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Malzahn, Red Wolves Add John Thompson As Defensive Coordinator
by Chris Bahn
2/25/2012 at 4:05pm


Image by Georgia State
John Thompson is leaving Georgia State to be the defensive coordinator at Arkansas State.
Arkansas State’s coaching staff is again complete.

John Thompson, a 29-year veteran coordinator and assistant, is joining the Red Wolves’ staff. Thompson is a native of Forrest City and has been working as defensive coordinator at Georgia State.

Here’s more from Arkansas State:

Thompson has worked 25 seasons as a coordinator and was also the head coach at East Carolina for two years. Recognized as a top defensive mind, Thompson has worked as defensive coordinator or co-coordinator at Southeastern Conference schools Mississippi, Florida, Arkansas, South Carolina and LSU, as well as at Memphis, Southern Mississippi, Louisiana Tech and Northwestern State.

As a defensive coordinator, Thompson has seen more than 40 of his defensive players drafted by, or sign with, National Football League teams. Forty of his defenders earned all-conference honors, five were named all-America, and one, former Northwestern State linebacker Gary Reasons, has been inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.

“We are excited to add another coach to our staff who has strong ties to the state of Arkansas,” said Malzahn. “Coach Thompson is not only well respected for the great success he’s enjoyed at the highest level of college football, but also as a person of tremendous character. We are happy to welcome him to our Arkansas State family.”

A high school quarterback, Thompson was inducted into the Forrest City High School Hall of Fame in 2006. His playing career also includes two seasons as a defensive back at Central Arkansas. He earned his bachelor's degree in physical education from UCA in 1978.

Thompson and his wife, Charleen, have two sons, Cabe and Hays.

ASU hired Thompson to replace Keith Patterson who left for West Virginia. Thompson and the Red Wolves begin spring practice on March 12.

Good luck to Coach Thompson, however, I'm very grateful Dr. Teague is our AD.

I don't think Teague was up for the DC job at stAte.

Thompson's AD reign at UCA was a dark, dark time

He must be an OK coach but he was a horrible AD and not the type of person I want to be around.

Oh come on guys. I'm sure he's planning to put down some seriously deep roots this time.


[urlhttp://www.ucafans.com/2006/05/10/search-ends-with-thompson/]Story from here May 10, 2006[/url]
Not including the UCA AD position, he's had three jobs now since the day he told me that on the phone. Awesome.

I don't care about his rots, so long as they are miles from me.

Now I have to go back to adding up all the good things he has done to support UCA, his alma mater, which he told me he loved so much.

Let's see, I have been adding them up for about five years now and got to, oh yeah ,ZERO!

P.S., please move this thread to other schools where it belongs.