Central football coach adding baseball to coaching duties

In a bit of a whirlwind situation, Central High School was in need of filling its baseball coaching job after CHS fast-pitch softball and baseball coach Wes Green was hired as the new Sallisaw Lady Diamonds softball coach, so in last Wednesday night’s Central Public Schools Board of Education meeting, it decided to let the current staff fill the void.

Central football coach/athletic director Jeremy Thompson is returning to the diamond to be the Tigers baseball coach, a job he had previously. “I have been the head baseball coach here before,” Thompson said. “I was an assistant (baseball) coach for my first six years, and I’ve coached baseball here for several years. For me to fill in that spot is nothing new.”

Thompson, who is not giving up his other coaching duties, said he is pumped about the chance to be with some of his football players this fall when they hit the baseball diamond in the spring.

“I am absolutely excited,” he said. “We have great kids here. Anything you can do to be involved in their sports is special. They’re very competitive in anything they do. I offered to coach (the baseball team), and I’m very excited about the opportunity to be with them in the fall and spring.”

A month ago, it likely would have been that no coaching changes were coming as Green likely would have been prepping the Lady Tigers for this fall’s fast-pitch softball season, which will begin next month, as well as guiding the Tigers baseball team in the spring to help them repeat as state qualifiers.

However, earlier this month, after Sallisaw Public Schools had promoted Josh Bolin to head softball coach, Bolin resigned after allegedly having engaged in an inappropriate relationship with a minor younger than age 18. At the Sallisaw Public Schools Board of Education meeting, it approved hiring Green as its new Lady Diamonds softball coach, thus creating a whirlwind by the Central Public Schools Board of Education to fill the two coaching voids Green’s departure created.

Thompson is quick to credit the Central High School staff and administration for being able to respond as quickly as it did to fill the void.

“As far as that goes, coaches don’t typically stay in one spot for a different opportunity,” Thompson said. “That’s up to each individual coach. Coach Green looked to go in a different direction, and we had two (coaching) vacancies in fast-pitch softball and baseball. We have a great staff here. We have a staff that can definitely handle the situation that we were in. Being able to fill it in house with the people we have was a great decision. We’re looking forward (to these new coaching changes) and very excited to take on the next challenge.”

The Central Public Schools Board of Education also approved Colby Thompson to be the assistant baseball coach.