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Thompson eager to build on 'great
tradition'
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John Thompson (AP File Photo) |
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By Denny O'Brien
©2002 Bonesville.net
GREENVILLE — Even a
steady rain outside the Murphy Center couldn't put a damper on John Thompson's
parade Friday.
After 21 years as an
assistant, the Florida Gators defensive coordinator fulfilled his lifelong dream
of becoming a head coach. Following East Carolina's two-week search for a
replacement for Steve Logan, Chancellor William Muse introduced Thompson as the
Pirates 18th head football coach to a gathering of about 250, which included
members of the media, players, school officials, and fans.
For Thompson, 47, the
climb up the coaching ladder to a Division I-A head job has been a protracted
one, but well worth the wait.
"It's been a long journey
to get here," Thompson said. "This is the kind of place that my family and I
were looking for, where we could go and have an impact and where a community
could have an impact on us.
"The Lord answered our
prayers and that's where we are. We're so thrilled to be here."
Thompson has spent 19 of
his 21 seasons as a defensive coordinator and is very familiar with the Pirates
program. From 1992-98, he oversaw defenses at arch rival Southern Miss and said
he often thought East Carolina would be a good fit for him and his family.
The new Pirates coach says
he is also well-aware of the strong fabric that has been woven at ECU and is
upbeat about strengthening that cloth into the future.
"This football program has
been built on solid ground," Thompson said. "It is a tremendous program with
great tradition, great expectations.
"To come to a place and be
able to build upon that is truly an honor. There is so much tradition in this
place."
Thompson beat out a number
of candidates for the vacant position, including LSU assistant head coach Kirk
Doll and N.C. State assistant head coach Doc Holliday.
Energetic and
enthusiastic, Thompson is said to have sold himself well during the interview
process with his strong vision for the future.
According to Muse, the
fact that Thompson was a coordinator also factored heavily into the decision.
"We wanted someone who was
a coordinator," Muse said. "A coordinator is a coach of coaches. They have to
develop the game plan, they have to relate to the players and relate to the
coaches. Most people who move up to the head coach position are coordinators.
"We didn't really focus on
defensive coordinators per se. Certainly our defense needs to be improved, but
the head coach has to be concerned with both sides of the ball."
One of the first items on
Thompson's agenda will be to compile a staff. He says he hopes to have that task
completed by early January so the group can hit the recruiting trail once the
dead period ends.
Thompson has already
received a number of inquiries from coaches across the nation and says he will
also consider retaining members of Logan's staff.
"I'm excited about
building a staff," Thompson said. "It is unbelievable the amount of phone calls
and the amount of interest that this program brings.
"In the football world,
this place has tremendous respect. There are some big-time coaches at some
big-time places that want to come and join our family.
"We will build a
tremendous staff of guys with integrity, guys that will get out in the
community, guys that will get out and build relationships with high schools and
high school coaches throughout North Carolina, the Tidewater area, Georgia,
Florida, across the country."
The coach's aggressive
recruiting approach, which seems to have no geographical boundaries, parallels
his bold goals for the program as a whole.
"There are three things
primarily that we want to accomplish," Thompson said. "We want to win
championships. We want to win a lot of championships.
"We want to graduate
players and send them out as productive citizens. And we want to make a
difference in young people's lives in this community and within the Pirate
family."
Thompson has already begun
to reach out to his team. The new coach held an introductory meeting with
Pirates players prior to the 11 AM press conference.
The overwhelming response
from the players was positive, noting that Thompson came across as energetic and
intense.
"I was really excited to
get to meet him," Pirates quarterback Paul Troth said. "He got us excited about
staying here and being Pirates and winning football games.
"I appreciate everything
that he told us and the enthusiasm that he brings. Winning championships is on
my mind and the rest of these guys on this team."
For Thompson, the first
step towards winning a Conference USA championship may have begun following the
press conference when he began contacting potential recruits by phone from his
office.
— 30 —
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02/23/2007 01:45 AM
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