He was appointed to the role in January 2005 after the 2004 Athens Olympics. In 2000, Thompson was the head manager of the Australian swimming team at the Sydney Olympics, a team that included some of the all-time greats of Australian swimming, including Ian Thorpe, Grant Hackett, Kieren Perkins, Susie O’Neill, Michael Klim, Geoff Huegill, Leisel Jones, Matt Welsh and Petria Thomas.

Beginnings

Alan Thompson grew up in Revesby. He ran his own swim school (Alan Thompson's Swim School) at the Campbelltown Swimming Centre from 1987 to 2004. During this period he was also the head coach of the Whitlam Swim Team from 1995 to 2004 and the elite training centre coach at the New South Wales Institute of Sport from 2001 until 2004.

Achievements

As the Swimming Australia national head coach (2005-2010), Alan steered the Australian swim team to its most successful Olympic campaign in history in Beijing (2008), where they won a record 20 medals (six gold, six silver and eight bronze). This included medals in all six relays for the first time. 
As the head coach in Montreal for the FINA World swimming championships in 2005, Alan led the team to a staggering 23 medals – 13 gold, six silver and four bronze, making them the most successful team in swimming history. He was also Swimming Australia national team coach from 2001-2004 and Swimming Australia national team manager from 1993-2000.

Post Representation

Thompson, a long-time supporter of the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs Rugby League Club, was appointed general manager of its football operations on 15 April 2010 after his swimming commitments concluded. Following his role as head coach, Thompson continued to be a prominent figure in the swimming world. He served as the deputy chairman of the Australian Sports Commission’s National Coach Advisory Panel (NCAP) from 2009 to 2011. Additionally, he held roles as secretary of the FINA Coaches Commission from 2001 to 2009. Thompson also contributed to the World Swimming Coaches Association (WSCA) as a life member, past president and board member, and similarly served as a life member, past president, and board member of the Australian Swimming Coaches and Teachers Association (ASCTA) since 1988.