NCS Alumnae and Students Recall 'Coach T'

This spring, we asked NCS alumnae and students via Facebook to share their memories of William Thompson. Here are a dozen of the more than 70 responses we received:

 

"He put a ball in my hand and me in his heart. He taught me basketball skills, and I learned how to be thoughtful and kind. He watched over my older sister [Robin '87] and created a sisterhood among young black women. Team Purple or Gold, he always made every Cathedral Eagle soar. William is and will always be family."
—April Bennefield Williams '95

 

"My favorite memories involved Mr. Thompson driving us to and from our sports games. He always knew the best things to say to encourage us on the field and was our biggest fan. He knew every player's strength and never let us get discouraged even during a tough game. Enjoy retirement, Mr. Thompson. You deserve it!
—Victoria Webb '08

 

"I remember Mr. T coming over across the field after every one of our soccer games, no matter the outcome, and congratulating us and telling us we played well. It was your unending support that got us through every season and helped us succeed, Mr. T!"
—Nat Nigro '16

 

"How many thousands of girls has he cheered in his tenure? He must surely be in the pantheon of true supporters of female athletes."
—Katie Matthews '95

 

"Mr. Thompson is part of the fabric of NCS."
—Patricia Turner '86

 

"I will never forget when Mr. T gave the homily at chapel in Procter Gym and shared stories from the decades he's worked at the school. Not one girl was on their phone or talking to someone next to them. Mr. T just radiates genuine love and kindness and you aspire to care for others the way he demonstrates. What is NCS without Mr. T?"
—Anisa St. Cyr '15

 

"I remember Mr. Thompson teaching a group of junior girls how to do simple car maintenance after we first received our driver's licenses. This was in 2002. He always went above and beyond!"
—Morgan Kret '04

 

"Mr. T has been there to cheer for me at any and every opportunity for my entire NCS career. For someone who is not necessarily gifted in the athletics department, having someone at my games consistently cheering for me and encouraging me to do my best and give it my all has done wonders for my confidence."
—Caitlin McNamara '17

 

"When I was a senior, a group of friends and I would walk over to Whitby Gym every Friday afternoon in the winter and play basketball with William and other members of the NCS maintenance staff for over two hours, after they concluded their work day. It was a fabulous time and, of course, William was the literal King of the Court! Over 20 years later, I was fortunate enough to enroll my three daughters at NCS [Kaitlin '03, Morgan '06, and Meredith '10], and all three became very fast friends with William. He coached them, taught them, and loved them all as his own! William Thompson has been a part of our family for over 40 years; he is the epitome of a friend, an educator, and a gentle man!"
—Don Swagart STA '76

 

"This winter, the JV basketball team was warming up for our last game. Mr. T was there, and he began to give us tips on how we could perfect our shooting form. He then gathered us together and explained a shooting drill that he wanted us to warm up with as a team. As we performed it, he continued to point out improvements each of us could make to our shots. This opened my eyes to see how much he really cares about all aspects of the NCS community, and that he is extremely devoted to helping each of us reach our full potential."
—Savi Keidel '21

 

"Perhaps what's most incredible about Mr. T is the wealth of knowledge he has about the history of NCS, having experienced much of its most significant changes over the years. It was always a privilege to listen to him talk about his early days at NCS and how different it was back then. People like Mr. T are a gift to the communities they bless with their love and dedication."
—Emily Hester '13

 

"I have great memories of my time at National Cathedral. But, of all of my teachers at NCS, in my mind William remains the most loving, generous, loyal and impactful mentor of my youth. He was endlessly patient, enthusiastic, and instructive as he tried to coach my twin sister and I in the finer arts of basketball and softball. His faith never faltered, his smile never wavered, his support never dimmed, and his confidence in each and every one of us was boundless. National Cathedral School is losing one of its preeminent, although seldom acknowledged, touchstones. Thank you, William, for your love and grace."
—Jean Grimsley '85