Baseball
- Title:
- Director of Operations
- Email:
- athompson@athletics.pitt.edu
Austin Thompson was hired as Director of Baseball Operations for Pitt baseball in November of 2020 by head coach Mike Bell.
Thompson directs the team’s day-to-day operations including team travel, budget planning and coordinating community service events. He is also the primary team liaison with the compliance, equipment, marketing and media relations departments.
Prior to starting at Pitt, Thompson worked as a Player Development Intern with the Baltimore Orioles in 2018 and 2020. Thompson also worked for the World Champion Washington Nationals organization in 2019 at their Triple-A affiliate. During that year, he assisted the coaching staff with scouting reports and served as the technology assistant running Rapsodo and Edgertronic cameras to aid player development throughout the season. Earlier that year, Thompson worked for The Society of Baseball Research (SABR) and the Texas Rangers during Spring Training. In 2018, Thompson worked with many of the top MLB prospects as a Stadium Operations Supervisor for MLB’s Arizona Fall League. It was there where he executed the operational logistics behind the regular season as well as the 2018 Fall League All Star Game.
Thompson earned his Master of Sports Law and Business from Arizona State in 2020. He graduated from Florida State with two bachelor degrees, Science in Business Administration and Management and Science in Sports Management. During his time in Tallahassee, Thompson worked with Bell and the Florida State baseball team as a student manager from 2014-18. He also interned in the Florida State Sports Information and Sports Marketing departments during his time in undergraduate studies.
A native of Albany, N.Y., Thompson is married to the former Shauna Mulligan, a fellow Florida State graduate. The couple reside in Dormont, Pa.
Beyond the BioWhat is your favorite thing to do in the city of Pittsburgh?
I’m new to the city, so I enjoy finding the go-to spots for food and trying new restaurants all over town!
What do you love most about working in athletics?
Sports have a unique ability to bring people together from all walks of life. I love being able to learn from the different people I work with and help the student athletes as they navigate a crucial part of life.
Favorite quote?
“A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives” – Jackie Robinson
