Bio

A well-respected defensive coordinator at the university, junior college and high school levels within the state of Mississippi, Kevie Thompson is in his second season in the same capacity on Buddy Stephens’ East Mississippi Community College football coaching staff.

Bolstered by Thompson’s addition to EMCC’s staff, the 2022 Lions claimed the program’s eighth conference championship in the past 14 seasons with an 8-3 overall record and a No. 6 NJCAA Division I final team ranking. A year ago as a team, the Lions finished tied for third nationally with an MACCC-high 18 pass interceptions and tied for 12th in the NJCAA ranks with 33 quarterback sacks. Individually, EMCC featured a total 17 defensive players who have now moved on to the four-year level with 10 earning All-MACCC honors.

Thompson previously served as a co-defensive coordinator at the University of West Alabama, where the 2021 Tigers squad topped the Gulf South Conference in total defense while ranking second in rushing defense and third in scoring defense as a team. UWA featured a trio of defensive players who earned postseason honors, including AFCA Division II Coaches’ All-American first-team defensive lineman Chris Terrell.

Before moving up to the university level, Thompson spent two seasons within the MACCC ranks as the defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach at Hinds Community College. During Thompson’s two years on the Hinds coaching staff, he worked with nine all-conference defensive performers, including 2019 All-Region 23 defensive back Kyree Fields. As a team, Hinds finished 20th nationally in scoring defense both seasons, while the 2020 squad ranked sixth nationally in passing defense.

Having coached at four different Mississippi high schools following his collegiate playing days at Jones College and the University of Southern Mississippi, Thompson’s most recent stint at the prep level came at powerhouse Starkville High School. In Thompson’s two seasons as the team’s defensive coordinator, the Yellow Jackets were a combined 24-5 overall with a Class 6A North State championship and Region 2-6A title in 2017. During both years, Starkville’s defensive unit limited the opposition to an average of just under 12 points per game.

Thompson began his football coaching career in 2010 at his high school alma mater in Raleigh and helped mentor Isaiah Pugh, who tied for the state lead with 10 pass interceptions in 2012, as well as having worked with seven-year NFL veteran Donte Moncrief.

After receiving his first collegiate coaching experience in Kansas by helping turn around Bethany College’s defensive unit, Thompson returned to his home state with assistant coaching stints at Madison Central High School and Taylorsville High School.

During the summer months through the years, Thompson has also gained valuable coaching experience at the NFL and SEC levels. Most recently, he served as a 2021 Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Intern for the Super Bowl champion Los Angeles Rams. Thompson has also previously volunteered alongside coaching counterparts at the University of Florida and the University of South Carolina.

During his playing career, Thompson was selected to participate in the Bernard Blackwell All-Star Game following his senior season at Raleigh High School. He earned a football scholarship as a defensive back to Jones College, where the Bobcats posted a two-year record of 15-5 and finished as 2007 conference runners-up during his sophomore season. Thompson then transferred to Southern Miss and was a member of back-to-back R+L New Orleans Bowl teams.

Upon earning his bachelor’s degree in education from USM in 2010, Thompson went on to receive his master’s degree in education from William Carey University in 2014. Two years later, he added a specialist’s degree in educational leadership from WCU.