Thompson resigns as Springdale boys basketball coach

By: Alec Italiano
Friday, May 18, 2018 | 5:06 PM

Seth Thompson never anticipated becoming a basketball coach for life. And after spending more than a decade doing it, he decided it was time to move on.

Thompson resigned earlier this week as Springdale boys basketball coach after seven seasons, saving his best season with the Dynamos for last: the program's first WPIAL playoff victory in a decade and a trip to the PIAA tournament.

Though proud of that accomplishment and others in his tenure, Thompson is getting married next month and is looking forward to that.

“I'm going to remember the relationships and the bonds that you make with players that will last a lifetime,” Thompson said.

“That doesn't happen with every player, just like employees and supervisors in the adult workplace … but for the most part, I enjoyed coaching every player I had, and we had good relationships. Those relationships you create, those bonds you create, that's probably the funnest, most lasting part of it.”

The son of longtime Deer Lakes and Springdale basketball coach Dave Thompson, Seth Thompson's coaching career “just kind of happened,” he said. He coached with his father for four years at Deer Lakes and was an assistant at Freeport for another year before getting hired at Springdale.

“I definitely had a lot of fun doing it and a lot of great memories and really enjoyed it,” he said. “There's certainly going to be some things that I miss. However, that being the case, that's not who I am. … I have other interests, and I have other skills, and I have other qualities. Really, what it comes down to is this was another small chapter of my life that, right now, I'm closing the book on.”

Thompson compiled a 47-95 record and two playoff appearances in his seven seasons at Springdale, including a 32-31 mark and two postseason trips in the past three seasons.

The Dynamos finished 13-10 in 2017-18, and their last-second victory over California in the WPIAL Class A first round gave them their first postseason victory since 2008. They also qualified for the PIAA tournament.

Thompson said he was proud of the growth the program made in his seven seasons and expects his successor will have success.

“We just had the best season that school's had in 27 years,” Thompson said.

“I feel like from the time when we started there, my staff and I, seven years ago, to now, we're leaving that program umpteen times better than when we received it. Whomever receives the proverbial baton, they're in way better position to succeed. It's in way better shape. That I'm proud of, and I'm really looking forward to whoever that person is taking it forward.”

Doug Gulasy is a Tribune-Review staff writer.