Mickey Thompson, who built Stone Bridge into a football powerhouse as the only coach at the Loudoun County school since its opening in 2000, is stepping down.
For Thompson, 65, that process has fueled staggering success. After an impressive 10-year run at Park View, he brought his single-wing offense to Stone Bridge and went 265-53 over 24 seasons, a run that included three state titles. His Bulldogs finished the regular season undefeated nine times during his tenure and the only season they failed to produce a winning record was the year of the school’s opening.
Thompson said he hasn’t ruled out becoming an assistant coach for another program in the future and said he has not retired from coaching.
Stone Bridge’s first state title came in 2007, capped by a 38-0 win over Potomac. His other two championships didn’t come as easy. To cap a pandemic-shortened season, Stone Bridge beat Highland Springs with an overtime touchdown catch in the spring of 2021 and won again that autumn on the final play of the state championship game against Maury.
“The state championships are always going to stand out,” Thompson said, reflecting on his coaching career. “Winning back-to-back on the last play of the game is something you’ll always remember.”
This past season, the Bulldogs overcame an 0-4 start against rugged competition to again reach the state title game. They fell to Maury, 45-34, after losing both their starting and backup quarterbacks to injury. But after what may have been his final game as a head coach, Thompson was upbeat.
“Of all the games I’ve coached, that was the best performance I’ve had,” Thompson said after the loss.
Thompson gathered his team Friday morning to tell them of his decision. Minutes later, Thompson’s phone starting flooding with emotional texts and emails from former players, coaches and families, thanking and congratulating him.
“It’s been overwhelming,” he said. “It’s nice to know that people care.”
