Thompson, Sullivan inducted into coaches’ Hall of Fame
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News from Montana Coaches Association
LAKE COUNTY — Two local coaches are among five named to the Montana Coaches Association Hall of Fame for 2015.
Bret Thompson of Charlo is a 29-year Montana Coaches Association member and 28-year head coach, Bret has spent all of coaching career at Charlo. During his Charlo tenure, his teams have won an amazing 51 District and 13 Divisional titles along with five State Championship trophies. His 493 wins in girls’ basketball include 13 District, three Divisional and one State title. In boys’ track and field, 20 District, eight Divisional and four State trophies are on the walls. His girls’ track and field teams have 18 District and two Divisional titles as along with eight top-five finishes.
A five-time MCA Coach of the Year and eight-time nominee, Coach Thompson has also spent time coaching the Western C Team at the Treasure State Classic and served as long-time coach of the Mission Valley All-Star Tournament.
Rollie Sullivan of Pablo has spent 33 years in the coaching ranks, 28 of those as head boys’ basketball coach and three at the helm of girls’ basketball teams. He’s currently the principal at Two Eagle River School and co-coaches boys’ basketball with Jami Hanson.
Before coming to Pablo, Sullivan coached extensively across Montana.
For five years he headed up track and field and softball teams. After stints at Outlook, Frenchtown and Circle, Coach Sullivan spent the next 23 years at Sidney. His boys’ basketball teams notched an impressive 389 victories, including three State Championships, one second place and one third place trophy. His girls’ basketball teams were an impressive 62-16 for a winning percentage of 80 percent. Altogether, his teams made 12 appearances at the State Tournament. Rollie was nominated for MCA Coach of the Year six times and named Coach of the Year three times. A 33-year MCA member, he has spoken at several MCA clinics and has served many times as district tournament manager.
The awards will be presented at 11:30 a.m. Thursday, July 30 in the Great Falls High School Auditorium, in conjunction with the MCA All-Sports Coaches Clinic. Family and friends are invited to the awards ceremony, followed by a complimentary luncheon in the cafeteria. Large pictured plaques will be permanently displayed in the Montana State University Fieldhouse.
