‘Forever Grateful’: Butch Thompson Reflects on Auburn’s Historic 2025 Season Filled With Milestones, Memories, and Championship Culture

In the quiet moments after the final pitch of the 2025 season, Auburn baseball head coach Butch Thompson sat back, looked around the dugout, and let the weight of the moment wash over him. What he saw was more than a scoreboard. He saw young men who had poured their hearts into a cause greater than themselves. He saw a program that had rewritten its story. And he saw, with clarity, the culmination of years of persistence, passion, and purpose.

“Forever grateful,” Thompson said, his voice full of emotion. “That’s all I can say. Just forever grateful.”

The 2025 season was historic by every conceivable measure for the Auburn Tigers. From the very first crack of the bat in February to the roaring ovations of June, the Tigers captured not only wins but the hearts of their fanbase, leaving behind a trail of unforgettable moments, records shattered, and a standard raised higher than ever before.

Thompson, now in his 10th season as Auburn’s head coach, has seen it all. But nothing, he says, could have prepared him for the rollercoaster that became the most memorable year in Auburn baseball history. “We didn’t just have a good season. We had a season that’s going to live in Auburn lore forever,” he said. “We challenged ourselves in every way—mentally, physically, emotionally—and these guys just kept rising to the occasion.”

Auburn’s 2025 campaign was fueled by a perfect blend of veteran leadership, dynamic freshmen, and elite pitching depth that gave them an edge against some of the most formidable opponents in college baseball. The Tigers soared to a school-record 52 wins, captured the SEC West title outright, and earned the program’s first No. 1 national seed in the NCAA Tournament.

More importantly, they did it with a brand of baseball that was as tough as it was beautiful.

“When people watched us play, I hope they saw a team that refused to be outworked,” Thompson said. “We hustled, we dove for balls, we ran the bases hard, and we picked each other up. We played for Auburn and for each other.”

That unity was most evident during Auburn’s march through the NCAA Tournament. In regional and super-regional play, the Tigers were masterful, outscoring their opponents 46-12 while displaying flawless defensive execution and timely power hitting. Fans at Plainsman Park and across the country watched a team on a mission, with every player understanding their role and delivering under pressure.

“It wasn’t about any one guy,” Thompson noted. “It was about the next man up, the team-first mentality. And that’s why it worked.”

Though the Tigers eventually fell just short of a national title, bowing out in the semifinals in Omaha after a dramatic extra-inning thriller, the season ended with heads held high. Auburn’s deep postseason run cemented their place among the elite and validated every ounce of effort invested from offseason workouts to late-night practices.

Players like Cam Hill, the senior closer whose fastball touched 98 mph on the radar gun, and freshman sensation Mikey Tatum, who hit 19 home runs while batting over .350, became household names not just on the Plains but nationwide. “Those guys bought in from day one,” said Thompson. “Their work ethic, their commitment, it was contagious.”

Beyond the stat sheets and box scores, what made this year so special, Thompson says, was the culture that had been built brick by brick over the past decade. “You don’t just wake up one day and go to Omaha,” he reflected. “You invest over time, and you surround yourself with people who care deeply.”

That investment has paid dividends. Since taking the reins in 2016, Thompson has guided Auburn to five NCAA Regionals, three Super Regionals, and now, two College World Series appearances. But 2025 felt different. It was the culmination of everything Thompson and his staff have envisioned for the program.

“This was the most complete group I’ve ever coached,” he admitted. “They were students of the game, leaders off the field, and warriors between the lines.”

Thompson credits not just his players but also his coaching staff, the support staff, Auburn University leadership, and the fanbase that packed Plainsman Park to capacity nearly every home game. “This season doesn’t happen without the Auburn family,” he said. “Their energy fueled us. Their belief in us pushed us. That’s the Auburn spirit.”

In a season defined by excellence, one of the most poignant moments came on Senior Day, when Thompson took time before the game to speak to each of his graduating players individually. Some of them had been with him for five years. Others came via the transfer portal, choosing Auburn for their final ride. All of them, he says, left their mark.

“I told them that legacy isn’t what you leave behind—it’s who you become in the process,” Thompson recalled. “And they became champions in every way.”

Even amid the celebration, Thompson acknowledged the inevitable turnover that comes with collegiate sports. Several Tigers are projected to be high picks in the upcoming MLB Draft, while others will graduate or move on. Still, Thompson views it all with a sense of peace and pride.

“We’re not just building players here,” he said. “We’re building men. And I know they’ll go on and do great things.”

Asked what he’ll remember most about 2025, Thompson paused, looked down for a moment, and smiled. “The relationships,” he said. “The way this group came together. The laughs, the bus rides, the shared sacrifice. That’s what stays with you.”

He added, “Baseball has a way of teaching you who you are. And I saw a team full of guys who never quit, who never stopped believing. That’s rare. That’s special.”

Looking ahead, Thompson remains committed to keeping Auburn among the nation’s elite programs. With a strong incoming recruiting class, returning core contributors, and a now-solidified national reputation, the foundation has never been stronger.

But for now, as the dust settles on the 2025 journey, Thompson is taking a moment to breathe it all in. He’s thinking of the fans, the parents, the players, and the countless unseen moments that led to this unforgettable year.

“It’s easy to get caught up in wins and losses,” he said. “But what matters is the impact. And I think we made a difference this year.”

With a nod to the past and a focus on the future, Butch Thompson’s message to the Auburn family is simple yet powerful: “Thank you for believing. Thank you for riding with us. And thank you for making 2025 a season we’ll never forget.”

As he walked off the field one last time this season, tipping his cap to the orange and blue faithful, Thompson’s words echoed louder than any stadium cheer.

“Forever grateful.”

And so is Auburn.