South Paulding coach Jason Thompson, whose 2019 team was perhaps the most improved of any in Class AAAAAA last season, is returning to Gwinnett County to be head coach at Central Gwinnett.
“I wasn’t really looking, but an opportunity came,’’ Thompson said. “Because it was in Gwinnett, I decided to investigate it. The principal [Shane Orr] and AD [Eddie Hood] come highly regarded. All of my references are Gwinnett County people. It’s a chance for my wife and me to come back to Gwinnett’’
South Paulding was 9-3 this past season after winning only five games the previous three seasons. According to the computer Maxwell Ratings, South performed better that preseason expectations more than any other program in the classification.
Thompson was the defensive coordinator at North Gwinnett from 2012 through 2016. The 2013 was the Class AAAAAA runner-up to Norcross. From 2009 through 2011, Thompson was an assistant at Central, the last two seasons under Todd Wofford, whom Thompson will be replacing.
‘’I loved my time at South Paulding,’’ Thompson said. “It is definitely better than I found it. They’re ready to continue forward. In going 9-3, we set that standard of how they’re going to play football. They’re only losing a few starters. I think they can be a legitimate contender in 6A.’’
Central Gwinnett next season will be out of the highest classification for the first time since 2001. The Knights’ 2020 region will be 8-AAAAAA. Other schools in the regions will include Gwinnett neighbors Buford, Lanier, Dacula and Shiloh.
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