Aaron Thompson, the Bulldogs' leader in career assists, returns to the Butler men's basketball program as the Director of Player Development on head coach Ronald Nored's staff. Thompson returns to his alma mater after spending the last three seasons on the George Washington coaching staff.
 
"Watching AT play, you knew he had a bright future in coaching," said Nored. "He will build strong relationships with our players and push them to maximize their potential. In addition to his experience in skill development, AT also has the intangibles that we hope will permeate throughout our program: how to lead a team on the court, a tenacious defensive approach, and a selfless attitude focused on winning. It's great to have AT back at Hinkle where he belongs."
 
For the last three seasons, Thompson has been part of Chris Caputo's staff at George Washington, helping the Revolutionaries to 55 wins and two postseason appearances during that time. The team's 21 wins during the 2024-25 campaign were the most by a GW squad in nine years. Initially hired as the team's Director of Player Development in 2023, Thompson's role expanded to an assistant coach for this final two seasons in the nation's capital.

Thompson began his coaching career following a standout five-year playing career at Butler where he became the Bulldogs' all-time career assists leader with 566. The Glenn Dale, Md., native also finished his career ranked ninth all-time at Butler with 155 steals and was one of 10 semifinalists for the 2020 Naismith Men's Defensive Player of the Year Award. The point guard started 136 games (playing in 139) during his five seasons in a Butler jersey, leading the team in assists each year. He helped the Bulldogs to the 2018 NCAA Tournament and the 2019 NIT.
 
The 2019-20 Bulldogs finished the season 22-9 and ranked in the Top 25 of both national polls. The Bulldogs were included in every 2020 NCAA Tournament projection before the COVID-19 pandemic canceled the remainder of the season. Butler climbed to No. 5 in both national polls earlier in the 2019-20 season, the highest in-season ranking in program history. The Bulldogs hung their hat on defense, holding opponents to only 62.1 points per game, the 11th-best mark nationally. 

Thompson was a four-star recruit out of Paul VI Catholic High School in Fairfax, where he was a part of 100 wins for the storied program, the most of any player in school history. He was a Washington Post All-Met First Team selection as a senior and showcased his versatility by becoming the first player ever at PVI to amass more than 800 points, 400 assists, 300 rebounds and 200 steals in his career.