Lewis & Clark College

Jack Thomson returned to his alma mater to join the baseball coaching staff during the summer of 2024. He will serve as the team's full-time assistant and hitting coach. The 2027 season will mark his third season on the River Otters coaching staff. 
 
Thomson, who wrapped up his career as one of the top baseball players in school history in 2023, returns to Palatine Hill after playing one season at Division I University of Portland. Over the course of his five seasons at Lewis & Clark, Thomson set the career program marks for doubles (52), home runs (49), runs scored (193), walks (144) and hit by pitches (63). 

In his first season as the Lewis & Clark hitting coach, the offense made big jumps in nearly every statistical category. Lewis & Clark raised their team batting average to .280 (+20 points), their runs per game by over a full run (7.3) and doubled their stolen base output (76). The team finished 34th in NCAA DIII in home runs per game (1.05), 47th in home runs (41) and 24th in sac bunts (36). Seven hitters were named to the Northwest Conference All-Conference Team and senior first baseman Will Heron and sophomore third baseman Michael Aikawa each earned All-Region accolades.
In 2026 as the River Otters hitting coach, the offense again improved in team batting average to .297 (+17 points). Lewis & Clark finished 64th in the NCAA DIII in home runs per game (0.93) and 67th in home runs (38). Three River Otters hitters were named to the Northwest Conference All-Conference Teams, and junior Bret Potter earned All-Region and All-American accolades.  
 
Thomson joined the program ahead of the 2019 season and by the time he headed across the city to the University of Portland, he had helped Lewis & Clark put together their first run of back-to-back above .500 seasons since 1987-88. The Pioneers notched their first winning season since 1995 in 2022 with a 20-17 record. Thomson played a key role that year, as he was named the Northwest Conference Player of the Year and a Second Team All-American. 
 
The third baseman and the team made even bigger strides in his fifth and final season. The Pioneers tied the program record for wins (31-14) and conference wins (15-9) and earned their first trip to the postseason in over 30 years. Lewis & Clark went on to win the 2023 Northwest Conference Tournament Title and earned their first-ever trip to the NCAA DIII National Tournament. By the end of the Spring, Thomson was named the D3baseball.com DIII National Player of the Year, a First Team All-American and the Region and NWC Player of the Year. 
 
Thomson wrapped up his career at Lewis & Clark with a .349 batting average in 166 games played. He racked up 196 hits, 52 doubles, 49 home runs, 146 runs batted in, 399 total bases, 144 walks, 32 intentional walks, 63 hit by pitches and 22 total bases. He earned All-Conference honors each of his final three seasons and started every game he appeared in. 
 
During the 2023-24 school year, Thomson attended the University of Portland to play baseball and earn his MBA. He helped the Pilots post their most wins in a single-season in program history (37-19) and Portland advanced to the West Coast Conference Tournament Championship Game. After missing time early in the year due to an injury, Thomson started in 41 games with the bulk of his time at designated hitter. He posted a .380 on-base percentage and added five home runs, 21 RBI and 32 runs scored to earn Honorable Mention All-Conference accolades.