Thompson head football coach Mark Freeman was named to the MaxPreps Top 100 High School Coaches list.

Freeman led the Warriors to their sixth state championship in seven years last season.

The Warriors historically play one of the toughest schedules in Alabama high school football, and last year was no different. Thompson played defending 2024 Georgia AAAAAA (6A) state champions Grayson, 6A powerhouse Clay-Chalkville and historic football powerhouse Hoover.

Thompson lost to all three teams in 2024, with each loss coming in overtime, by a combined three points. In 2025, Thompson lost to all three teams again, this time by a combined eight points.

The Warriors' tough schedule is what set them up for another dominant playoff run. Thompson won three of its four playoff games by 24 or more points.

Freeman, who was hired in 2015, has won 11 or more games in every season since 2017. The 2025 state championship win tied the AHSAA all-time record with eight state championships and was Freeman's 12th overall state title.

Freeman also won the Shelby County Coach of the Year award, his 10th overall and ninth consecutive.

Freeman's players have not only excelled in high school but have also gone on to have successful college careers. Among those players are Taulia Tagovailoa, Tre'Quon Fegans and Peter Woods.

Freeman will look to lead Thompson to its seventh state championship in eight years.

The Warriors will open play on Aug. 20, when they take on Central-Phenix City, a team they beat in the state semifinals last year by one point.