PORTSMOUTH Aquidneck Island native and Portsmouth resident Keith MacDonald vividly remembers how he got his first football coaching job. He knows theyll be there after that, too, no matter where he is in life. But in the fall, while it was hard for people who only knew Thompson as the top-notch ballplayer and smart, all-around good guy to tell the difference when he was on the court, one visitor to a Central preseason game could easily notice: his grandma, Phyllis Ann Faulkner. 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. "Most of the kids growing up here, most of them aspire to play for Auburn; it's their hometown,"Etheredge said. Thompson Warrior: Sloth Nationzz AHSFHS Master Researcher. But to be honest, there was a stretch when Thompsons light on the court had dimmed. All rights reserved (About Us). WEBB CITY, Mo. Some names on that C.C. WVUA 23 is a competitive professional commercial television Subscribe to The Athletic for in-depth coverage of your favorite players, teams, leagues and clubs. But these next two weekends have special meaning. Big-time high school football in Alabama can be classified as an arms race. Its so rewarding what we deal with. You need to go to a private school (to get recruited better). I was like, Why would I go anywhere? Website. You cant describe him, Alexander said. According to the 247Sports Composite, the last time 11 top-200 recruits called Alabama home was 2008. If you told me, You cant do this. Then Im going to go in and do my best, Freeman said. He wanted to change the narrative.. But its worked out really great.. I kind of fell out of love with the game, Thompson admits as he sits in Central Cabarrus empty auxiliary gym earlier this year. To the benefit of high school football in the state, theyve stayed. OK, I was a lot alarmed. Thompson figured his freshman season was a success, but he knew he could be better. The Alabaster City Board of Education does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability or age in any of its programs and activities and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. I think the wrestling and how I use my hands contributed to the player I am today.. San Rafael football is in search of a Junior Varsity Head Coach, Junior Varsity Offensive Coordinator, Junior Varsity Defensive Coordinator, and Varsity Linebackers coach. When Etheridge visited in January, it was the first and only time we have communicated with Auburn. Vigor has two rising talents: junior defensive end Michael Towner and freshman offensive lineman Micha Debose. Its obviously different, but honestly thats what drew me to Moody from Thompson, Ganus said, because of where Im from and where I played at Chelsea. 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. That tough style of play, a hard-nosed defensive mindset, has an aligning charm with the city of Alabaster. Hewitt-Trussville had set the bar high with its hiring of Josh Floyd earlier this summer. Im going to make you a promise. I made my grandma a promise that I was going to do whatever it takes to get what I needed. Thompson graduated in 1962 from Jefferson High School in Port Arthur, Texas and went on to play at Louisiana College. Despite its relatively new facilities a new high school opened in 2018 at 360,000 square feet at a cost of $88 million one wouldnt describe Alabaster as fancy. Follow him on Twitter for the latest high school cool across Alabama. As of Wednesday, the plan is to play. Baker said a player of Thompsons level likely wouldve already been scooped up in the past. THS TV allows students the opportunity to work in all areas of production, including behind-the-scenes and on-camera for news programs, our "Hey Coach" show, live sports events such as football games, and other sports and entertainment programming. Harsin's message on the recruiting trail has been firm:Auburn wants a specific type of player who is ready to love football and meet his demanding standards. It was as long as any college coach had stayed to chat. And thats OK. Be your own program and stop missing out on really good Alabama kids because Alabama didn't offer them.. On 11/25, the Thomson varsity football team won their away playoff game against South Atlanta (Atlanta, GA) by a score of 56-38. . Weve been talking about that for so long. Ive just been working like crazy since then. Sophomore year, I knew I was pretty good, but I had a bad habit of comparing myself to other people, Thompson said. Join us in the forums to submit corrections and new information. Volunteer Help the coach manage this team. DS David Simone Team 8-3 - Language Arts. A lot of people thought Oh you just got a great coach. Whenever the grammar-school-aged Thompson was feeling overwhelmed, it was as if he could click the heels of his Air Jordans together, chant Theres no place like home, and be transported to anywhere a rim hung. Niblett has led Hoover to three straight state titles in the AHSAA's largest classification. Ronald H. Thompson (born c. 1944) is a former American football coach. I believe all the state schools beside (Alabama) and Tuskegee University can do a better job with in-state recruiting. As for his immediate plans at Moody, Ganus said that he was looking to build on the recent success the team has found. Actually, me and Gavin have been talking about this since we were little boys. When I was principal at Montevallo, I appointed him as athletic director there because of his potential.. After 90 minutes of talking football, Darrell Higgins couldnt believe Harsin was still in his office. Thomson's stats have been entered for the 32-27 win vs. Fitzgerald on 12/9/2022 12:00 PM. Alabama High School Football History Thompson Coaches Thompson Warriors The AHSFHS.org Fan Shop Some records may be incomplete. Harsin has a golden opportunity to rebound: The upcoming 2023 talent pool in Alabama is the states deepest and most top-heavy of this century. Tournament Game. Email Rylan Gerber. Harsin's son plays for Auburn High. 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. Following the 2020-21 school year, Thompson was even named Teacher of the Year for the Ogden School District. I can do this my way and actually go to a good college like Wendell did. Freeman had a tremendous run in the private school ranks in Alabama Independent School Association football at Bessemer Academy before he moved to Alabama High School Athletic Association public football. The list can go on and on because Hoover and Niblett, like their counterparts Freeman and Thompson, take their football seriously. Prior to taking the job at Spanish Fort, Freeman went 13-9 in two seasons at Gulf Shores and took the Dolphins to the playoffs in the first season. You have permission to edit this article. In the 2022 class, the state's No. Or, shoot, even making it to the NBA. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. Records reflect scores in our database. His seven year record in baseball was 116-70, with two Final 4 appearances. Fegans laughs with a. The Alabaster City Schools website includes a tagline in cursive script that reads "Champions of our Future" on every page. That discrepancy was at the center of Auburn's recent turmoil. "I think they can recruit with the best they've proved that in the past. Well, thats going to be some moment. I wrestled, I played baseball. Griffin MiddleSchool team in seventh and eighth grade. Thompson High School in Birmingham is one of the perennial prep football powers in Alabama. To sharpen his skills, he started working with a basketball trainer, Kyree Bethel, whod played at Chowan and coached one of his summer teams. Brandon Graves Elementary Teacher / Head Baseball & Asst Football Coach. Calera High School is searching for a new football coach after former head coach Trey Simpson recently joined Alabaster City Schools and Thompson High School. Coach Keith Etheredge has enjoyed watching Harsin develop relationships at the school. Auburns staffparticularly Etheridge and director of high school relations Brendt Bedsole, a former high school coachhas impressed high school coaches. The others welcomed him because he could play and was a great teammate. He backed off that pledge seven months later and decommitted. Congratulations to Jahkiaus Jones, Jaquan Hart, Jordan Jones and Jontavis Curry for being selected the Thomson players of the game. Were like a family. He also coached softball, powerlifting, girls and boys basketball. Theyve already landed two blue-chip recruits from Thompson in the 2022 class, and they have eyes on two more in 2023. One part of the team that will be missing is a starting quarterback, as A.J. These days, Thompsons love for the game cant be questioned. The Toros defeated McAdory to claim their second state championship in three years with a 14-1 record. Government & Public Administration: Air Force JROTC. 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. Now, theyre recruiting the freakish athlete. He has an offer right now, but he doesnt have that ONE. Always appreciate that when (coaches) don't just slip in the back door and see a kid and get out. Thompson has won back-to-back state championships in the states highest classification and is a prime contender for another this season. The Crimson Tide, who have the No. Before that, I couldnt even get the rim, Thompson said. 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. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. 6 recruits in the states 2023 class attend Carver: defensive lineman James Smith and edge Jaquavious Russaw. As does Thompson now. Its a hotly contested game that draws huge crowds, benefitting both programs. To me it made a lot of sense. (Jeff Sentell/jsentell@al.com). I know people. AL.com requested salaries from all coaches in the Metro Birmingham area this past spring. Freeman also served one year as an assistant at Minor for the 2008 season. We had the opportunity to bring him in here, and he was interested in getting into athletics administration working closely with coach Pitts, Hester said. Shortly after that meeting ended, the new coach spoke about the challenges and opportunity of taking over at Moody. Alabaster (Ala.) Thompson, ranked as the nation's No. You know Peter is going to be back there somewhere. The results are clear on the field but Alabaster City Schools Superintendent, Dr, Wayne Vickers believes Coach Freemans impact is just as prominent off the field. Official Twitter Page of Thompson High School Athletics. (Photo of Jeremiah Alexander: Michael Wade / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images). Hoover City Schools pays its football coaches the same $47,741 stipend. I can catch the ball, and if I catch it, Ill probably score. Its miracle win to bring another state. High school coaches who have been visited by Harsin in the last year have appreciated his honesty and his straightforward approach. us to complete every school. The average coach in the region now makes $98,911 per year and the coaches now make a combined $791,288 in annual salary. He will also serve a dual role as the system athletic director for Alabaster City Schools. Former Auburn defensive line coach Nick Eason visited Eufaula in December, but he is the only Auburn staffer Rigby has seen at the school. He will get an extension to his contract of $13,068.60 as a 12-month employee. But the very good, solid kid that you can win with and (have) represent the school and do the right thing, theyre holding way back on these kids right now.. But he knew it. So I just feel like when we let someone score, its bad.. It kind of started in seventh grade, Thompson said. Thomson's stats have been entered for the 56-38 win @ South Atlanta on 11/25/2022 6:00 PM. "We are going to make Friday night special," Freeman said. Higgins was impressed. 56-38 (W) Thomson @ South Atlanta. I would see everybody get these offers, and sometimes people base their lives on one game. Volunteer Roster last updated on Feb 16, 2023 @ 5:45pm (GMT) Print Roster Correction All-Time Roster The current defense has shut out five of its 10 regular-season opponents and held nine to fewer than 10 points. Working with him before, it was a fortunate opportunity for us to have this chance to bring him on board.. Jeff Sentell covers prep sports for AL.com and the Birmingham News. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Everybody just clicks together, Thompson explained. Whatever that it is and wherever it takes him. He said Alabama assistant Sal Sunseri visited our school at least once per week when time was permitted., Another prominent coach in Alabama who spoke on condition of anonymity, when asked the biggest difference between Alabama and Auburn, had a simple response: Coach Saban has come by and spent up to an hour visiting with us. Alexander is locked in with the Crimson Tide for the second time. Quite frankly, thats the way the locals like it. I look forward to things to come. Jaiden Thompson poses with a plaque honoring him as the SPC Player of the Year after the Vikings won the conference tournament championship last month. But this transfer portal has really hurt a kid like Jaiden because the decision for these college coaches is, Do I take a high school kid, or do I wait and see if I can find somebody in the portal that may have played at a little bit lower level but the kid is averaging seven points and four rebounds and has a year of experience under him? This whole portal thing, I think, has hurt the true high school kid.. All those clichs about the best player on the team being the hardest worker on the team, yada, yada, yada? It's the second time during the three-peat that Thompson has defeated the Red Devils (13-1) in the championship game. There is no lack of challenge or ego in the region. His record at Thompson in nine seasons is 83-18 and 21-2 in the playoffs. "Some of those kids who didn't have all the stars that (Harsin) brought in are really good players. 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. Moore heard those private-school whispers, too. Everytime you can affect people, its like an injection of energy. He went 13-9 during two seasons at Gulf Shores and led the Dolphins to the second round of the playoffs in 2009. 1 and No. Website. Hes got what the kids call bounce.. University of Northern Colorado . Try a week on us. I have a great team, a great family, and we could actually win this whole thing.. Thats what I actually LOVE about this team. All are seniors and key contributors on this Vikings squad making its bid for the schools first state championship since 2000. While at Bessemer Academy, Coach Freeman also served as the head baseball coach. 27. The 2019 season began a streak of three consecutive state football championships for Thompson High School. And save for his first year with Concord Parks and Rec, when he scored a basket in the opposing teams hoop, he was good, too. So if you can do it at that level, you can do it at an SEC level.. Its going to be scary.. 2022 Georgia High School Football Playoff Brackets: GHSA Class 2A. Thompson High School in Birmingham is one of the perennial prep football powers in Alabama. And the results speak for itself: over the past five seasons, the Warriors are 62-6. One of the states current football hot spots is G.W. Freeman ran late for his big introduction. He was later released and eventually joined the Thompson coaching staff, coaching linebackers. Freeman resigned from Spanish Fort to accept the head coaching job at Thompson high school near Birmingham. "prerollTemplate":"https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/ads?sz=640x480&iu=/132916964,95765933/wvua23.com/football-friday&ciu_szs=300x250&impl=s&gdfp_req=1&env=vp&output=vast&vpos=preroll&unviewed_position_start=1&correlator=1677958717&cust_params=category=Football%20Friday%2CHigh%20School%20Sports%2CSports&video_position=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wvua23.com%2Foutside-the-huddle-thompson-high-school-head-coach-mark-freeman%2F&post=189033" 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. Located about 20 miles south of Birmingham, Alabaster is known for its industry and the minerals it mines. Like us on Facebook Ths Athletics and Follow us on Instagram THS_ATHLETICS. C. JEMAL HORTON COLUMN: Central Cabarrus Thompson fulfilling his promise in more ways than one. Freeman's hiring meant an increase of almost $50,000 per year in what Thompson had paid former coach Mike Montgomery. But as his senior season dawned, it just wasnt there anymore, that passion. Pinson Valley often has talent (see: Bo Nix). How many games did Tommy Thompson play? This will be Ganuss first head coaching position. But that foundation is there. It was a chance, but we knew it would be risky because we were in a great job in a great place. People were telling me, You need to transfer. After that, everything just clicked. Coming back here and kind of turning this program around was a big thing for me.. The Warriors went 5-5 in each of his first two seasons in 2015 and 2016. I knew he had a plane to get to, and I kept trying to hurry him out, Eads said. After graduation, he coached at various high schools. Visit our website for info. He's also not letting ALS take away his ability to coach, even if he's had to rely on . Posted - 02/28/2023 : 12:35:46 . Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. Career. Theres no tearing stuff down. Ganus played high school ball at Chelsea and played linebacker at UAB prior to the closure of the Blazers football program in 2014. Thompson hadnt been particularly relevant before Freemans arrival, which is why the Warriors sudden emergence has ruffled some feathers. From there, he was recruited to the University of Georgia. Johnson calls former Auburn assistant Travis Williams probably the best freaking recruiter Ive ever been around.. Position: Coach - JV Football - Davis Senior High School, July-November 2023, $3,366.00/season. It took Freeman a couple of years to get it going. Simpson will be heavily involved in helping with operations and administration of several different sports, which Hester said will be a huge help. And Updates from all around. 4) are both top-25 prospects in the country. 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. Have a long enough conversation with any coach in the region, and eventually off-the-record claims of impermissible recruiting against any number of schools will surface. Lakeshore announces Danny Thompson as the school's new head football coach He was the offensive coordinator at Middleville High School since 2018. Thompson Football Staff Players (118) Staff (3) Help the team get started! Contact Us. That's very likely to change, but that's where things stand today. Thompson . The No. 7 recruits played at Thompson. And, yes, I went on to write about him. In a way, I was kind of alarmed. KANNAPOLIS After walking into town 12 years ago and leaving his footprint at one of the most highly regarded programs in Cabarrus County, Mi, CONCORD They draw fans to the storied gym in droves, as if the Charlotte Hornets the original Kelly Tripucka-in-the-Charlotte-Coliseum Hor. Higgins was struck by a new coach trying to learn and improve while maintaining his recruiting principles. That potential was something he took with him to Calera as a baseball coach, athletic director and football coach. How do you go from that 6-4 year and what ways can I get our kids over that hump. He won 15 of his 17 playoff games with the Toros. Bowie Football Coaching Staff. 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. Published 3:43 pm Wednesday, June 9, 2021. Gardendale coach Chad Eads is another multi-decade coaching veteran who has seen all kinds of things that I didn't like and things I wish they wouldn't say. But he was impressed with Harsin when he and a few assistants visited recently. I think thats just kind of the bridge or the gray area theyre going to have to face here soon: Youre not Bama, and youre not Georgia. "I grew up right down the road from Alabaster," Freeman said. In the blackness of night, a car rolled up beside me. Brown, Newsome announces retirement as coach, C. 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Saturdays game, a highly anticipated rematch of last seasons semifinals, will be played at McDowell High School in Marion at 3 p.m. You might even be able to hear Faulkner yelling words of support for her grandbaby, even in a gym packed with 3,700 other fans.
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