Northwestern University Athletics
Aristotle Thompson Elevated to Assistant Head Coach
4/14/2026 8:43:00 AM | Football
EVANSTON, Ill. – Dan and Susan Jones Family Head Football Coach David Braun announced the promotion of Aristotle Thompson to Assistant Head Coach and Running Backs Coach on Tuesday.
"Since arriving on campus, Aristotle has made a tremendous impact on our program," Braun said. "I'm so grateful to have him and his family as part of Northwestern. He's a strong leader, an outstanding developer of young men, and someone our players trust. I look forward to AT continuing to help our program move forward, elevate the standard, and position us for sustained success as he expands his influence as Assistant Head Coach."
Thompson joined the Wildcat staff as Running Backs Coach ahead of the 2025 season. In Thompson's first season at Northwestern the Wildcats averaged 160.2 rushing yards per game (8th in the Big Ten and 65th in the nation), which marked a jump of over 62 yards per game compared to the team's output the season prior to his arrival.
"I'm incredibly grateful for the opportunity to continue growing within this program," Thompson said. "Northwestern Football has a special group of young men, and it's an honor to take on a greater role in supporting their development. I'm thankful for the trust Coach Braun has placed in me and allowing me to have a broader impact on the NUFB FAMILY. I'm excited to continue developing our players, strengthen our culture, recruit and retain the best young men in the country. We will stay in the pursuit of our mission by raising the standard every day."
Under Thompson's tutelage, Caleb Komolafe burst onto the scene in 2025 as the Wildcats' feature back, as he totaled 190 carries for 941 rushing yards (5.0 yards per carry) and 11 rushing touchdowns.
During the regular season, Komolafe posted four games with 100+ rushing yards and 1+ touchdown, ranked sixth in rushing yards and eighth in rushing touchdowns among Big Ten players, and became the first Wildcat to record double-digit rushing scores since Justin Jackson in 2017.
Komolafe and Joseph Himon II combined for 1,427 rushing yards last season, the most by a Wildcat running back duo since Justin Jackson and Jeremy Larkin amassed 1,814 combined yards in 2017.
Prior to his tenure with Northwestern, Thompson spent five seasons as the running backs coach at Cal and 11 seasons at Cal Poly.
A Portland, Oregon, native, Thompson earned his bachelor's degree in social sciences with an emphasis in criminal justice from Boise State in 2001. He and his wife, Sarah, have five children: Brock, Bryson, Lennon, Akyra, and Payton.
"Since arriving on campus, Aristotle has made a tremendous impact on our program," Braun said. "I'm so grateful to have him and his family as part of Northwestern. He's a strong leader, an outstanding developer of young men, and someone our players trust. I look forward to AT continuing to help our program move forward, elevate the standard, and position us for sustained success as he expands his influence as Assistant Head Coach."
Thompson joined the Wildcat staff as Running Backs Coach ahead of the 2025 season. In Thompson's first season at Northwestern the Wildcats averaged 160.2 rushing yards per game (8th in the Big Ten and 65th in the nation), which marked a jump of over 62 yards per game compared to the team's output the season prior to his arrival.
"I'm incredibly grateful for the opportunity to continue growing within this program," Thompson said. "Northwestern Football has a special group of young men, and it's an honor to take on a greater role in supporting their development. I'm thankful for the trust Coach Braun has placed in me and allowing me to have a broader impact on the NUFB FAMILY. I'm excited to continue developing our players, strengthen our culture, recruit and retain the best young men in the country. We will stay in the pursuit of our mission by raising the standard every day."
Under Thompson's tutelage, Caleb Komolafe burst onto the scene in 2025 as the Wildcats' feature back, as he totaled 190 carries for 941 rushing yards (5.0 yards per carry) and 11 rushing touchdowns.
During the regular season, Komolafe posted four games with 100+ rushing yards and 1+ touchdown, ranked sixth in rushing yards and eighth in rushing touchdowns among Big Ten players, and became the first Wildcat to record double-digit rushing scores since Justin Jackson in 2017.
Komolafe and Joseph Himon II combined for 1,427 rushing yards last season, the most by a Wildcat running back duo since Justin Jackson and Jeremy Larkin amassed 1,814 combined yards in 2017.
Prior to his tenure with Northwestern, Thompson spent five seasons as the running backs coach at Cal and 11 seasons at Cal Poly.
A Portland, Oregon, native, Thompson earned his bachelor's degree in social sciences with an emphasis in criminal justice from Boise State in 2001. He and his wife, Sarah, have five children: Brock, Bryson, Lennon, Akyra, and Payton.
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