Clevan Thompson was named Savannah State's 12th head coach in program history on June 6, 2025. Thompson was appointed as the interim head coach of the program on January 6, 2025 after the mid-season retirement of former head coach Horace Broadnax.
Upon his assuming of the reigns of the program, Thompson led the Tigers to a 13-6 mark down the stretch of the 2024-25 season, including an unblemished 7-0 record at home.
Thompson then led the Tigers to a memorable run through the postseason as the #5 seed in the SIAC's East Division, defeating Spring Hill, West Division Regular Season Champion Miles, and Central State to earn a spot in the championship game. Thompson and The Tigers claimed the program's sixth SIAC Championship, claiming the 2025 title with a 67-66 victory over Tuskegee in the title game. The championship was also the program's second SIAC title in four years after winning the crown in 2022. The victory also gave SSU an automatic spot in the 2025 NCAA Division II Men's Basketball Tournament.
Thompson initially came to Savannah State prior to the start of the 2023-24 as the lead assistant to head coach Horace Broadnax.
A native of Kingston, Jamaica and one who also has ties to South Florida as part of his upbringing, Thompson previously spent nearly two decades, from 2009-2022 as the head boys' basketball coach at nearby Bethesda Academy. Thompson led the Blazers to their most successful period in program history, amassing 265 victories, twelve Final Four Appearances, six state title appearances, and two state championships. His teams claimed 2012 the Georgia Independent School Association (GISA)  State Championship, and the 2015 South Carolina Independent School (SCISA) Class AAA Title.
Thompson is no stranger to "The Marsh" as he is a 2003 graduate of Savannah State, holding a Bachelor's of Science degree in Computer Information Systems. He is also a former letter winner as a football student-athlete for the Tigers.
