Thompson steps down, Bird is new Ganado AD

by Millie Diaz
Sports Writer
    Much-loved Ganado coach Jimmy Thompson made a decision over the Christmas break to resign from his post as Male Athletic Director and Head Football Coach at the end of the current school year. He will be replaced by Defensive Coordinator Jim Bird.
    “Coach Thompson is going to be missed, he’s been really great for the kids and he’s going to be hard to replace,” said Principal Andy Bridges. “He has really excellent experience.”
    2013-14 made Thompson’s fourth year at Ganado High School, and he took the football team to the playoffs every year, with a record of 39-9.
    “I haven’t really thought about proud moments,” Thompson said. “It’s the day-to-day dealings with the kids that make me proud. I’ve had four or five of my players play college football one year, and had five or six academic all-state players another year, but it’s just being around the kids that makes me proud, it makes you feel good about yourself knowing you’re around good kids.”
    “And it’s not just the kids he’s inspired, it’s the coaches as well,” Bridges said. “Thompson is the type of coach that’s very good to learn under, whether it’s a student or a coach.”
    Thompson said he’ll look for a job near where his mother lives, because her health is what pulled him away from his current post. “I don’t have a definite set of plans, but I don’t have to coach. I’m not quite sure what I’ll do next,” he said.
    His goals for the rest of the term are to finish the school year and do whatever needs to be done to help the kids get ready for next year, and Thompson wants all the students to know even though he won’t be around, he’ll always be available to talk to them in the future if they need it.
    As for Coach Bird taking his place, Thompson’s hopes are that he will be able to maintain the coaches as good as they have already maintained themselves.
    Bird has been coaching for ten years, and has played football at the college level. He’s been with Ganado High School since last year, and was able to work throughout the summer with them. Superintendent Jeff Black said Bird was an Offensive Coordinator Coach at a previous school, so he’s had a lot of experience.
    “He knows our kids and what positions to put them in,” Black said of Bird. “He going to do really well here as the new AD and Head Coach.”