Theyve probably done the best job as far as being seen; Hes been here multiple times, coach Marcus Gardner said. Freeman, 55, told AL.com at the meeting that he hadn't even seen his contract or knew his final salary number. Carver High School in Montgomery. He was good. You have permission to edit this article. And Woods is a five-star 2023 defensive lineman who has programs all over the country begging for his services, too. . Now, theyre recruiting the freakish athlete. Coaches liked that Harsin didn't hold back in that regard. When Harsin visited Mars Hill, he was targeting three-star offensive lineman Koby Keenum, who playsa position of priority for Auburns 2023 class. "I grew up right down the road from Alabaster," Freeman said. Wyoming Cowboys 2023 football schedule released. That means his teams have played for a title in eight of the 16 seasons he's been a head coach. Jeff Sentell covers prep sports for AL.com and the Birmingham News. 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. His record at Thompson in nine seasons is 83-18 and 21-2 in the playoffs. And you sort of follow it, the top 70, 80, 90 kids end up going D-II and whatnot. Football Coaches. And Faulkner, direct as they come, wanted answers. I can catch the ball, and if I catch it, Ill probably score. Ive just been working like crazy since then. Our offense will be spread, tempo. Brown, Newsome announces retirement as coach, C. 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Experience: 38 years Education: University of Texas Assignment: Athletic Director/Head Football Coach Wife: Teresa Children: Abby, Kate Phone: 512-414-0528 Email: jeff.ables@austinisd.org. Hey, what are your thoughts on this player? Thompson has won back-to-back state championships in the states highest classification and is a prime contender for another this season. In Freemans first two seasons, Thompson finished with a 5-5 record. Thats really what made me as a football player, and getting back to my roots like that was really enticing to me facilities are great, but I think people make the place, and I think the people here make this a special place.. I can work as good as anybody, Freeman said. records may be incomplete. Whatever that it is and wherever it takes him. Hes ranked No. var field59 = field59 || {}; 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. Well, thats going to be some moment. The biggest thing was: Was my wife going to move? Fegans laughs with a nod at that description. He needed to hit that growth spurt, and he needed to become familiar with the weight room. New Orleans (La.) The years you dont have players, they dont know your name.. . 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. I grew up playing a lot of sports. } } Follow him on Twitter for the latest high school cool across Alabama. The viral TikTok quiz, explained, Tuscaloosa McFarland Chick-fil-A is moving. 1 recruit in the nation, according to the 247Sports Composite rankings. When I heard that, I said, Yeah, Ive got to do something about this, he said. With three five-stars prospects and a four-star, Thompson has put together a defense that is nearly impenetrable. Blackboard Web Community Manager Privacy Policy (Updated). Hoover once had an infamous television show, Two-A-Days, document its football program and has won 13 state championships. 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. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Brandon Graves Elementary Teacher / Head Baseball & Asst Football Coach. Thompson was approved as Spring Grove's new coach Monday night. Please try a new search. At Eufaula, Rigby says Alabama assistant Charles Kelly is good at staying in touch. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. But during his time at Calera, Simpson was also the teams baseball coach during the 2017 and 2018 seasons and eventually became the schools athletic director. He moved on to Gulf Shores in 2009. There are now five. It pisses us off, Alexander said. Thompson Football Staff Players (118) Staff (3) Help the team get started! His Rebels were also runner-up in 2001 and 2005. He and AU defensive backs coach Zac Etheridge are close friends. While Ganus went undrafted in 2016, he signed a free agent deal with the NFLs Minnesota Vikings in 2016. . His grandma, of course, will be with his grandpa, his mother and his uncle cheering Thompson on, hopefully for the next two weekends. They do so with a collection of talent on defense that stirs the imagination. What I like to see is you actually show up, Rigby said. News Sports Hookem.com Austin360 Opinion USA TODAY Obituaries . In the 2022 class, the state's No. After graduation, he coached at various high schools. Johnson calls former Auburn assistant Travis Williams probably the best freaking recruiter Ive ever been around.. Assistant Football Coach at Thompson Valley High School Loveland, Colorado, United States. Thomson's stats have been entered for the 20-14 win @ Appling County on 12/2/2022 7:30 PM. His 2013 team finished 15-0 and won another Class 5A state championship with a win over Muscle Shoals in the title game. Its a sort of throwback team, considering how offense is so valued in the game of football today. We weren't able to find anything that matched your search criteria. Wyoming head coach Craig Bohl leads the Cowboys onto the field before their game against Utah . University of Northern Colorado . Being able to keep that promise for my grandma? It gives a kid a lot of fire.. Website. Shelby County Schools is currently looking to fill the head coaching position at Calera High School. His four teams at Spanish Fort finished a combined 50-7. AL.com requested salaries from all coaches in the Metro Birmingham area this past spring. Alabaster (Ala.) Thompson, ranked as the nation's No. We have chosen to publish this information in hopes our visitors will participate in assisting us to complete every school. 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. They understand what that does for high school that makes it an exciting day when Coach Harsin or Coach Saban shows up.. Another thing that needs context is how hyper competitive Class 7A, Region 3 football is within the state. He coached for almost 40 years in the high school and collegiate ranks. One of Harsin's strategies in that regard has been emphasis onlocal recruiting. 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. She had never seen the room that full and the specially-called board meeting was still about 15 minutes away. Between 2001 and 2007 his teams went 40-1 in region play and 17-3 in the playoffs. What would make you consider a digital subscription to Shelby County Reporter? We also add a fantastic teacher to our school building. I grew up right down the road from Alabaster, Freeman said. The Advertiser spoke to 14 Alabama high school coaches about how Auburn has recruited their programs. In 2023, the state has 11 of the top 100. How tall was Tommy Thompson? His four teams at Spanish Fort finished a combined 50-7. It's a recurring theme: Seven of the 14 coaches who spoke with the Advertiser hadnot met Harsin. She said, What are you going to do about it?. Try a week on us. 2 in Alabama) and defensive lineman Peter Woods (No. Posted - 02/28/2023 : 12:35:46 . The 27 . But after realizing that I wanted it for myself, then things just started to pick up.. Watch this highlight video of the Thomson (GA) football team in its game Recap: Thomson vs. Westside 2022 on Nov 3, 2022. He was named the leagues best player for the second year in a row. 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. Fegans is among Alabamas latest commitments, going public last month after decommitting from Miami. Records reflect scores in our database. To me it made a lot of sense. That would probably be one of my biggest accomplishments no matter if its winning a state championship or scoring 1,000 points. Theyve already landed two blue-chip recruits from Thompson in the 2022 class, and they have eyes on two more in 2023. That both teams are so talented and competitive makes Alabama high school football better. Those who have met Harsin and spent time with him were left with a positive impression of an honest, down-to-business recruiter. Id say Im athletic, Alexander said. The additions come as KFC recently removed some menu items, including wings, popcorn chicken and cookies, to make room for new additions. Theyve got a great group of young players coming back.. How do those salary ranges compare to the rest of Class 7A, Region 3? Thompson, 52, was in his fourth season as head coach at Mira Mesa High, his alma mater. In a way, I was kind of alarmed. The outworkem all came. And the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are among those who have taken notice. ", Before Wade Waldrop became Hoovers coach recently, he coached five-star cornerback Jahlil Hurley at Florence. 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. Cornel Thompson, who led West Orange-Stark to four state championship games and won two of them, told . Contact Us. station in the nations top 40 market where students and I thought he and coach Pitts would form a really good team and relationship to help us grow Thompson athletics, Hester said. Youll find exponentially more 4X4 pickup trucks than Mercedes-Benz. "It's not a hard place to recruit to. Freeman landed his first head football coaching job at Bessemer Academy in 1998. Hes got what the kids call bounce.. I mean, if you come and play hard, its hard to get on a kid. 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. Central has played for the 7A championship in three of the last four seasons, beating Thompson 52-7 in 2018 . Hoover also puts out quality Division I players. Make them your biggest fans.. When I was principal at Montevallo, I appointed him as athletic director there because of his potential.. 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. Thats what I actually LOVE about this team. Faulkners first grandbaby, Thompson was, in many ways, HER heartbeat. 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. Tell us who the coach is Ways you can help Make an impact on this team, and help keep MaxPreps up-to-date. I kind of fell out of love with the game, Thompson admits as he sits in Central Cabarrus empty auxiliary gym earlier this year. The Toros defeated McAdory to claim their second state championship in three years with a 14-1 record. Former star Marlon Humphrey was an All-American at Alabama and is one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL. To the benefit of high school football in the state, theyve stayed. "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. If were being honest, its going to be hard to get multiple kids against Georgia or Alabama, Johnson said. Coming back here and kind of turning this program around was a big thing for me.. Thompson . This fall, the Warriors completed a 9-1 regular season and are slated to start the state playoffs Friday against Florence. 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. They have reached the Class 7A State Championship Game each of the past four years and have captured three consecutive years. Later, the same call was made on Bullock. 197 Posts. From there, he was recruited to the University of Georgia. I think Auburn's going to be OK," Pouncey said. Harsins future was under the microscope in February during an internal investigationinvolving his treatment of players and staff. "He asked me if I wanted to get . Not yet 6 feet, Thompson proved he belonged with the big boys, the varsity. 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. Thompson and Bullock were among a group that participated in a workout with the team. Auburn president Jay Gogue announced Feb. 11 that Harsin will remain the coach in 2022. Higgins was impressed. Words wouldnt be able to explain that moment.. Simpson will be heavily involved in helping with operations and administration of several different sports, which Hester said will be a huge help. During the 90-minute office conversation with Higgins, Harsin discussed how hes trying to learn more about Southern culture and the kids here. Also, for the past three seasons, Thompson has been the Vikings leading scorer, with each campaign ending with the SPC titles. I wrestled, I played baseball. No, we got a great person, Vickers said. Playing ball was what hed done for so long, he almost was on auto-pilot out there. But he acknowledges that the dynamics have changed since he was leading the Indians courting prospects. Hes rare. 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. Freeman resigned from Spanish Fort to accept the head coaching job at Thompson high school near Birmingham. He had a two-year stint at Gulf Shores before Spanish Fort lured him away. He had been battling bone cancer, but is believed to have succumbed to complications from COVID-19. That discrepancy was at the center of Auburn's recent turmoil. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. 69-year-old suffers stroke in his N.C. home; Realtor showing house leaves him there. DS David Simone Team 8-3 - Language Arts. Job Summary. I always said why is Thompson never getting over the hill?. But that foundation is there. Follow him on Twitter for the latest high school cool across Alabama. His record at Thompson in nine seasons is 83-18 and 21-2 in the playoffs. BIRMINGHAM, Alabama -- Josh Floyd was hired by earlier this month for $121,000 per season. Over the next ten seasons his teams went 101-21 and won four AISA State Championships. He spent a lot of time here talking, and he didn't have to do that. He will also serve a dual role as the system athletic director for Alabaster City Schools. Here's an updated ranking of how Class 7A, Region 3's salary structure adds up: The salary data isn't everything. Big-time high school football in Alabama can be classified as an arms race. As of Wednesday, the plan is to play. I got outta there as fast as my Nissan with the lawn mower engine could go. That was his happy place, his own piece of utopia. #alpreps https://t.co/F9GZmsQwGo, "Every team when that game kicks off they want to win," Freeman said. In the four years before Thompson and Bullock got to campus, the Vikings won a total of 33 games. He will get an extension to his contract of $13,068.60 as a 12-month employee. The TV & Film Academy is also the home of THS TV, Thompson High School's student-run newscast. (renews at {{format_dollars}}{{start_price}}{{format_cents}}/month + tax). This family, after all, has a close bond. Its going to be scary.. I knew he had a plane to get to, and I kept trying to hurry him out, Eads said. Some He wants to be recruited at the highest level possible, but he doesnt fret about it, either. When we are able to win and we want to win, then we are going to win.". Wendell stayed at public school, he stayed grounded, he stayed with Cox Mill for four years. But weve got an outstanding individual that loves our kids and loves our parents, loves our school system.. 258 Following. He began at Thompson in the fall of 2015. 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. But Johnson was confused that we just signed three defensive players to major universities, and only one of them had an Auburn offer. (Two went to Clemson; the other to Tennessee.) We have chosen to publish this Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. 5 high school football team via SB Live, was to put its undefeated record on the line against another Birmingham-area program known for. Others said the bare minimum is to have made that a top priority by now. The Tigers' first 2023 commit is also from Auburn High: four-star offensive lineman Bradyn Joiner. Ive lived my life thinking I can (out)work people.