Roy Thompson’s coaching philosophy — and, in many ways, his life — is rooted in a three-word maxim deeply engrained in his story and his drive to succeed.
“Go to work is a part of who I am,” said Thompson on Wednesday, Dec. 11, during the press conference introducing him as the 18th head football coach at Arkansas Tech University. “My dad didn’t graduate from high school, and he used to walk to work. He didn’t make excuses because he didn’t have a car. He’d get up at 3 or 4 a.m. and start walking. He said, ‘if I start walking, somebody will pick me up.’ So, he’d walk to work, and at 7 or 8 p.m., he’d start walking home. So, I was raised with that mentality. You’ve got to get up and go to work. That’s how I coach. Each and every day you have to go to work, whether that’s in the classroom, the football field, the weight room, socially…you have to get up and go be the best version of yourself you can be.”
Thompson, formerly the defensive coordinator at Ouachita Baptist University, spoke of his visits with Abby Davis, ATU director of athletics, the search committee and other members of the ATU community when he visited Arkansas Tech for his interview. Through those interactions, he knew he had found a new home for himself, his wife Julia and their four children: Jadyn, London, Cameron and Trey.
“Once you get a chance to see (Arkansas Tech) from the inside…you come on campus, you see the facilities, you meet the people…I want to be a part of that,” said Thompson. “I called my wife on the way home and told her this is the place. This place is special. The city is great and the university is great, but it’s the people who make the difference in life. That’s what makes this place special.”
As he and his staff spend the eight weeks between his press conference and national signing day assembling the student-athletes who will be Wonder Boys during the 2025 football season, Thompson will be evaluating prospects to determine if they fit the culture he intends to build within the Arkansas Tech football program.
“You’ve got to recruit people of high character,” said Thompson. “There’s more to success than just playing football. We want kids who want to earn a degree. The other thing I’ve said is you need GAC-championship level kids. Championships are the goal. If you don’t set the goal, you won’t achieve it. That has to be everybody’s goal. If you wear green and gold, you have to have a championship mindset.”
With that said, Thompson has eyes on a greater goal than simply winning football games.
“If I only teach our guys to tackle, run fast and score touchdowns, I’ve failed,” said Thompson. “We want to teach our guys how to be a better husband, a better father, a better man and an influence in their community. That’s the job. That’s my goal. And that’s what we’re going to do.”
Talk to you on the radio.
Tech Tidbits is a column written by Sam Strasner, ATU director of university relations and radio play-by-play voice for ATU football and basketball.
