ECU football coach John Thompson resigns

(Nov. 17, 2004)   —   East Carolina University Head Football Coach John Thompson announced his resignation, effective at the end of the 2004 season, during a Wednesday press conference at the Murphy Center.

Thompson will officially step down from his two-year position heading the Pirates’ football program following East Carolina’s Nov. 27 contest against North Carolina State in Charlotte.

Prior to ECU’s contest against Memphis Saturday at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium, he has compiled an overall record of 3-18 (.143), which includes an 1-11 mark in 2003 and a 2-7 ledger so far this season.

In addition, the Pirates have also recorded a 3-12 (.200) Conference USA regular-season record.

“I want to thank the players, staff, families and the entire Pirate Nation for their support and kindness,” Thompson said. “Greenville has been our home and the people here are great.”

When Thompson became East Carolina’s 18th all-time head football coach on December 20, 2002, he finished a one-year stint as Florida’s defensive coordinator where he led the Gators to a top 25 national ranking in total defense.

Thompson’s 24-year collegiate coaching career includes 19 seasons as a defensive coordinator with stops at four Southeastern Conference schools – Florida, Alabama, Arkansas and LSU. He has also held assistant coaching positions at Conference USA members Memphis and Southern Miss while also serving appointments at Louisiana Tech and Northwestern (La.) State.

“Please continue to support our players and the staff,” Thompson added. “The bottom line is, we didn’t win enough games and we didn’t have enough time, but we planted a lot of seeds.”

ECU Athletics Director Terry Holland indicated a search to find a replacement to head the Pirates’ football program, which has not enjoyed a winning season since 2000, will begin immediately after the conclusion of the season.