ALABASTER, Ala. In one sense, this is hardly the kind of town that comes to mind when you think of nationally relevant high school football programs. The list can go on and on because Hoover and Niblett, like their counterparts Freeman and Thompson, take their football seriously. Thatd be like a tear-jerker moment. Thompson High School (Alabaster, AL) Varsity Football - MaxPreps.com Hey, you played so-and-so, tell me about him., "Those are the guys you develop that relationship with, that when the chips are down, you need a little help, need a little bump, theyll help you out., Rigby said newly-hired Troy coach Jon Sumrall has made it his goal to go visit every high school, to walk through the doors of every high school in Alabama. Im trying to set them up for interceptions and PBUs.. 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. He will get an extension to his contract of $13,068.60 as a 12-month employee. 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. 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. He said he had only been given a range in the hiring and interview process. 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. "global": { Position: Football Coaches, San Rafael High School 23/24 Season. }; Thompson High School Head Football Coach Mark Freeman is the face of the Thompson Warriors, the 3-time defending Class 7A State Champions. The more kids that get on campus, you're going to see him put his stamp on the type of kids he wants to recruit.". For us to win a state championship at Central Cabarrus, that would mean everything to me and the guys, Thompson added. Floyd was approved to receive $120,000 per year in annual compensation. Tommy Thompson | MLSsoccer.com In 2011, he became the head football coach at Spanish Fort High School. BIRMINGHAM, Alabama -- Josh Floyd was hired by earlier this month for $121,000 per season. Top Coach | Migrated News 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? Website. Email Brandon Graves. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. Freeman's hiring meant an increase of almost $50,000 per year in what Thompson had . This year, despite losing star quarterback Tyler Johnstonto a knee injury in Week 5, Spanish Fort went 12-2 and reached the Class 6A state semifinals before losing to Saraland. All those clichs about the best player on the team being the hardest worker on the team, yada, yada, yada? In the 2022 class, the state's No. In a way, I was kind of alarmed. Recruiting is the lifeblood of college football. Thompsons James L Simmons Stadium underwent a facelift for the 2014 season with press box improvements and new artificial turf. . After that, everything just clicked. So I just feel like when we let someone score, its bad.. 3) is the one you need to watch! Hes rare. Thompson Warrior: Sloth Nationzz AHSFHS Master Researcher. Even though none of Shades players had an offer from Auburn during the last recruiting cycle, Harsin was trying to make a visit before getting sidetracked. From there, he was recruited to the University of Georgia. The only time Johnson had met Harsin was during a FaceTime with Etheridge, during which the assistant coach briefly put Harsin on the phone. They understand what that does for high school that makes it an exciting day when Coach Harsin or Coach Saban shows up.. Staff - Thompson Warriors (Alabaster, AL) Varsity Football 22-23 (Hurley recently committed to Alabama.). The challenge facing Harsin as he enters his second season at Auburn is making inroads while his program is geographically sandwiched between Nick Sabans established Alabama machine and Kirby Smarts emerging Georgia juggernaut. He needed to hit that growth spurt, and he needed to become familiar with the weight room. 5 high school football team via SB Live, was to put its undefeated record on the line against another Birmingham-area program known for. I grew up right down the road from Alabaster, Freeman said. Words wouldnt be able to explain that moment.. I thought he and coach Pitts would form a really good team and relationship to help us grow Thompson athletics, Hester said. And, yes, I went on to write about him. Defensive lineman Peter Woods and cornerback Tony Mitchell are uncommitted five-star 2023 recruits with offers from the Crimson Tide, among many other high-profile schools. Others said the bare minimum is to have made that a top priority by now. Coach Keith Etheredge has enjoyed watching Harsin develop relationships at the school. 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. 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. How do those salary ranges compare to the rest of Class 7A, Region 3? Visit our website for info. 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. Thats huge. 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. 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. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. Ive lived my life thinking I can (out)work people. But weve got an outstanding individual that loves our kids and loves our parents, loves our school system.. It was after seeing what she knew wasnt his best self on the basketball court, that his grandma wondered about his priorities. I can do this my way and actually go to a good college like Wendell did. I think hed still be sitting there talking if I didnt have to get up and go work my kids out, Higgins said. Part of it, Thompson admits, was residue from the game of college recruiting. Its kind of like a letdown, you know, because everybody has all these big expectations. Everybodys thinking about the recruiting process, Thompson said. Thats what I actually LOVE about this team. Records reflect scores in our database. Alabama has more in its backyard than other traditionally talent-rich SEC states, including Louisiana and Georgia. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Thompson figured his freshman season was a success, but he knew he could be better. Jaiden Thompson (3) shoots the J with a hand in his face. 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. Its a region that includes Hoover, Hewitt-Trussville, Vestavia Hills, Oak Mountain, Gadsden City and Tuscaloosa County. Quite frankly, thats the way the locals like it. Jaiden Thompson averaged nearly 20 points per game thisseason. PORTSMOUTH Aquidneck Island native and Portsmouth resident Keith MacDonald vividly remembers how he got his first football coaching job. There are now five coaches in Class 7A, Region 3 that pay their head football coach a combined salary of more than $100,000 per season. But later, Western Carolina pulled back its offer because of a coaching change. Published 3:43 pm Wednesday, June 9, 2021. Reed made such a positiveimpact that the Auburn alum was promoted this week to director of recruiting relations, adding to Harsin's arsenal. Freeman will be well-compensated for his efforts. 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. 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. Well, its not good for the program at Tuscaloosa County. Thompson Football Staff Players (118) Staff (3) Help the team get started! Alabaster City Schools approved Freeman as the new head football coach at Thompson on Friday. Fegans is among Alabamas latest commitments, going public last month after decommitting from Miami. 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. All rights reserved (About Us). C. JEMAL HORTON COLUMN: Central Cabarrus' Thompson fulfilling his He wants to be recruited at the highest level possible, but he doesnt fret about it, either. 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. 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. THS Athletics. 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. 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. 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. On the other hand, Vigor High School coach John McKenzie thinks Mobile is often overlooked by recruiters. Being able to keep that promise for my grandma? I cant wait to see him play next year. 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. With three five-stars prospects and a four-star, Thompson has put together a defense that is nearly impenetrable. SE Texas honors most accomplished high school FB coach 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. In his third season, the results started to show. Thompson High School in Birmingham is one of the perennial prep football powers in Alabama. In the 2022 class, the state's No. That both teams are so talented and competitive makes Alabama high school football better. The Freeman and Floyd hirings have signaled a new era in Alabama high school football. Hoover also puts out quality Division I players. WVUA 23 is a competitive professional commercial television, Paul Bryant's McKanstry signs with Independence CC football, Gordo High School celebrates 2023 signing class, Former Hillcrest standout Brandon Bishop announces transfer to Liberty, Paul Bryant football introduces new head coach, Tuesday afternoon crash victim identified, Soldier, poet, or king? AUBURN The message was inspirational to the kid and an aphorism for Auburn football coach Bryan Harsin, summing up his underdog recruiting mentality. Thompson took another step forward in 2018, advancing to the Class 7A State Championship Game. I think you get the inspiration, its like an injection of energy. My uncle was a football star here, so carrying on the tradition was pretty dope, Thompson. Alabaster, AL thompsonwarriors.org Joined February 2016. Thompson Tough: Ogden High football coach leading team while battling Job Summary. Ty Hulstine: The road home | Local Sports | joplinglobe.com Big-time high school football in Alabama can be classified as an arms race. To the benefit of high school football in the state, theyve stayed. The coaching part of it? He takes over for Kyle Sprenkle, who resigned in January after seven seasons to help his. 69-year-old suffers stroke in his N.C. home; Realtor showing house leaves him there. Bowie High School Football Search. Thompson's Jake Ganus hired as Moody football coach He began at Thompson in the fall of 2015. That didnt take away that occasional feeling that comes with a lost love, though, or one you feel is slipping away. electronic communication and community service. That was probably where it was a little frustrating for him that he wasnt able to get it there as quickly as he wanted.. If you look at where Jaiden is ranked in his class, in the top 30 or so in North Carolina, normally the top 50 or 60 kids end up with a Division I offer, Baker explained. We have chosen to publish this 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Watch this highlight video of the Thomson (GA) football team in its game Recap: Thomson vs. Westside 2022 on Nov 3, 2022. Wyoming Cowboys 2023 football schedule released. Will Thompson hired as Spring Grove Area High School football coach No JV for you, rookie. How well Harsin capitalizes on it can decide his future with the Tigers. The fact that neither Vestavia Hills coach Buddy Anderson are among the three highest-paid coaches in their own region is surprising. Class 7A is the biggest classification in the AHSAA, which makes Freeman the architect of the biggest turnaround. 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.