Former Boise State running back Aristotle Thompson enters his second season as Northwestern’s running backs coach in 2026.
In Thompson’s first year at Northwestern in 2025, the Wildcats averaged 160.2 rushing yards per game (8th in the Big Ten and 65th in the nation), which marked a jump of over 62 yards per game compared to the team's output the season prior to his arrival. Redshirt sophomore back Caleb Komolafe burst onto the scene as the Wildcats' feature back, as he totaled 190 carries for 941 rushing yards (5.0 ypc) and 11 rushing touchdowns. During the regular season, Komolafe posted four games with 100+ rushing yards and 1+ touchdown, ranked sixth in rushing yards and eighth in rushing touchdowns among Big Ten players, and became the first Wildcat to record double-digit rushing scores since Justin Jackson in 2017.
Thompson arrived in Evanston after spending the past five seasons coaching running backs at Cal, where he played a key role in the development of Jaydn Ott, a 2024 preseason All-American who ranks among the Golden Bears' all-time rushing leaders. Prior to his time in Berkeley, Thompson spent 11 seasons at Cal Poly, where he helped produce a 1,000-yard rusher in each of his final nine campaigns and was instrumental in five consecutive winning seasons from 2010-14.
Before arriving in Evanston, Thompson helped Cal's rushing attack fuel back-to-back bowl appearances, with the Bears posting their highest rushing output in over a decade in 2023 (172.8 YPG). Ott led the Pac-12 in rushing (1,315 yards, 12 TDs) and ranked among the nation's top 10 in yards per game (109.6) and all-purpose yards per game (135.7).
Prior to his tenure at Cal, Thompson spent 11 seasons (2009-19) at Cal Poly as the running backs coach and recruiting coordinator, where his backs produced nine consecutive 1,000-yard rushing seasons. The Mustangs' powerful rushing attack contributed to five straight winning campaigns from 2010-14, including an FCS Playoff appearance in 2012. During his time at Cal Poly, he coached five players to FCS All-America honors over seven different seasons and helped the program claim conference championships in the Great West (2011) and Big Sky (2012).
Thompson's coaching career also includes roles at Boise State, where he served as an assistant director of football operations (2007-08) and an assistant strength and conditioning coach (2001), along with stops at Eastern Oregon, Grant High School (Oregon), and Nampa High School (Idaho).
A former collegiate running back, Thompson was a four-year letterwinner at Boise State (1997-2000), helping the Broncos win back-to-back Big West titles and Humanitarian Bowl victories in 1999 and 2000.
Beyond coaching, Thompson has been recognized for his contributions to the community. He was honored as a member of the 2022 Uplifting Athletes Rare Disease Champion Team for his work supporting children with epilepsy through the Helmets4Helmets initiative, which was inspired by his son, Bryson.
A Portland, Oregon, native, Thompson earned his bachelor's degree in social sciences with an emphasis in criminal justice from Boise State in 2001. He and his wife, Sarah, have five children: Brock, Bryson, Lennon, Akyra, and Payton.
– Dan & Susan Jones Family Head Football Coach David Braun.
"I am blessed and truly honored to join Northwestern Football. I want to thank Coach Braun and Mark Jackson for extending the opportunity to be a part of this program. My family and I are thrilled to help the young men in this program continue to grow, especially the running backs. We are eager to bring experience and passion for the game to this program, focusing on developing tough, smart, and dynamic players who will make an impact on the field. Together we will push the limits, raise the standard, build a winning culture and make the Northwestern community proud both on and off the field."
– Running Backs Coach Aristotle Thompson
In Thompson’s first year at Northwestern in 2025, the Wildcats averaged 160.2 rushing yards per game (8th in the Big Ten and 65th in the nation), which marked a jump of over 62 yards per game compared to the team's output the season prior to his arrival. Redshirt sophomore back Caleb Komolafe burst onto the scene as the Wildcats' feature back, as he totaled 190 carries for 941 rushing yards (5.0 ypc) and 11 rushing touchdowns. During the regular season, Komolafe posted four games with 100+ rushing yards and 1+ touchdown, ranked sixth in rushing yards and eighth in rushing touchdowns among Big Ten players, and became the first Wildcat to record double-digit rushing scores since Justin Jackson in 2017.
Thompson arrived in Evanston after spending the past five seasons coaching running backs at Cal, where he played a key role in the development of Jaydn Ott, a 2024 preseason All-American who ranks among the Golden Bears' all-time rushing leaders. Prior to his time in Berkeley, Thompson spent 11 seasons at Cal Poly, where he helped produce a 1,000-yard rusher in each of his final nine campaigns and was instrumental in five consecutive winning seasons from 2010-14.
Before arriving in Evanston, Thompson helped Cal's rushing attack fuel back-to-back bowl appearances, with the Bears posting their highest rushing output in over a decade in 2023 (172.8 YPG). Ott led the Pac-12 in rushing (1,315 yards, 12 TDs) and ranked among the nation's top 10 in yards per game (109.6) and all-purpose yards per game (135.7).
Prior to his tenure at Cal, Thompson spent 11 seasons (2009-19) at Cal Poly as the running backs coach and recruiting coordinator, where his backs produced nine consecutive 1,000-yard rushing seasons. The Mustangs' powerful rushing attack contributed to five straight winning campaigns from 2010-14, including an FCS Playoff appearance in 2012. During his time at Cal Poly, he coached five players to FCS All-America honors over seven different seasons and helped the program claim conference championships in the Great West (2011) and Big Sky (2012).
Thompson's coaching career also includes roles at Boise State, where he served as an assistant director of football operations (2007-08) and an assistant strength and conditioning coach (2001), along with stops at Eastern Oregon, Grant High School (Oregon), and Nampa High School (Idaho).
A former collegiate running back, Thompson was a four-year letterwinner at Boise State (1997-2000), helping the Broncos win back-to-back Big West titles and Humanitarian Bowl victories in 1999 and 2000.
Beyond coaching, Thompson has been recognized for his contributions to the community. He was honored as a member of the 2022 Uplifting Athletes Rare Disease Champion Team for his work supporting children with epilepsy through the Helmets4Helmets initiative, which was inspired by his son, Bryson.
A Portland, Oregon, native, Thompson earned his bachelor's degree in social sciences with an emphasis in criminal justice from Boise State in 2001. He and his wife, Sarah, have five children: Brock, Bryson, Lennon, Akyra, and Payton.
What They're Saying
"We are thrilled to welcome Aristotle Thompson to our coaching staff. Aristotle is a proven teacher of the game who brings a relentless work ethic and an ability to connect with student-athletes. His track record speaks for itself – wherever he's been, his running backs have played with toughness, discipline, and consistency. We're excited for the impact he will have in our room and the leadership he will bring to our program."– Dan & Susan Jones Family Head Football Coach David Braun.
"I am blessed and truly honored to join Northwestern Football. I want to thank Coach Braun and Mark Jackson for extending the opportunity to be a part of this program. My family and I are thrilled to help the young men in this program continue to grow, especially the running backs. We are eager to bring experience and passion for the game to this program, focusing on developing tough, smart, and dynamic players who will make an impact on the field. Together we will push the limits, raise the standard, build a winning culture and make the Northwestern community proud both on and off the field."
– Running Backs Coach Aristotle Thompson