The Defender football squad moved on to a Quarter-Final matchup against Lenox after achieving their first ever regional playoff victory over Melcher-Dallas. More football...
Coach Finds Success in Unlikely Coaching Career
We've Got Game, Sept 2007, Vol 1, p 18. -- Though volleyball wasn't exactly what Matt Thompson had in mind when he fantasized about a coaching career, the head coach at Grandview Park Baptist School says he now feels at home on the court. "I've just fallen in love with the sport," said Thompson, who recorded his 200th win and was named all-district coach of the year during the 2006 season.
Thompson's original plans of becoming an athletic trainer fell through, but he still wanted to be involved in athletics and took numerous coaching classes. Of course, he assumed he would end up coaching boys' basketball.
"Back when I took those, I never would have thought I would be coaching girls," said Thompson, who also coached girls' basketball during his first eight years at Grandview. That's not to say volleyball was unfamiliar territory. Thompson played club volleyball while in high school and his wife, who played in high school at Grandview Park Baptist and then in college, deepened his connection with the sport.
He arrived at Grandview in 1995 as an assistant volleyball coach and was named the head coach in 1998, inheriting a program that had established a strong tradition in the mid-1990's with two state tournament teams. The first year was a struggle, with the Defenders recording only 11 wins. But the team continued to improve with new, experienced players, and in 2002 earned 42 wins and a Class 1A state championship.
"Just to see the improvement of the girls and the overall atmosphere of Grandview volleyball, it kind of gets us back to what they had in the '90's," Thompson said. The Defenders ended the 2006 season with a 29-7 record. They placed second in the Heart of Iowa Conference and captured district and regional championships before losing in the first round of the state tournament to second-ranked Wall Lake, 2-3
Thompson lost four seniors from last year's state tournament team, but returned five players who received significant playing time. Four played in all 96 games of the season. Though he's left with some holes to fill, particularly at middle hitter, he is encouraged by his players' determination to improve upon last year's season.
"A lot of these girls, the day after we lost at state, were coming up to me saying, 'we can't wait until next year,'" Thompson said. "They have the fire and desire right now."
Student-athletes interested in participating in college athletics in Division I or II need to be aware of the NCAA eligibility standards. Find a summary of course requirements here. Full details may be found at the Clearinghouse web page. From the home page, click on "General Information" which will have a link to the Eligibility Guide, as well as other helpful information regarding eligibility.
The Guide is no longer being published in paper form.
Interested in coaching one of our junior or senior high sports teams, contact Mr. Thompson, Athletic Director, by calling the school office.
.....Success Stories.....
2007 Football
District Champions
2007 Volleyball
District Champions
2006 Volleyball
District Champions
2005 Golf
First Sectional victory
2005 Boys Basketball
District Champions
2005 Volleyball
District Champions
The 2005 Varsity Football team achieved their first win Sept 9 defeating Seymour 76-0.
See Football for exciting details.
