CONWAY, Ark. (AP) -- Central Arkansas athletic director John Thompson is leaving to become defensive coordinator at Mississippi, UCA announced Monday.
Thompson has led the athletics department at the Conway campus since May. He is a former assistant at Arkansas and, now that Mississippi is added to the list, Thompson has been an assistant at six Southeastern Conference schools. The others schools are Alabama, Florida, LSU and South Carolina.
"I am very thankful to UCA and to Ole Miss for this opportunity," Thompson said in a news release. "I've enjoyed this job very much and I'm excited about joining Coach (Ed) Orgeron at Ole Miss. I believe we can do great things there. Ole Miss has a great tradition and I'm honored to be able to join their team there and be a part of it."
Thompson has known Orgeron for years. He played for Thompson when he was the defensive coordinator at Northwestern State in the early 1980s.
In a news release from Ole Miss, Orgeron said of Thompson: "He's been successful defensive coordinator in the Southeastern Conference and is highly respected by his peers. He brings energy and a vast knowledge to our staff."
UCA President Lu Hardin said he was disappointed to see Thompson go but understood that Thompson was offered an "extraordinary opportunity."
Thompson is a Forrest City native and is a graduate of UCA and played for the Bears in the late 1970s. He coached high school football in Arkadelphia, Conway and Forrest City. His first college postion was as a graduate assistant at Arkansas for then-coach Lou Holtz.
Thompson was hired at UCA to lead athletic program in its first year as an NCAA Division I program. UCA moved up and joined the Southland Conference on July 1.
"I will always love UCA, my alma mater, and wish them the best. I know UCA will be very competitive and very successful in Division I," Thompson said.
