Mr. Thompson was a well respected coach whose career spanned three decades. He coached young men, boys really, teaching them the finer points of basketball and the greater lessons of life.

He was “old school” as young people say today. Coach taught basketball the same way for 30 years, teaching success through hard work, team play, and playing within the rules. His players weren’t allowed to go too fast, get out of control, or show any individualism on or off the court. Like I said, he was “old school.”

He had his favorites, and he liked to play them. He was the coach and no one was allowed to challenge his methods. Coach’s methods worked well in the 1940’s and 50’s as his teams went to the state tournament several times and won a time or two.

He had conservative family values, as well. Although he had no children, he treated his players as his own. Coach made sure they had clean practice uniforms, the right equipment and a ride home after practice for anyone who needed it.

He liked to take a few of his boys to community events, such as movies about cowboys and basketball games between upcoming opponents his team would face. He liked to go to St. Louis to professional sporting events and often treated one or two of his players by taking them along.

The times were changing in the 1960’s as Coach approached retirement. Social upheaval, political ideals, and questioning authority were in vogue. Coach taught “old school” values at a time when everyone questioned authority. When he didn’t seem to be able to handle his boys like he had before he decided to give up coaching. It may have been the most difficult decision of his life since he loved being the coach.

Not everyone liked his methods in the end, and not everyone thrived under his authority. Good players may have sat on the bench and watched less talented players play just because the lesser players never questioned Coach’s decisions. Being adaptable was never his strong point. He was slow to recognize that attitudes were changing, those about basketball and about life.

Basketball was changing to a speed game, seemingly out of control at times. It was changing to a team of individuals who played a style of their own. The concept of “team” was changing from getting individuals to play the coach’s style, to getting individuals with differing styles to learn to work together.

Coach eventually retired rather than face all the changes swirling around him. He ended his career with everyone thinking the game had passed him by. It saddened me.

From knowing about Coach’s plight, I’ve learned that to be part of a team you must respect authority, that an open dialog of questions and answers helps to garner respect, and that accepting change is paramount to accepting your place in a changeable world. No one said learning life’s lessons was easy.

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