Heidelberg University Athletics

Throughout the nearly 130-year history of intercollegiate athletics at Heidelberg, few teams have been as dominant as the women’s soccer teams of the early 1990s.  At the forefront of the development of the program was highly decorated Jenny Koth Thompson, a 1993 National Soccer Coaches Association of America (now United Soccer Coaches) All-American.

Thompson, a prolific goal scorer, was a three-time All-Ohio Athletic Conference first-team selection (1990, 1991, 1993) for the Student Princes -- one of just five players in program history to earn first-team honors at least three times. She scored 53 goals and tallied 44 assists for a total of 150 points in her four-year career.  All three statistics are the fourth-best marks in program history. 

Elsewhere in the soccer record book, Thompson still holds the record for points in a game (12 vs. Bluffton, 1991) and goals in a game (5 vs. Capital, 1991).  Additionally, she remains the career leader in assists per games played (1.29).

Thompson tore her ACL very early in 1992, but returned to the pitch a year later and earned All-American honors.

During her tenure, Heidelberg won three regular season OAC titles (1990, 1991, 1993) and one OAC Tournament title (1992).

Beyond her success on the pitch, Thompson earned All-OAC status in the outdoor triple jump at the conference meet in 1991 and 1992.  As a member of the 4x100 and 4x400 relays, she helped set then-school records in each event.  

Thompson’s success was not limited to the athletic realm.  She was voted a three-time Academic All-OAC first-team honoree (1991, 1992, 1993) -- one of three players in program history to earn that recognition.  

After graduating in 1994, she served as a graduate assistant coach for both the soccer team and the track team at Heidelberg.  After leaving Tiffin, Thompson began her long career in the human resources industry in the Indianapolis area before relocating to greater Toledo.  While in the Hoosier State, Thompson played semi-professional soccer with the Indiana Blaze of the W-League. Today, she works for Owens-Illinois as a people and culture business partner.  

Thompson and her husband, Travis ‘94 -- a ’Berg baseball and football player -- reside in Perrysburg, Ohio.  They have two children, Hailey and Ryan.  Hailey is a freshman at Berry College and Ryan is a senior at Perrysburg High School.