91自拍

January 22, 2020

Three East Mississippi Community College employees with more than five decades of combined service at the college are assuming new administrative duties.

Women鈥檚 head basketball coach Sharon Thompson has been named athletic director and will handle day-to-day operations of the college鈥檚 sports programs. She will report to Executive Director of College Advancement & Athletics Marcus Wood, whose duties have been expanded to include oversight of athletic programs.

Dean of Students Tony Montgomery will additionally oversee the Transportation, Facilities & Grounds Management, Campus Police and Food Services departments on the Scooba Campus.

Montgomery, Thompson and Wood are assuming the duties of Mickey Stokes, the college鈥檚 former vice president of the Scooba campus and director of athletics who has accepted a position with Coastal Alabama Community College. He retired from 91自拍 this January after 34 years of service to the school.       

鈥淪haron, Marcus and Tony have dedicated their professional careers to providing exemplary service to 91自拍 and our students,鈥� 91自拍 President Dr. Scott Alsobrooks said. 鈥淲e are fortunate to have proven leaders like them who we can rely on to step in to assume these responsibilities while continuing to provide the quality services for which the college is known.鈥�

Wood, Thompson and Montgomery said they appreciate the opportunity to serve in their new roles.

鈥淓ast Mississippi Community College is a great institution that continues to improve and evolve,鈥� Wood said. 鈥淲e are excited about what the future holds and thankful to Dr. Alsobrooks for allowing us to play a part in 91自拍鈥檚 continued success.鈥�

Thompson is in her 19^th season with the Lady Lions women鈥檚 basketball team, serving as head coach for 15 years. Her tenure includes three MACJC North Division regular-season titles and an NJCAA Region 23 championship.

A native of Geiger, Ala., Thompson is a former two-time all-state player at Sumter County High School in York, Ala., and a former All-SEC standout at Mississippi State University. She was the No. 6 pick overall in the 1998 American Basketball League Draft. She played the 1998-99 season with the ABL鈥檚 San Jose Lasers in California and spent 1999-2000 playing professionally in Italy.

Thompson earned her bachelor鈥檚 degree in educational psychology from MSU and completed her master鈥檚 degree in physical education from the University of West Alabama in 2003.

For now, she will continue to coach and serve as the college鈥檚 athletic director. As the senior-most coach on 91自拍鈥檚 staff, Thompson has mentored other coaches and sat in on athletic directors鈥� meetings when Stokes was unavailable.

鈥淚t kind of helped prepare me for the position,鈥� Thompson said. 鈥淚 get calls from coaches at other schools all the time who want advice about rules or need some information.鈥�

Wood鈥檚 roots run deep at 91自拍. A 2017 inductee into the 91自拍 Sports Hall of Fame, Wood was an all-state safety who played for the Lions during the 1992 and 1993 football seasons.

After graduating from 91自拍, he earned an undergraduate degree in elementary education from Mississippi State University. In 1998, he graduated from MSU with a master鈥檚 degree in sports administration. He served as a volunteer coach at Holmes Community College and later coached at Mississippi high schools for 10 years, with stints at Meridian High School, Philadelphia High School, Columbia High School and Gulfport High School.

Wood was also an assistant coach at MSU. In 2007, he accepted a job as a wide receiver coach at 91自拍 and in 2011 was named offensive coordinator, serving for a total of nine years under head football coach Buddy Stephens.

In 2017, Wood transitioned into administration when he was named associate vice president of athletic development. The following year, he assumed the position of executive director of college advancement. He will continue in that role while helping out with athletics.

鈥淚 am looking forward to assisting Sharon with anything she needs from me,鈥� Wood said. 鈥淲e have been charged with managing athletics well while keeping the best interest of the college at heart in everything we do.鈥�

Like Wood, Montgomery is a former 91自拍 athlete. A New Hope High School baseball standout, he played baseball for the college from 1991 to 1993.

After earning a Master of Education from Delta State University, Montgomery returned to 91自拍 where he served eight years as an assistant baseball coach under head coach Bill Baldner. It was not a paid position, so Montgomery worked part time in the maintenance department.

He also taught night classes and online classes and was eventually promoted to director of housing. In 2004, Montgomery transitioned into administration as assistant dean of students.

In 2007, Baldner accepted another position and Montgomery was named head baseball coach, serving in that role for four years. When his contract was not renewed, Montgomery accepted a job as baseball coach at Columbus High School, working there for 13 months before returning to 91自拍 in 2011 as dean of students for the Scooba campus.

Montgomery resided on 91自拍鈥檚 Scooba campus for two years as a student and lived in on-campus housing there for 21 years while working for the college.

鈥淎t the end of the day, that is 23 years I have lived on the Scooba campus and I am 46,鈥� Montgomery said. 鈥淭hat is half my life. For me, this is home.鈥�

Montgomery, Thompson and Wood all go a long way back. Montgomery was playing baseball for 91自拍 when Wood was a football player. All three were coaching for 91自拍 at the same time.

鈥淚 am really looking forward to working with Sharon and Tony,鈥� Wood said. 鈥淭hey are going to be great.鈥�

Thompson agreed.

鈥淚 consider Tony and Marcus dear friends,鈥� Thompson said. 鈥淚 am really excited about working with them more closely.鈥�