The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1190316
50 ■ THE WOLFPACKER "My old high school coach's daughter is an assistant principal at an elementary school," Thompson said. "I was over visiting him, and she said I should talk to one of the special education classes and meet the kids. "I fell in love with the class and started volunteering." Based on that positive experience, Thompson, a business admin- istration graduate at NC State, obtained his certification and took a job teaching special education at Walkertown High. Then another opportunity came his way — the high school was looking for a head boys' basketball coach. "I had the itch to get on my own," Thompson said. "They offered the job, and I wanted to see what I could do." Thompson became the head coach at Walkertown High and con- tinues to teach special education at the school. What makes him unique is that he can work with a future NBA player and then seamlessly transition to helping a special education student complete a task. "I think it was all part of God's plan," Thompson said. "Through teaching, I learned how to be a better communicator and gained a little more understanding of the players. "I think I was really demanding before I got into the classroom. The teaching aspect helped me." He has watched his good friend Gatlin become an assistant coach at High Point University. Thompson enjoys his current situation but knows the future can be unpredictable. "I just take it one day at a time," he said. "After playing in Europe and traveling all those years, I wanted to stay close to home and be there for my sons and my wife. "Now that they are in college or graduating from college, if an opportunity came about, I'd really have to pray about it and think about it." Playing for Valvano and Robinson, plus Rick Adelman of the Trail Blazers, and then gaining a thorough understanding of Eu- ropean basketball gives Thompson numerous viewpoints on what works on and off the court. "I have a lot of knowledge and a lot to share about the game of basketball," Thompson said. "Sometimes at a smaller high school, you don't get 6-9, 6-10 guys to share it all with. "A great coach understands his players and is able to adapt his style of play to the talent level he has." Thompson enjoys watching NC State play and is optimistic about what head coach Kevin Keatts can accomplish in the near future. "They are amazing coaches and they'll turn the program around," Thompson said of the current staff. "I know they've landed some top recruits, and I'm excited with where the program is headed. "We haven't always been able to put it together in the past, but I feel pretty confident with this group of coaches that things are starting to turn a little bit in our favor." ■ Thompson (far right), with wife Tommie, son Kevin Jr. (second from the right) and son Khyre (far left), started volunteering for a special education class, fell in love with it and went on to obtain his certification, and currently serves as a teacher in that area along with coaching the boys' bas- ketball team at Walkertown (N.C.) High. PHOTO COURTESY KEVIN THOMPSON