With one of the states largest high school athletic programs at the Class 7A level, Hester said it would be beneficial for the school in many ways. His overall record in 16 years of coaching is 164-37, including a 30-8 playoff mark. Ive just been working like crazy since then. Calera searching for new football coach after Simpson leaves for Thompson SE Texas honors most accomplished high school FB coach "dfpConfig": { The Thompson-Hoover rivalry has become one of the best in the state. Being able to keep that promise for my grandma would probably be the biggest thing ever.. How well Harsin capitalizes on it can decide his future with the Tigers. Thompson graduated in 1962 from Jefferson High School in Port Arthur, Texas and went on to play at Louisiana College. I know that theres a freshman that plays quarterback, and at the end of the day when I was a quarterback at Chelsea, I was not a quarterback I was just one of the best athletes on the team who could throw the ball OK. Thats something well look at as well. You know Peter is going to be back there somewhere. The Tigers did not add anybody to their 2022 class on National Signing Day earlier this month. How tall was Tommy Thompson? How much did Tommy Thompson weigh when playing? To borrow some real estate phrasing its seems that the ultimate in "curb appeal" for a high school and its community is to have a high-profile head football coach that commands a top salary. Higgins was impressed. Located about 20 miles south of Birmingham, Alabaster is known for its industry and the minerals it mines. He needed to hit that growth spurt, and he needed to become familiar with the weight room. Shade, a former Alabama player, enjoyed his conversations with Harsin and thought Harsin was a good Auburn ambassador. The Toros defeated McAdory to claim their second state championship in three years with a 14-1 record. That defeat still rings in the ears of the team, especially the defense, which isnt accustomed to teams crossing the goal line once, never mind how many times Hoover did. 197 Posts. He flirted with a college coaching job offer before Thompson entered the picture. The towns high school, Thompson, isnt like many modern schools with similar high-profile football programs, like IMG Academy, Mater Dei or any number of private schools that annually compete for championships and pump out Division I prospects. One of the states current football hot spots is G.W. That tough style of play, a hard-nosed defensive mindset, has an aligning charm with the city of Alabaster. She said, What are you going to do about it?. (renews at {{format_dollars}}{{start_price}}{{format_cents}}/month + tax). Fegans laughs with a. This family, after all, has a close bond. These coaches have done a great job of laying that foundation. Head coach Lee Gibson makes a little less than half of what Floyd and Freeman do even when all of his teacher salary and supplement stipends are added up. Going into Saturdays Class 3A state semifinal game against West Charlotte, he was averaging team bests of 19.9 points, 5.2 rebounds and 4.3 steals for the Vikings, the 23rd-ranked team in the nation. All rights reserved (About Us). So how did this high school team, about 66 miles from the University of Alabama campus in a town with a population of less than 35,000, rise of out of near obscurity to become one of the best high school football programs in the country and a burgeoning pipeline for the Crimson Tide? Football | Thompson Middle School Ill have to get some guys out there, Ganus said. A number of coaches were baffled that they haven't interacted with Auburn's head coach. Niblett has led Hoover to three straight state titles in the AHSAA's largest classification. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. He was named the AISA Football Coach of the Year in 2000, 2004, 2005 and 2007 and the Coach of the Year according to the Alabama Sports Writers in 2004, 2005 and 2006. He and AU defensive backs coach Zac Etheridge are close friends. His Rebels were also runner-up in 2001 and 2005. (Photo of Jeremiah Alexander: Michael Wade / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images). But as his senior season dawned, it just wasnt there anymore, that passion. That discrepancy was at the center of Auburn's recent turmoil. Tommy Thompson weighed 192 lbs (87 kg) when playing. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. Theres no my way or the highway. What I want to do is take what Ive learned, what Ive been able to take in during my five years with Thompson and apply it to Moody. No, we got a great person, Vickers said. Like us on Facebook Ths Athletics and Follow us on Instagram THS_ATHLETICS. Will Thompson hired as Spring Grove Area High School football coach There arent many words for that, Thompson says. There is no lack of challenge or ego in the region. To me it made a lot of sense. Theyll offer that kid early. So, again, the question must be answered: How did a team that went 0-10 before Freemans arrival and hadnt had a winning season since 2006 turn into a showcase national program? Thompson was beside himself. Ive made a living off of beating a lot of four- and five-star kids with guys like you., Its awesome for a kid to get to hear that, Etheredge said. You can cancel at any time. The others welcomed him because he could play and was a great teammate. Thompson High School coach Mark Freeman said the 6-foot-2 Fegans almost tricks a quarterback into throwing the ball by purposefully making him think a receiver is open. But its worked out really great.. Ryan Thorburn. MOODY Thompson High School co-defensive coordinator Jake Ganus was introduced as the new coach for the Moody Blue Devils on Friday, December 17. Where I went to high school was very similar in terms of enrollment, in terms of size and size of the community and facilities. Television Production Academy / TV & Film Home - Alabaster City Schools Another thing that needs context is how hyper competitive Class 7A, Region 3 football is within the state. Before the early signing period, support staffer Trovon Reed was allowed to do hands-on recruiting because Auburn had a coaching opening; the NCAA restricts the number of assistants who can make home visits, but Harsin fired offensive coordinator Mike Bobo after the regular season. The quintet started. Faulkner had been helping take care of Jaiden since he was yay high, back when he and his mother, Keyna Ricks, first moved back to Concord after a stint in Charlotte. The meeting was adjourned quickly and the head coach was brought in to welcome him into the chamber. DS David Simone Team 8-3 - Language Arts. While Ganus went undrafted in 2016, he signed a free agent deal with the NFLs Minnesota Vikings in 2016. Those hirings mean the two highest-paid high school football coaches in Alabama compete in the same region. Thompson high school-Miracle Win-Class 7A Championship-Alabama football He will make a yearly stipend of $4,988. Some names on that C.C. Something wasnt right with the young workout fiend she used to know, the kid who was either living in the gym or dying to get there. Im not a fan of anybody, but I just respected him coming in and talking about getting the culture right, Gardner said. Later, the same call was made on Bullock. Its home for me. I believe all the state schools beside (Alabama) and Tuskegee University can do a better job with in-state recruiting. 1 recruit in the nation, according to the 247Sports Composite rankings. After graduation, he coached at various high schools. And the results speak for itself: over the past five seasons, the Warriors are 62-6. An extended COVID-19 recruiting dead period ended June 1, 2021. 5 high school football team via SB Live, was to put its undefeated record on the line against another Birmingham-area program known for. Its quarterback, Bennett Meredith, is committed to Northwestern. You could have one bad game, and you kind of, like, judge yourself, and you ask yourself, Is this really what I want to do?, It would bring my confidence down. Alabama High School Football History - ahsfhs.org And weve never seen Coach Harsin on campus.. Theyre going to find guys who want to do all those things.. Freeman would not arrive to greet a packed school board room until approximately 35 minutes later. The quintet started for the C.C. Or, shoot, even making it to the NBA. Oh, he was still a really good player for Central Cabarrus, a team hed helped to a 30-1 record the previous season, all while being named the player of the year in his conference. That facility will also come with a new football stadium. This is a year when Rigby does have players most notably four-star defensive lineman Yhonzae Pierre and three-star offensive lineman Patrick Screws. 7 recruits played at Thompson. Central-Phenix City once again faces off with Thompson for Class 7A School board meetings don't go quite like this in Alabaster. The top 25 class of 2023 football recruits - USA TODAY High School Sports Win those battles, keep as many people home, and love, love, love on those high school coaches. Since then, Ive made it a point to keep up with Thompson. 3,620 Followers. "Most of the kids growing up here, most of them aspire to play for Auburn; it's their hometown,"Etheredge said. Its kind of like a letdown, you know, because everybody has all these big expectations. That would probably be one of my biggest accomplishments no matter if its winning a state championship or scoring 1,000 points. He may make a turnover or take a bad shot or something like that, but with him, you dont have to coach effort.. How many games did Tommy Thompson play? "We are going to make Friday night special," Freeman said. Mira Mesa High football coach Chris Thompson dies at 52 - MSN Former star Marlon Humphrey was an All-American at Alabama and is one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL. You couldnt really see it, unless you had Phyllis Anns keen eyes. Not yet 6 feet, Thompson proved he belonged with the big boys, the varsity. Soccer Shots Sacramento North hiring Youth Soccer Coach in Citrus It seemed it would be a Herculean task. Jaiden Thompson (3) shoots the J with a hand in his face. Coaches are paid a stipend at the end of the season for their work. Hewitt-Trussville had set the bar high with its hiring of Josh Floyd earlier this summer. He was THAT good. If I'm the head coach at any college, thats the first thing I would do: Win the battle in your backyard which is hard to do vs. Alabama, Rigby said. He ran from the other side of the field all the way to our sideline and tackled the quarterback, Fegans said. Join to view profile Thompson Valley High School. He was named the leagues best player for the second year in a row. As for his immediate plans at Moody, Ganus said that he was looking to build on the recent success the team has found. He knew then-Central upperclassmen Christian Cornish and Dajon Johnson well. Baker, who had a decorated career as the head coach at Catawba College, believes Thompson, who carries a 3.8 GPA, will win the recruiting game. I thought he and coach Pitts would form a really good team and relationship to help us grow Thompson athletics, Hester said. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. } } That season,. The fact that neither Vestavia Hills coach Buddy Anderson are among the three highest-paid coaches in their own region is surprising. Thompsons Jake Ganus hired as Moody football coach, Two individuals sentenced for kidnapping 3-year-old Kamille Cupcake McKinney, resulting in her death, Inmate of City of Birmingham Jail pronounced dead, found by fellow inmate, Finalists for Trussville BOE seat announced, Pinson council presents $60,000 check to schools, Springville softball blow out Pelham, continue dominant season, Obituary: Myra Carroll (August 22, 1937 February 23, 2023), Obituary: Sherry Webster Zorn (August 21, 1948 February 22, 2023), Trussville teen uses platform to build beds for children in need. In the blackness of night, a car rolled up beside me. Thomson High School (GA) Varsity Football - MaxPreps.com Mar 2, 2023 Updated 27 min ago. Those were the things that helped bring him solace as he was dealing with his frustration. Experience: 16 years Education: Texas A&M Coach John Roderique started his head coaching career for Webb City High School in 1997, taking over from Kurt Thompson, who accepted the head coach position at Coffeyville . From there, he was recruited to the University of Georgia. The speculation, the expectations from others took its toll, even on the normally unflappable Thompson, who admits he had a tendency to internalize his emotions. 2022 Georgia High School Football Playoff Brackets: GHSA Class 2A. That both programs are in the Birmingham metro area is a feather in the cap for the Crimson Tide football program, which is just a short ride away. On the night he scored his 1,000th career point, Jaiden Thompson is joined by (from left) his grandfather Nick Corry, his grandmother Phyllis Ann Faulker, his mother Keyna Ricks and his uncle Michael Ricks. News Sports Hookem.com Austin360 Opinion USA TODAY Obituaries . Hes spent this winter answering those questions unequivocally, but he wants to put an exclamation mark on it now. During a salary survey this spring of all Metro schools, Alabaster City Schools reported that former coach Mike Montgomery was given an annual salary through all supplements of $72,857.50 for this season. 11 in the 247Sports Composite and already stands 6-foot-2, 180 pounds. 1 and No. Now, theyre recruiting the freakish athlete. Before that, I couldnt even get the rim, Thompson said. This was what hed wanted for most of his basketball life: to don that Green and Gold. I can work as good as anybody, Freeman said. AHSFHS.org Forums - 2023 Head Coach changes Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (each updated 1/26/2023). Football Coaches. It was 1987 when he took the reins of the Thompson Middle School team in Newport. During his time with the Eagles, he helped the baseball program reach the quarterfinals of the playoffs in 2018 and then started to turn the football program around the previous two seasons in the 6A classification. Thomson 56. The Alabaster City Schools website includes a tagline in cursive script that reads "Champions of our Future" on every page. The former Jackson State offensive coordinator has now spent four seasons as head coach at Eufaula High School in southeast Alabama, about 80 minutes from Auburn. When I was principal at Montevallo, I appointed him as athletic director there because of his potential.. Freeman is a large part of the answer to his own question. Theyre not practicing the way we want them to practice. And, yes, I went on to write about him. Coach Freemans football program has a trademark phrase. When the recruiting contact period started last fall, Harsin was the first college coach to bring his full recruiting staff to the school. 2 class in 2022, are reaping the benefit of another nationally relevant football program in their backyard. Jaiden Thompson (3) leaving it all on the court. Hoover has faced it plenty over the years. Jaiden Thompson (3) busts a move to get to the basket. 19) in over a decade. Now, reaching the 30-win plateau -- in ONE season is the standard.