Lynn Thompson was speechless.
 
The unexpected phone call left the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Strategic Advisor and former longtime Bethune-Cookman athletics director without the proper words to communicate his excitement of being officially inducted into the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) Hall of Fame.
 
He will be inducted on Monday, June 12 at 4 p.m. at the Marriott World Center in Orlando.
 
“I had just got a call from (NACDA Chief Executive Officer) Pat Manak,” Thompson said. “We chatted for a minute, and he told me that the Executive Committee voted, and he was pleased and proud to let me know I would be in the 2023 Hall of Fame. It was a moment where I didn’t know what to say, and it was a humbling experience. I am honored that my colleagues recognize the body of my work and elevated me to the highest realm of industry. You can’t go no higher than this in the industry. I am honored and blessed at the same time.”
 
Of course, being inducted into any Hall of Fame requires a village of supporters and mentors.
 
“I was blessed to begin my career with two of my mentors, and MEAC Hall of Famers, in retired BCU AD’s Jack ‘Cy’ McClairen and Lloyd ‘Tank’ Johnson, who are still at B-CU and very accessible to me,” Thompson said. “My senior leadership team stayed with me for close to 20 years. Senior Associate AD’s Tony O’Neal, Sandra Booker, Reginald Thomas and Scott Armstrong, and SID Bryan Harvey, provided the continuity of leadership that allowed us to build a comprehensive championship program.”
 
Faith and family have formed the foundation of Thompson’s career.
 
He has spent much of his life in Daytona Beach, Fla. His parents and siblings all graduated from Bethune-Cookman. Thompson was working in Atlanta, Ga., before being called home to help take his care of father, who was sick at the time. He was offered a part-time position by former B-CU President Oswald Bronson.
 
Two years later, Thompson was asked if was interested in taking the full-time role.
 
The rest is history.
 
“I considered it and prayed and decided to do it,” Thompson said of the offer. “It led to a wonderful career, and we were able to build a great program at B-CU. This role allowed me to merge my artistic and communication skills. After all, athletics is a phase of the performance arts. Our president asked me to dream, and I was able to cast a vision in alignment with the institutional mission.
 
“We’ve had great people who worked with us in the athletic department to really implement the vision and build a total, comprehensive athletic program. I am proud that we’ve graduated athletes and won tons of championships.”
 
Thompson’s favorite moments have always been graduations. Proudly wearing his cap and gown, Thompson always sports a wide smile while posing for snapshots with his student-athletes.
 
“I promised each student-athlete that we would be there with them when we recruited them,” Thompson said. “When they walk across the (graduation) stage, I am there to greet them because I promised them that I would see their finishing move. The greatest time you’ll wear school colors is not during a championship game, but it will be when you walk across the stage. It was important for me to be there with them.”
 
A former football student-athlete at Bethune-Cookman, Thompson earned his Bachelor’s degree in 1980. He added a Master’s degree from Clark Atlanta in 1984. In 1991, Thompson was named Director of Athletics at B-CU, and in 2015 he was elevated to the position of Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics.
 
The longest-tenured Director of Athletics in NCAA Division I at the time of his departure from Daytona Beach, Thompson led the Wildcats to a combined 71 championships – 54 of which were in the MEAC – and spearheaded the launch of the CatEye Network. He was recognized as an Under Armour Athletics Director of the Year by NACDA in 2019-20.
 
“Great coaches began with Larry Little, Alvin Wyatt, ‘Cy’ McClairen, Tony Sheals and Horace Broadnax during the formative years,” Thompson said. “Then Brian Jenkins, Terry Sims, Dr. Gary Freeman, Loritz Clark, Vanessa Blair-Lewis, Laura Watten, Ryan Ridder and Mervyl Melendez paved the way for dominance in all sports over the past 15 years, with a string of MEAC crowns and NCAA postseason appearances coupled with MEAC All -Sports titles.”
 
Thompson never believed he had just a job. Yes, he had a title. However, Thompson understood his calling went beyond whatever his job description was in Daytona Beach.
 
“What I would say is when you work at B-CU, this is not your job,” Thompson said. “It becomes your ministry. We work at a faith-based institution. To become a transformational agent in the life of these kids is special.”
 
In addition to his career in athletics administration, Thompson has written, hosted and produced various television and radio shows throughout the mid-Florida region highlighting Bethune-Cookman athletics. He was inducted into the MEAC Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2016.
 
Thompson joined the MEAC staff as Strategic Advisor in January 2022. In this role, he researches strategic objectives with Commissioner Sonja Stills and the conference’s leadership team, serves as co-liaison to the Strategic & Long-Range Planning Committee, provides guidance and assistance to the Strategic Communications, External Affairs and Corporate Partnerships departments and assists with the further development of the MEAC Digital Network.

He recently served as co-writer and narrator of the recent Los Angeles Rams short film/documentary called Kingfish: The Story of Kenny Washington, the saga of the NFL's first Black player to re-integrate the National Football League (NFL) in 1946, which premiered in February, and has written A Chance for Redemption, a drama for the stage which is in full development and set to premiere in Florida this fall.
 
Thompson is still having fun.
 
“It’s great to be in a position to provide some expertise at this part of my career,” Thompson said. “I did not retire from my life. My heart is with the MEAC. I am so proud to work with Sonja and we’re going to announce some things soon. We have a lot of new things coming up.”
 
That’s the future.
 
Thompson is being honored for the work he did in the past. He has been a person of significance, impact, and the wonderful gift he contributed to college athletics during a distinguished career.
 
Presently, Thompson is still speechless.
 
“You take a moment and reflect on everything,” Thompson said. “You don’t know what to say.”