DES MOINES, IOWA -  Paul Thomson, the head men's and women's coach at Brevard College in Brevard, N.C., the last five seasons, has been named head women's tennis coach at Drake University.

"Paul Thomson joins the Drake family with proven experience as a head coach, teacher and mentor for our student-athletes," Drake associate athletics director Heather Weems, who chaired the search committee commented.  "He has demonstrated ability in program development, and has the drive and passion to advance our women's tennis program.  We look forward to his leadership and vision in the years to come."

 "My family and I are very grateful to Drake University for the opportunity to be a part of the Bulldog family," Thomson said.  "Des Moines is a great community and the University has a wonderful tradition of academic and athletic excellence. I am excited about the potential I see here both in the University and in the women's tennis program."

This past season, both of Thomson's squads reached the semifinals of the South Atlantic Conference Tournament, with his women's unit registering a 14-6 mark, the Tornados' third consecutive winning season. 

The men's and women's program grew by leaps and bounds under Thomson as the Tornados made the transition from NAIA to members of NCAA Division II and the SAC beginning during the 2008-09 academic year.

In five seasons directing the women's program, Thomson owned a 56-52 overall ledger.

Since joining the SAC in 2008-09, 27 of his student-athletes have been honored on the league's academic honor roll, including 15 on his women's team. In 2010 one of his ladies received the ITA Arthur Ashe Leadership and Sportsmanship Award for the Southeast Region.

In 2009-2010, the Tornados finished 14-6 overall and 5-3 in conference play on their way to earning the fourth-seed in the 2010 SAC tournament. The Tornados reached the semifinals in the tournament before being knocked out by eventual champion Lincoln Memorial University.

In 2008-2009, during their first season as members of the SAC, the women's team went 17-6, 5-3 in conference play en route to a berth in the conference finals against Carson-Newman, before falling in the championship match, 5-2. Thomson was rewarded for his coaching efforts being named the 2009 SAC Women's Tennis Coach of the Year. And Brevard College Coach of the Year.

In 2007-08, the BC Tennis program competed as provisional members of both the NCAA Division II and in the SAC, allowing his squad to play a full SAC schedule.  The women's program finished the season with a 14-8 overall record, including two separate five-match winning streaks.  The men's team overcame a number of obstacles to wrap the year with a 9-11 overall record.

In his second season and BC's first season as NCAA Division II members in 2006-07, the men's team finished with a 10-13 record, while the women turned in a record of 7-15 overall.

In his first year he took the men's team to a 10-12 record 4-3 in the conference and a No. 4 regional ranking. A huge improvement from the previous 4-9 and 3-7 conference make from the year before. The women finished 5 -17 in their first full year of competition after the program was reinstated as a varsity sport.

A native of Birmingham, Ala., Thomson is a 1995 Graduate of Samford University where he earned his Bachelor of Science degree in history and political science. Thomson continued his education at the University of Alabama at Birmingham earning his Class B teaching certification in secondary education specializing in social sciences.

He came to Brevard from his alma mater Samford University where he served as the graduate assistant men's and women's coach.

Thomson is a certified Professional Tennis Registry (PTR) instructor. His background includes teaching and coaching at the club, high school, collegiate and ITF levels.

Thomson is married to his wife Sherer who is also a native of Birmingham, Ala. They now live in Des Moines with their daughter Charlie.