It seemed it would be a Herculean task. The Warriors havent won as many as 10 games in a season since 1987. Posted - 02/28/2023 : 12:35:46 . The first-year coach Roderick Thompson of Anderson High School has had quite a journey to be a first-year head coach in high school. Brandon Graves Elementary Teacher / Head Baseball & Asst Football Coach. Theyve already landed two blue-chip recruits from Thompson in the 2022 class, and they have eyes on two more in 2023. Some names on that C.C. Cornel Thompson, who led West Orange-Stark to four state championship games and won two of them, told . What would make you consider a digital subscription to Shelby County Reporter? I watched him in the Gadsden City game. You dont work out anymore.. I said, Im going to go get it. Make them your biggest fans.. Things have been up and down, kind of like a roller coaster. Like us on Facebook Ths Athletics and Follow us on Instagram THS_ATHLETICS. The viral TikTok quiz, explained, Tuscaloosa McFarland Chick-fil-A is moving. MOODY Thompson High School co-defensive coordinator Jake Ganus was introduced as the new coach for the Moody Blue Devils on Friday, December 17. Football Coach jobs Tennis Coach jobs Camp Director jobs Head Football Coach jobs . Auburn hadn't signed an Auburn High School player since 2009, but Harsin landed offensive lineman Eston Harris Jr. and linebacker Powell Gordon in 2022. Thats what I actually LOVE about this team. And Woods is a five-star 2023 defensive lineman who has programs all over the country begging for his services, too. C. JEMAL HORTON COLUMN: Central Cabarrus Thompson fulfilling his promise in more ways than one. A new barbecue restaurant in Kannapolis is taking shape. He knew then-Central upperclassmen Christian Cornish and Dajon Johnson well. Highland Home has been a revolving door of head coaches visiting Faulk, including Tennessees Josh Heupel. That type of concentrated talent may be just another season at a program like IMG Academy, but its not common at a public school like Thompson, which produced a total of one four- or five-star recruit in the past decade current Alabama offensive lineman Amari Kight, a four-star recruit in 2019. Not yet 6 feet, Thompson proved he belonged with the big boys, the varsity. In the last 20 years, Alabama averaged 4.05 top-100 recruits, 7.05 top-200 and 10.3 top-300. New Auburn defensive line coach Jimmy Brumbaugh has already been around at Highland Home, where defensive end Keldric Faulk is a top-100 recruit who attended Auburns recent junior day. The only time Johnson had met Harsin was during a FaceTime with Etheridge, during which the assistant coach briefly put Harsin on the phone. Its kind of like a letdown, you know, because everybody has all these big expectations. On 12/2, the Thomson varsity football team won their away playoff game against Appling County (Baxley, GA) by a score of 20-14. Here's an updated ranking of how Class 7A, Region 3's salary structure adds up: The salary data isn't everything. I got outta there as fast as my Nissan with the lawn mower engine could go. Eason is at Clemson now. His softball teams made Final 4 appearances from 2003-05, and his powerlifting teams were 3 time State Champs. ", Before Wade Waldrop became Hoovers coach recently, he coached five-star cornerback Jahlil Hurley at Florence. us to complete every school. It was late January, and Harsin and receivers coach Eric Kiesau were visiting Mars Hill Bible School in Florence. He will also serve a dual role as the system athletic director for Alabaster City Schools. Sophomore year, I knew I was pretty good, but I had a bad habit of comparing myself to other people, Thompson said. They all apply to the focused Thompson, who actually plays as hard on defense as he does when hes working magic with the ball in his hands. Some Alabama High School Football Head Coaches Mark Freeman Mark Freeman attended Bessemer Academy and graduated from the University of Alabama with a Bachelor of Arts Degree. Mar 2, 2023 Updated 27 min ago. Higgins said Harsins message was an eye-opening experience for Mars Hill players about the rigors of college football: He was very adamant on: This is going to take some time. electronic communication and community service. One region athletic director told AL.com earlier this year that he feared an "arms race" might be upon us. Thompson's commitment to Freeman shows that the program is now joining that competition. And if when that actually comes to fruition? The board approved him through a solitary personnel action. Harsin's son plays for Auburn High. He also coached softball, powerlifting, girls and boys basketball. 1 player in the state in the 247Sports Composite. Jeff Sentell covers prep sports for AL.com and the Birmingham News. Now, theyre recruiting the freakish athlete. Before that, I couldnt even get the rim, Thompson said. He wanted to change the narrative.. Congratulations to Jahkiaus Jones, Jaquan Hart, Jordan Jones and Jontavis Curry for being selected the Thomson players of the game. McCaskey has found its football coach for the 2021 season, which is right around the corner. The biggest thing was: Was my wife going to move? Faulkners first grandbaby, Thompson was, in many ways, HER heartbeat. Reed made such a positiveimpact that the Auburn alum was promoted this week to director of recruiting relations, adding to Harsin's arsenal. That shows citizens and potential community members that their school's high school football experience will be second to none in the state of Alabama. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. Central Cabarrus coach Jim Baker struggles to find a fault in the 6-foot-1 Thompsons game, but if he had to nick-pick, its that hed like the low-key guard to be more vocal on the floor. It would turn out to be the most heavily-attended board meeting for a school system that's still just in its toddler years. Im a finesse cornerback even though I can hit, Fegans said. 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. Heck, if theres anything more important to him than his biological family, its this group of guys and their coaches. Thatd be like a tear-jerker moment. 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.. BRYAN HARSIN:'The first one changes you': Coaches recall their debuts in the Iron Bowl, a game that determines longevity, AUBURN BASKETBALL:I tried to score over college basketball's greatest shot blocker, Walker Kessler | Durando, Montgomery Catholic Prep is another school with consistent talent. Eason was also frequently praised for his recruiting. Hoover recently snapped Thompsons 27-game winning streak, and the two seem to be on a collision course to meet in the playoffs this season too. I think Auburn's going to be OK," Pouncey said. Freeman landed his first head football coaching job at Bessemer Academy in 1998. It was a chance, but we knew it would be risky because we were in a great job in a great place. Coach Freemans football program has a trademark phrase. 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. And thats OK. Be your own program and stop missing out on really good Alabama kids because Alabama didn't offer them.. 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. Ed Rigby out of Pike Road: Page: of 4: Topic : Freeman resigned from Spanish Fort to accept the head coaching job at Thompson high school near Birmingham. Volunteer Help the coach manage this team. Bowie High School Football Search. Hey, it comes with the gig. He has built a powerhouse at Thompson winning four state championships in a row. He helped the Vikings win 30 games for the second year in a row. Eads and former Pinson Valley coach Sam Shade (now at Miles College) were among the high school coaches who met Harsin at a seven-on-seven camp in summer 2021. 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). Ganus arrived on campus to meet with the Blue . And you sort of follow it, the top 70, 80, 90 kids end up going D-II and whatnot. So if you can do it at that level, you can do it at an SEC level.. Website. No, we got a great person, Vickers said. Shelby County Schools is currently looking to fill the head coaching position at Calera High School. station in the nations top 40 market where students and 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. The last time I checked, back when I was at Catawba, we had 33 schools in North Carolina that were offering D-I and D-II scholarships. Visit our website for info. If you told me, You cant do this. Then Im going to go in and do my best, Freeman said. Everybodys thinking about the recruiting process, Thompson said. After National Signing Day, Harsin hadnot visited Montgomery Catholic, which is 50 minutes from Auburn. 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. {{start_at_rate}} {{format_dollars}} {{start_price}} {{format_cents}} {{term}}, {{promotional_format_dollars}}{{promotional_price}}{{promotional_format_cents}} {{term}}, Todd Maulden/Special to the Independent Tribune, Friday Five: New barbecue restaurant, apartment dwellers and updates, HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL: After leaving his mark at storied A.L. According to the 247Sports Composite, the last time 11 top-200 recruits called Alabama home was 2008. Playing ball was what hed done for so long, he almost was on auto-pilot out there. With his wife already a little miffed at him from moving away from Gulf Shores, Freeman didnt have any thoughts of leaving Spanish Fort for another high school job. He takes over for Kyle Sprenkle, who resigned in January after seven seasons to help his. Hoover City Schools pays its football coaches the same $47,741 stipend. 6 recruits in the states 2023 class attend Carver: defensive lineman James Smith and edge Jaquavious Russaw. In the first game of his junior year, Thompsons spirit got some much-needed jumper cables in the form of a game in which he scored 23 points in just three quarters of action. Its going to be scary.. Ive lived my life thinking I can (out)work people. San Rafael football is in search of a Junior Varsity Head Coach, Junior Varsity Offensive Coordinator, Junior Varsity Defensive Coordinator, and Varsity Linebackers coach. That followed time at Montevallo where he also served as the head baseball coach and athletic director for the Bulldogs. When I heard that, I said, Yeah, Ive got to do something about this, he said. But he knew it. 1 and No. "global": { Its almost a collective awe that funnels out when his teammates describe Woods. Alabama has more in its backyard than other traditionally talent-rich SEC states, including Louisiana and Georgia. He began at Thompson in the fall of 2015. The quintet started for the C.C. It gives a kid a lot of fire.. When we are able to win and we want to win, then we are going to win.". He had been battling bone cancer, but is believed to have succumbed to complications from COVID-19. She said, What are you going to do about it?. Between 2001 and 2007 his teams went 40-1 in region play and 17-3 in the playoffs. 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. Congratulations to Jontavis Curry, Noah Story, Marcellus Brigham and Jordan Jones for being selected the Thomson players of the game. His four teams at Spanish Fort finished a combined 50-7. 19) in over a decade. Man died Wednesday. Two of those four, edge rusher Jeremiah Alexander and cornerback Trequon Fegans, are verbally committed to Alabama in the class of 2022. "Some of those kids who didn't have all the stars that (Harsin) brought in are really good players. A lot of people thought Oh you just got a great coach. Freeman's decision . 27. When I was principal at Montevallo, I appointed him as athletic director there because of his potential.. Thompson was a critical reason the Vikings went unbeaten in the South Piedmont 3A Conference for the third year in a row. 11 in the 247Sports Composite and already stands 6-foot-2, 180 pounds. They understand what that does for high school that makes it an exciting day when Coach Harsin or Coach Saban shows up.. The Toros defeated McAdory to claim their second state championship in three years with a 14-1 record. Its very much a blue-collar, working-class community. The Warriors finished 12-1 in 2017, losing in the semifinals of the Class 7A State Football Playoffs. Actually, me and Gavin have been talking about this since we were little boys. People were telling me, You need to transfer. Thompson graduated in 1962 from Jefferson High School in Port Arthur, Texas and went on to play at Louisiana College. He has heard similarly from other Birmingham coaches. Thompson Football Staff Players (118) Staff (3) Help the team get started! It's the second time during the three-peat that Thompson has defeated the Red Devils (13-1) in the championship game. Tommy Thompson was born in Hutchinson, KS. That's very likely to change, but that's where things stand today. Its very much a work-hard-for-what-you-get community. They have reached the Class 7A State Championship Game each of the past four years and have captured three consecutive years. Those were the things that helped bring him solace as he was dealing with his frustration. Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. Ronald H. Thompson (born c. 1944) is a former American football coach. 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. Both are top-40 nationally. The current defense has shut out five of its 10 regular-season opponents and held nine to fewer than 10 points. 0. And while some schools showed interest in him taking his talents there, the recruiting slowed down, no matter how much he was thrashing his competition on a team that was one of the best around. Since then, Ive made it a point to keep up with Thompson. Central Cabarrus coach Jim Baker poses for a photo with his four seniors: Gavin Bullock (30) Micah Murray (33) Adriel Miller (14) Elijah Ford (22) and Jaiden Thompson (3). Published 3:43 pm Wednesday, June 9, 2021. Taylor High School. 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 . Freeman, 55, told AL.com at the meeting that he hadn't even seen his contract or knew his final salary number. He has a lot of rich athletic administration experience, Thompson Principal Dr. Wesley Hester said. The coaching part of it? "I want everyone else to know we are going to be a major player in everything we do for our children," Vickers said. Shade, a former Alabama player, enjoyed his conversations with Harsin and thought Harsin was a good Auburn ambassador. Hey, what are your thoughts on this player? Calera High School is searching for a new head football coach after Trey Simpson, above, joined Thompson High School in an athletic administration role. Jaiden Thompson looks to make a pass during his freshman season. Freeman's hiring meant an increase of almost $50,000 per year in what Thompson had . Thompson High School in Birmingham is one of the perennial prep football powers in Alabama. His bloodlines are pretty good too, with his older brother Antwon at Arkansas State and his younger brother Anquon, a class of 2025 recruit, already holding offers from Florida, Georgia and Miami, among others. In 2023, the state has 11 of the top 100. The Alabaster City Schools website includes a tagline in cursive script that reads "Champions of our Future" on every page. How can we make Moody more successful. Griffin starting five might sound familiar to Central Cabarrus fans: Gavin Bullock, Adriel Miller, Eli Ford and Micah Murray. One night, after the Vikings played in the holiday tournament at Mount Pleasant, I was walking to my car to head off and write my story. He will also receive a supplement of $30,909.20 as head football coach and another $30,909.20 as the athletic director for Alabaster City Schools. His father, Fred, is a legendary figure in Utah high school athletics, having coached at Roy High School for 19 years, followed by a six-year stint at Fremont. There arent many words for that, Thompson says. professionals work together to achieve the highest standards in Freeman, an Alabama graduate, attended Bessemer Academy and has maintained a home in the McCalla area. Freeman went 50-7 in four years with the Toros, leading them to state championships in 2012 and 2013. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. Im just trying to go MY way. That's how much Friday's board meeting to approve Mark Freeman as the next football coach had already spiked interest in the Alabaster community. Theyre not practicing the way we want them to practice. All rights reserved. But as his senior season dawned, it just wasnt there anymore, that passion. He felt he was on his way. But its worked out really great.. 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. That tough style of play, a hard-nosed defensive mindset, has an aligning charm with the city of Alabaster. So if everybody took two players at the Apps and East Carolinas and Wilmingtons and all that, a lot of kids get to go play. 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. The difference between the salaries at Hoover and Spain Park are based in education credits for each teacher within the teacher salary. Alabaster, AL thompsonwarriors.org Joined February 2016. We have chosen to publish this information in hopes our visitors will participate in assisting us to complete every school. 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. 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. Photographer Kenny Grimes has posted a new gallery Fitzgerald vs. Thomson (GHSA 2A Final) containing 104 photos. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. It also means neither of those quality coaches have yet to win a playoff game in the state's largest classification yet. I can catch the ball, and if I catch it, Ill probably score. What we got to do when we go to work is we are going to put the able to win together with the want to win. Friday afternoon drive time on I-65 was the cause for that. Id say Im athletic, Alexander said. The most accomplished high school football coach in Southeast Texas is calling it a career. That was his happy place, his own piece of utopia. But by the fall of his senior season, there he was in that preseason game, with his grandma staring from the bleachers, disappointed but mostly concerned. During the 90-minute office conversation with Higgins, Harsin discussed how hes trying to learn more about Southern culture and the kids here. I have a great team, a great family, and we could actually win this whole thing.. Following the 2020-21 school year, Thompson was even named Teacher of the Year for the Ogden School District. He was named the leagues best player for the second year in a row. (renews at {{format_dollars}}{{start_price}}{{format_cents}}/month + tax). Isidore Newman quarterback Arch Manning headlines the class of 2023 as the No. . ALABASTER, Alabama -- A member of the central office staff at Alabaster City Schools looked around the school board room at the Alabaster Municipal Building Friday afternoon. The No. He needed to hit that growth spurt, and he needed to become familiar with the weight room. Im not a fan of anybody, but I just respected him coming in and talking about getting the culture right, Gardner said. Harsin hadnt been to Thompson. Its a sort of throwback team, considering how offense is so valued in the game of football today. Hewitt-Trussville had set the bar high with its hiring of Josh Floyd earlier this summer. Try a week on us. I always said why is Thompson never getting over the hill?. But after realizing that I wanted it for myself, then things just started to pick up.. Thatd be like a dream come true, especially to my mom, my grandma, my grandpa (Nick Corry) and my uncle. WVUA 23 is a competitive professional commercial television Follow him on Twitter for the latest high school cool across Alabama. Thompson and Bullock were among a group that participated in a workout with the team. I know people. BP Brandon Petersen Team 8-2 - Social Studies. Everybody just clicks together, Thompson explained. But weve got an outstanding individual that loves our kids and loves our parents, loves our school system.. The Tigers did not add anybody to their 2022 class on National Signing Day earlier this month. Its been fun to watch his shoulders broaden, his game become more dominant, and his leaping ability take on an Olympic high jumper-like quality. (Hurley recently committed to Alabama.). (Jeff Sentell/jsentell@al.com). Well, thats going to be some moment. 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. Copyright 2002-2023 Blackboard, Inc. All rights reserved. Thompson had a solid freshman season, putting up 6.7 points, 2.9 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game. One Division-I school, Western Carolina, had confirmed as much when it offered him a scholarship after his freshman season. 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. 7 recruits played at Thompson. Ganus played high school ball at Chelsea and played linebacker at UAB prior to the closure of the Blazers football program in 2014. Jaidens a very talented player, Baker said. Tweets & replies. He coached for 10 seasons at Bessemer Academy, winning AISA titles in 2002, 2004, 2006 and 2007. Thompson smiled as he recalled the encounter and warned, My grandma, she has a way with words. Johnson calls former Auburn assistant Travis Williams probably the best freaking recruiter Ive ever been around.. The outworkem all came. But when the opportunity opened at Thompson for an athletic administrator and a special education teacher, Hester and Simpson both knew it was the right fit. Mark Freeman attended Bessemer Academy and graduated from the University of Alabama with a Bachelor of Arts Degree. So I just feel like when we let someone score, its bad.. Coming back here and kind of turning this program around was a big thing for me.. Highland Home coach Will Pouncey hasnt seen Harsin visit, but he said Auburns assistants have had consistent contact. You need to go to a private school (to get recruited better). I was like, Why would I go anywhere? The season before he arrived, the Warriors finished with an 0-10 record, missing the playoffs for the eighth consecutive year. One said Harsin's continued absence is "just insane to me." information in hopes our visitors will participate in assisting 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? Search. We now have834teams & 188,070games on AHSFHS.org. Coach: Todd Thompson. In Freemans first two seasons, Thompson finished with a 5-5 record. 5 high school football team via SB Live, was to put its undefeated record on the line against another Birmingham-area program known for. Ty Branyon. Jaiden soared, proving himself in the AAU ranks, as well as with his C.C. Coach Freeman led the Rebels to four State Championships in 2002, 2004, 2006 and 2007. Our offense will be spread, tempo. Weve been talking about that for so long. 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.
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