BLOOMSBURG—Former Bloomsburg University football player Chris Thompson has been named the head coach of the Reading Express of the American Indoor Football Association (AIFA).

Thompson, who served as interim head coach for the final four games of the 2010 season, had been the assistant general manager and offensive coordinator for the team. While at Bloomsburg Thompson was both a placekicker on the 2000 national championship runner-up squad and the starting quarterback on the 2001 that won the PSAC East title and earned an NCAA playoff bid.

Thompson has coached at Lebanon Valley College with former Huskies assistant coach Jim Monos. He later put the pads back on and played professionally in the AF2, AIFA, CIFL, AIFL, and NIFL for five years including, AF2 Fayetteville North Carolina, Cape Fear Wildcats 2004, Johnstown River Hawks 2005, Reading Express 2006 inaugural season, and the Chesapeake Tide, Maryland 2007. 

As an assistant coach with the Express, Thompson helped the team to a 54-14 record in four years. He controlled the offensive unit that averaged more than 50 points a game, and coached a rookie quarterback who accounted for nearly 200 touchdowns, 7,000 yards passing, and was awarded AIFA Offensive Player of the Year in 2009.  He was also part of the coaching staff that helped guide the Express to four Northern Division Championships (2006-09); an Eastern Conference Championship in 2009, and the AIFA National Championship in 2009.