(WILMINGTON, Ohio) - Quakers Head Swimming Coach Michael Branch announced today the hiring of Emma Thompson as the new Assistant Swim Coach at Wilmington College. She will be responsible for helping build up numbers with recruiting, writing practices, on-deck coaching, and assisting in administrative duties for the program. Thompson comes from Ohio State University with a Bachelor of Science in Health and Rehabilitation Services, which she received in 2025.

"We're thrilled to welcome Emma Thompson to our coaching staff and back to Wilmington College," said Branch. "Her experience, passion for the sport, and commitment to developing swimmers make her an outstanding addition to our team. We're confident she will have an immediate impact both on and off the pool deck."

Thompson was a competitive swimmer for 16 years and also swam at Wilmington for two years, from 2020-2022, primarily as a distance swimmer and breaststroker. "I am truly grateful and so excited to return to the Wilmington College swim program. I cannot wait to see how this season goes and am looking forward to the continued success of this program," she says.

Thompson, a native of Galloway, Ohio, worked as the Head Swim Coach at the Grove City YMCA from March 2024 to July 2024. Her responsibilities included writing and administering team practices for athletes and promoting the education of the technique and strategy of swimming. She was also the assistant coach from May 2023 to March 2024.

She has been a part of the Ohio State University Rec Sports as the Lead Event Technician and the Pool Technician for six years. In this capacity, Thompson maintained facility surveillance and safety, ran event operations, and correctly prepared pool chemicals.

Thompson has extensive experience working with physical and rehabilitation services. At Gracehaven, in Columbus, Ohio, she was the Youth Direct Care Specialist from August 2024 to April 2025. She was responsible for providing trauma-informed reports with strength-based care to facilitate a safe and secure environment. While working for On The Other Hand Therapy, based in Bexley, Ohio, Thompson served as an Occupational Therapist Intern from July 2023 to May 2024. In this role, she created lesson plans for groups while tracking and analyzing progress data for children aged three to five. With Drayer Physical Therapy, located in Wilmington, Ohio, Thompson was a Physical Therapy Technician from October 2021 to May 2022.

Thompson has leadership experience as well, serving as a Board Member and Youth Adult Community Coordinator for Columbia Heights UMC in Galloway, Ohio. Across these positions, she has been responsible for organizing plans to serve the community and initiating events for young adults in the area. She has been a part of these positions for two years each.