur d'Alene Sting Soccer Club.

"It's a lot of fun to work at the college level," Thompson said. "I love the college game and love to coach. It's pretty exciting for me."

Moorcroft resigned in April after seven seasons - the last five as head coach - to pursue graduate studies and a college teaching career at Boise State.

Thompson, who accepted the job Tuesday, has nearly 10 years of coaching experience and played at Gonzaga and Seattle Pacific. Thompson also played professionally, spending two years with the Spokane Shadow and one with Puget Sound in the Premier Development League.

Thompson graduated from Coeur d'Alene High in 1994 and was the Gatorade Idaho Soccer Player of the Year in '93.

"I love running practices," Thompson said. "We do some fun and high-level stuff. I really enjoy recruiting and going to the tournaments. I've gotten to know a lot of the players through the Sting program.”

NIC went 9-8-2 last year, losing in the first round of the West District tournament.

“We’ve got some solid returners,” Thompson said. “We’re still looking for six players and I don’t know the incoming freshmen (that Moorcroft recruited). I’m working from what Dan (Hogan) and Scott told me. Right now, we’re trying to find the right six or eight guys to fill out the roster.”

The school interviewed two other candidates, one from the Midwest and another from the state of Idaho who wished to remain anonymous unless receiving the job.

“I think he’ll do a great job,” NIC athletic director Al Williams said. “He’s got a quiet demeanor on and off the field that demands respect. He knows a lot of the competition that we’ll face and it should be a good transition for us.”

Thompson will officially begin his new position July 1.

“I’m really excited to be a part of the athletic department and have a chance to compete for a national championship,” Thompson said.

“We’re looking forward to having him start,” Williams said. “We need to get the ball rolling on recruiting. We were just one step short of the national tournament and Ken can add the extra motivation to get us there.”