Five months after stepping down as St. Aloysius’ basketball coach, Delvin Thompson is getting back in the game.

Thompson was hired last week as an assistant coach with the men’s basketball team at his alma mater Alcorn State. He’ll be responsible for the development of the team’s point guards and editing game film.

It’s Thompson’s first coaching job on the college level.

“It feels really great going back home to Alcorn State because they have provided stability for me on and off the court,” Thompson said in an email interview. “I received my Bachelors and Masters Degree from there, so now this is my opportunity to give back to the school as a whole, but more importantly to give back to the basketball program that I was once a part of.”

Thompson played at Alcorn from 2004-07. He was the Southwestern Athletic Conference Newcomer of the Year in the 2004-05 season, and also earned first- and second-team All-SWAC honors during his playing career.

He took over as the head coach of St. Al’s boys and girls varsity teams in 2010 and held that position until the end of this season, when he resigned to focus on his career as a mental health therapist.

After getting a few calls suggesting he look into the vacancy at Alcorn, he applied, got an interview and wound up with a new job.

“I received a couple of calls about the position and that it might be a great fit for me,” Thompson said. “I applied for the position and had an interview with the coach and was later offered the position. I had had no prior contact with the head coach (Montez Robinson) in the past, but after talking with him over the span of a few weeks I felt really good about accepting the position.”

Thompson said his new job is a full-time position, and a good opportunity to take the next step as a coach.

“This is a great opportunity for me and my coaching career. During my time as an assistant coach at Alcorn State University I will learn as much as I can and be as productive as I can,” he said.