Coach Kenneth Thompson had never played soccer when Newton County High School Principal Rodney Tadlock gave him the news in 1996 that he was to be the coach of the new soccer program at NCHS, but he and the team learned together and soon began winning games. He told me, “I put more effort into learning soccer than possibly my master’s degree. I thought, if we’re gonna do it, we’re gonna do it right.” He definitely learned to do it right!
He had already coached football, track, and basketball at the Decatur schools for twelve years, having moved to NCHS after the consolidation. Dr. Eddie Smith, President of East Central Community College, asked him three times to begin a soccer program there before he agreed, and he went on to serve as ECCC head soccer coach for twenty-two years. After thirty-four years of a stellar career in education, Coach Thompson retired this spring.
The retirement announcement printout, which listed his many accolades of achievement, revealed his having excelled in coaching winning soccer teams who not only exhibited good sportsmanship but also high academic levels. Of the honors he has earned in his career, one of the best was praise from Director of Athletics Paul Nixon, who said, “In terms of being a great role model for young men, they don’t come any better than Coach Thompson…” ECCC President Dr. Brent Gregory called him “the father of soccer at East Central Community College,” adding, “He has built a solid foundation of success on and off the field and for that we will be forever grateful…”
Born September 2, 1965, Kenneth Claude Thompson was reared on a farm in the Morton area by his parents James Claude and Jimmie Ruth Mooney Thompson, of Carthage, with two older sisters, Mrs. Natalie (Jeff) Gibbs, Mrs. Melissa (John) Dickson, and younger brother Jamie (Julie) Thompson. All the children played musical instruments. He and his sisters were avid readers, though he listens to audio books while traveling now. His father raised cattle and had a “laying-hen farm for hatching eggs.” His mom was a seamstress all his life and still sews some for the public.
Young Kenneth graduated with honors from Morton High School in 1983. He ran track, played trumpet in the band, and served as Student Body President. The summer before he was a senior, he was picked to attend the three-week “Governor’s School,” where he took a course in creative writing, among other things. He played trumpet in all the bands at ECCC, and was heavily involved in intra-murals, which he still promotes. After graduation, he went on to attend Mississippi College, his parents’ choice, one semester, before moving to graduate from Mississippi State University in 1987 with a B.S. in Elementary Education. In 2001, with a 4.0, he earned his Master’s degree in Education.
His first year at EC, a beautiful redhead, Miss Cindy Carol Russell of Decatur, caught his eye. They began dating February 1984 and were married June 4, 1988. Cindy, the baby of five children, was born May 30, 1965, to Rusty and Imogene Rigdon Russell. Her siblings are Carlene Cleveland, Jerry Russell, Scotty Russell, and Terri Russell. She graduated from Decatur High School in 1983, went on to graduate from East Central, then from MSU in 1987 with a B.S. in Elementary Education.
Both Kenneth and Cindy were raised in Christian homes, with Kenneth remembering that they absolutely never missed church, and every evening at a certain time, the television went off and the family gathered for a family devotion. His family attended Two-Mile Baptist Church then later Leesburg Baptist, while Cindy’s family attended Clarke-Venable Baptist Church, which the Thompsons have attended since their marriage. Their salvation experiences were very similar, in that he told me that neither had ever formally joined the church or been baptized. After they were married, realizing they were both believers in Christ and, as he said, “should have done this when we were kids,” they went down, joined the church, and were baptized.
Through the years, Cindy has always taught in VBS, while he has helped with outside activities, such as “Serious Soccer,” which Cindy named, saying “Soccer’s a game. Life is serious.” One year he joined the church mission trip to Montana. They have helped with the nursery and children’s church, though they have had to back off a bit since her mother has been sick.
Their twins William Claude Thompson and Russell Carl Thompson were born in 1994, with Samuel James Thompson following in 1997. When the boys were six and three years old, in July 2000, Cindy was diagnosed with breast cancer. Kenneth shared memories of that time, one being that the chemo was worse than the surgeries she endured. Cindy continued to work through the whole time, only taking off when she just could not go. He told her she was “too dedicated,” but he added, “She has always been dedicated to her children.” They were so appreciative of the tremendous support they received from their families, church, school, and community.
Cindy taught kindergarten fourteen years before teaching second grade for twenty years, the last four years including third grade looping. She was awarded the Golden Apple for the month of February for her excellence in teaching. Kenneth declared, “She is one of the most creative teachers I’ve ever seen.” After thirty-four years, Cindy is also retiring from her career in education.
The three Thompson boys played soccer, excelled academically, and all graduated from NCHS, ECCC, and the University of Southern Mississippi, having all been inducted into Phi Theta Kappa. Russ is an accountant in Ridgeland. He is also a Mississippi Rush Soccer Club coach, coaching younger boys’ teams. Samm is a nurse and works at the University Medical Center in the Medical ICU, with his ultimate goal to become a nurse anesthetist.
Married to Sara Coleman of Laurel in 2018, Will and Sara are the parents of two daughters, Parker French, seven years old, and Coleman Elizabeth, six months. Both at NCHS, Will teaches and coaches soccer, while Sara will be the head volleyball coach and assistant boys’ soccer coach this year.
Coach Thompson told me, “For thirty-four years we have always had to schedule around school and everything. Next month we’re going to go to Florida, the whole family. I want to have a little bit of down time, then I’ll be ready to go again.” He thinks it will really bother Cindy when school starts back. But she has plans.
Cindy’s mother always took care of the children while she taught school, especially when Cindy was sick. Now she says she wants to keep her own grandkids, maybe even other teachers’ children, possibly starting a daycare. If she does, Kenneth says, “The grandkids will always be well taught, even after school.”
Kenneth has thought about writing a novel, but he definitely wants to work on and expand his small farm of chickens, rabbits, cats, dogs, and cows, which Parker just loves. With family activities, and especially grandchildren, he will be kept busy. And I am sure he will stay involved with all things soccer!
Live for Jesus! He’s coming soon! You may contact me at lagnesrussell@gmail.com or 601-635-3282.
