Several high school coachessaid college coaches often don't do a sufficient job preparing players for the grind during recruitment, which leads to athletes being blindsided and more likely to leave. It would turn out to be the most heavily-attended board meeting for a school system that's still just in its toddler years. But he acknowledges that the dynamics have changed since he was leading the Indians courting prospects. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. If were being honest, its going to be hard to get multiple kids against Georgia or Alabama, Johnson said. Freeman resigned from his position after four very successful years at Spanish Fort and the Alabaster board quickly moved to approve that personnel action with no discussion. 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. Big-time high school football in Alabama can be classified as an arms race. 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. Weve got some guys here that have got to get on board. This fall, the Warriors completed a 9-1 regular season and are slated to start the state playoffs Friday against Florence. 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. And the results speak for itself: over the past five seasons, the Warriors are 62-6. Published 3:43 pm Wednesday, June 9, 2021. But by last fall, basketball was anything but that for Thompson. After National Signing Day, Harsin hadnot visited Montgomery Catholic, which is 50 minutes from Auburn. Carver High School in Montgomery. I think he wanted to have what he had at Boise, at Auburn, Higgins said. Griffin Middle School squad. In a way, I was kind of alarmed. At Eufaula, Rigby says Alabama assistant Charles Kelly is good at staying in touch. 7 recruits played at Thompson. But in middle school is also when Thompsons love for the game took its first arrow. And, yes, I went on to write about him. Watch this highlight video of the Thompson (Alabaster, AL) football team in its game Lipscomb Academy on Aug 27, 2022 All Contest Videos Box Score Jan 31, 2023 @ 5:51pm 5-star DB Anquon Fegans | 2022 Highlights Sophomore season highlights of Thompson's (Alabaster, AL) 5-star safety Anquon Fegans. The average coach in the region now makes $98,911 per year and the coaches now make a combined $791,288 in annual salary. Working with him before, it was a fortunate opportunity for us to have this chance to bring him on board.. I can do this my way and actually go to a good college like Wendell did. There arent many words for that, Thompson says. "I grew up right down the road from Alabaster," Freeman said. 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. Thompson had a solid freshman season, putting up 6.7 points, 2.9 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game. Being able to keep that promise for my grandma? Its miracle win to bring another state. 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. He knew then-Central upperclassmen Christian Cornish and Dajon Johnson well. I played a lot, but there were politics and a lot of cliques going around the program, so it kind of broke my spirit a little bit. Here's an updated ranking of how Class 7A, Region 3's salary structure adds up: The salary data isn't everything. What happened to your work ethic? Thompson recalled her asking. That winter also is when I personally started to make my first close observations of Thompsons abilities. The coaching part of it? He said he had only been given a range in the hiring and interview process. In 2023, the state has 11 of the top 100. Ill have to get some guys out there, Ganus said. One region athletic director told AL.com earlier this year that he feared an "arms race" might be upon us. I've got utmost confidence in everybody here and the people that we are going to have here. "Most of the kids growing up here, most of them aspire to play for Auburn; it's their hometown,"Etheredge said. DS David Simone Team 8-3 - Language Arts. Visit our website for info. Tommy Thompson has not been elected into the Hall of Fame. As for his immediate plans at Moody, Ganus said that he was looking to build on the recent success the team has found. 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. A lot of people thought Oh you just got a great coach. And she could see right through him. The Bessemer Academy and Alabama graduate has coached 16 seasons of high school football in Alabama and his teams have played for the state championship in eight of those. Copyright 2002-2023 Blackboard, Inc. All rights reserved. He wants to be recruited at the highest level possible, but he doesnt fret about it, either. I believe all the state schools beside (Alabama) and Tuskegee University can do a better job with in-state recruiting. 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). I grew up playing a lot of sports. Fegans laughs with a nod at that description. You dont work out anymore.. "I've been around a lot of coaches, and he may be one of the most competitive guys I've talked to as far aswhat he expects," Keith Etheredge said. Experience: 16 years Education: Texas A&M Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. In the last 20 years, Alabama averaged 4.05 top-100 recruits, 7.05 top-200 and 10.3 top-300. Freeman's decision . Now, hell join ACS and Thompson High School in an athletic administrative role alongside athletic director Vincent Pitts and others in the department, while also continuing his role as a special education teacher. Over the next ten seasons his teams went 101-21 and won four AISA State Championships. What I like to see is somebody who keeps coming by: Coach, I know you ain't got nothing for me this year, but tell me about who does have somebody for me. 2 in Alabama) and defensive lineman Peter Woods (No. 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. Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. 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. No JV for you, rookie. Website. Alabaster, AL thompsonwarriors.org Joined February 2016. How do those salary ranges compare to the rest of Class 7A, Region 3? He's also not letting ALS take away his ability to coach, even if he's had to rely on . 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. Being able to keep that promise for my grandma would probably be the biggest thing ever.. Ben Thompson, an assistant on Sam London's staff the last two seasons, will be the Red Tornado's . 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. Katy ISD. San Rafael football is in search of a Junior Varsity Head Coach, Junior Varsity Offensive Coordinator, Junior Varsity Defensive Coordinator, and Varsity Linebackers coach. Jaiden soared, proving himself in the AAU ranks, as well as with his C.C. Alabaster City Schools approved Freeman as the new head football coach at Thompson on Friday. "I know I am saying blessed a lot, but what a day. Eads appreciated Harsin asking for ideas and advice about organizing a coaching clinic. What more were we going to do at Spanish Fort? Knowledge of sport. 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. His seven year record in baseball was 116-70, with two Final 4 appearances. . The quintet started for the C.C. Copyright All rights reserved. Truth be told, Freeman and Hoover coach Josh Niblett could be on college coaching staffs if they chose to be. Moore heard those private-school whispers, too. Once that first game came and everything was so quick and easy, I was just (snaps fingers), Yeah, I can do this.. Position: Coach - JV Football - Davis Senior High School, July-November 2023, $3,366.00/season. I wrestled, I played baseball. He has built a powerhouse at Thompson winning four state championships in a row. He was named the leagues best player for the second year in a row. How do you go from that 6-4 year and what ways can I get our kids over that hump. Records reflect scores in our database. We weren't able to find anything that matched your search criteria. Coming back here and kind of turning this program around was a big thing for me.. 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. Weve been talking about that for so long. Alabaster City Schools is planning a new high school that should be open in less than three years. He has a lot of rich athletic administration experience, Thompson Principal Dr. Wesley Hester said. That's very likely to change, but that's where things stand today. I thought he and coach Pitts would form a really good team and relationship to help us grow Thompson athletics, Hester said. There are now five. (Jeff Sentell/jsentell@al.com). Burnet Jerod Rye stepped down after two seasons and a 10-11 record at the District. And when you put together a 60-1 record over the course of two years, it takes something special, something stronger than Xs and Os and talent. In his third season, the results started to show. He helped the Vikings win 30 games for the second year in a row. Wallace is expected to transfer. These days, Thompsons love for the game cant be questioned. How can we make Moody more successful. In another, it makes perfect sense. 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. He wants to keep the promise he made to his grandma before the season: no distractions, nothing but his best as he strives for his best. We try to ignore that, but at the same time, it kind of motivates us. 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. Taylor High School. 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. Its home for me. His uncle and role model, former Central Cabarrus football standout Michael Ricks, had a lot to do with that, coaching Thompson on his Concord Comets team and putting him through drills like dribbling with a tennis ball to improve his ball-handling. Youre playing Central and Opelika: Tell me what theyve got. And the whole country has been here, pretty much., Gardner, whos entering his second year at Carver, said he and Harsin talked about their common experiences in new jobs. Freeman resigned from Spanish Fort to accept the head coaching job at Thompson high school near Birmingham. I said, Im going to go get it. But that foundation is there. Freeman will be well-compensated for his efforts. Located about 20 miles south of Birmingham, Alabaster is known for its industry and the minerals it mines. His overall record in 16 years of coaching is 164-37, including a 30-8 playoff mark. Jaiden Thompson takes flight last week against Shelby Crest. Coach: Todd Thompson. 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.. I look forward to things to come. Search. Hey, it comes with the gig. Those who have met Harsin and spent time with him were left with a positive impression of an honest, down-to-business recruiter. Fegans is among Alabamas latest commitments, going public last month after decommitting from Miami. 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 matter how bad the Vikings had been before his arrival. Please try a new search. After that, everything just clicked. Auburns staffparticularly Etheridge and director of high school relations Brendt Bedsole, a former high school coachhas impressed high school coaches. TRANSFER TRACKER STATUS: Re-signed The San Jose Earthquakes have re-signed homegrown defender Tommy Thompson through the 2023 MLS season with an option for 2024, the club announced Tuesday. Ive just been working like crazy since then. Shade, a former Alabama player, enjoyed his conversations with Harsin and thought Harsin was a good Auburn ambassador. It kind of started in seventh grade, Thompson said. You have to build on the foundation that was set, he said. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. While at Bessemer Academy, Coach Freeman also served as the head baseball coach. WEBB CITY, Mo. Hewitt-Trussville had set the bar high with its hiring of Josh Floyd earlier this summer. Jaiden Thompson (3) leaving it all on the court. Suddenly, the window rolled down and a man called out, Horton! 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. Thompsons mom had put a ball in his hands when he was about 4 years old, and he hadnt let it go since. He knows theyll be there after that, too, no matter where he is in life. 1 and No. The two lowest-paid coaches on this salary scale both led their teams to the playoffs in 2014. Simpson spent the previous two years coaching the Eagles after taking over for Andrew Zow ahead of the 2019 season. He takes over for Kyle Sprenkle, who resigned in January after seven seasons to help his. Ty Branyon. 258 Following. It also means neither of those quality coaches have yet to win a playoff game in the state's largest classification yet. It's a recurring theme: Seven of the 14 coaches who spoke with the Advertiser hadnot met Harsin. That potential was something he took with him to Calera as a baseball coach, athletic director and football coach. He had a two-year stint at Gulf Shores before Spanish Fort lured him away. He was later released and eventually joined the Thompson coaching staff, coaching linebackers. His record at Thompson in nine seasons is 83-18 and 21-2 in the playoffs. Mark Freeman attended Bessemer Academy and graduated from the University of Alabama with a Bachelor of Arts Degree. Please subscribe to keep reading. Alabama High School Football History Thompson Coaches Thompson Warriors The AHSFHS.org Fan Shop Some records may be incomplete. The Toros defeated McAdory to claim their second state championship in three years with a 14-1 record. Thompson played one year of college soccer at Indiana University where he scored five goals and one assist in 12 matches and was named Big Ten Freshman of the Year in 2013, before signing a Homegrown Player contract with San Jose Earthquakes on March 14, 2014.. Thompson made his professional debut on June 7, 2014 as an 89th-minute substitute in a 0-1 loss to Toronto FC. Friday afternoon drive time on I-65 was the cause for that. Last years team started 3-2 and finished 3-7, but lost four games by eight points or less to talented playoff teams. 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). But to be honest, there was a stretch when Thompsons light on the court had dimmed. He even led the team with 2.7 steals for a squad that went from six wins the year before to 17. 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. He went 13-9 during two seasons at Gulf Shores and led the Dolphins to the second round of the playoffs in 2009. Thatd be like a tear-jerker moment. Freeman also served one year as an assistant at Minor for the 2008 season. Some believe its unreasonable to expect Harsin to contact every in-state school so quickly. Wyoming head coach Craig Bohl leads the Cowboys onto the field before their game against Utah .
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