Football Names Thompson Defensive Coordinator
Sunday, February 10, 2002 | Football
Thompson was defensive coordinator and linebacker coach at Arkansas last season, and has been a collegiate assistant football coach since 1982, including stints at Alabama, Southern Mississippi and Memphis. He has 17 years of college experience as a defensive coordinator.
"John is a proven coach with an excellent track record in the SEC as a defensive coordinator," said Zook. "We have similar philosophies. The system he's played and that I've coached are very similar. He likes his players to play fast, have fun and he makes the game fun for them. We're excited about that."
Thompson was co-coordinator at Arkansas in 2000 and the Razorbacks led the SEC in defense. He was the defensive play-caller in the final two games that season, and the Razorbacks allowed only two field goals in upset wins over nationally ranked Mississippi State and LSU.
"This was a career decision which I had to do, it was about the opportunity at Florida," said Thompson. "I'm very excited about being a Gator and working with Coach Zook and his staff."
Thompson is married to the former Charleen McCabe. The couple has two sons, Cabe and Hays.
John Thompson Coaching History:
1977 Conway (Ark.) HS assistant coach
1978 Forrest City (Ark.) HS assistant coach
1979-81 Arkadelphia (Ark.) HS defensive coordinator
1982 Arkansas graduate assistant coach
1983-86 NW Louisiana State defensive coordinator/secondary/linebackers
1987 Alabama assistant coach/outside linebackers
1988-89 NW Louisiana State defense coordinator/linebackers
1990-91 Louisiana Tech defensive coordinator/linebackers/defensive ends
1992 Southern Mississippi defensive coordinator/linebackers
1993-98 Southern Mississippi assistant head coach/defensive coordinator/linebackers
1999 Memphis defensive coordinator/linebacker
Dec. ‘99-Jan. ‘00 LSU defensive coordinator
2000 Arkansas co-defensive coordinator/secondary
2001 Arkansas defensive coordinator/linebackers
