Oakleaf’s father-daughter team is creating success
The Oakleaf High softball team, who has been ranked in the top 10 of MaxPreps Xcellent Top 25 poll this season, is winning with a family connection. Christina Thompson, in her sixth year as head coach and her father, Rob Thompson, who was a successful baseball coach for 26 years at Clay High, have been a good pair for the Knights.
The Oakleaf run under Thompson has been quite successful from the first year of the school’s existence. Oakleaf has been in the playoffs every year of Thompson’s tenure, including her first year without a senior class. Equally impressive during the time is all but three players have earned college scholarships. Two players elected not to play in college and one is going into the military.
Thompson said having her dad on the staff has been rewarding.
“His knowledge base is incredible,” Thompson said. “He’ll never be anyone’s ‘yes’ man. You need to have someone on staff to tell you what they think, whether they agree with you or not. It makes for a much better softball team.”
Thompson, who coached his daughter on her travel softball team, said being on the same staff together has worked out well.
“We had some instances early on where we butted heads, but that is because we are both strong- willed and bullheaded,” the elder Thompson said. “We’re having a blast. I had to tell myself that if I offer suggestions and she takes them that’s great; if not, that’s okay. I had to remind myself that I’m not the top dog, but the assistant.”
Thompson said her father compliments her coaching style.
“He’s never been one to be quiet,” she said. “If he sees something or thinks it, he will share. Nine times out of 10 whatever he’s thinking, I’ve already thought it because he taught me all I know. We feed off of each other. Sometimes I have to tell him I’m not 12 (years old) anymore. He catches things that I’m not paying attention to.”
The elder Thompson said he appreciates how his daughter has grown as a coach.
“I always knew how competitive she was,” he said. “She hates to lose at anything. The difference in her teams is work ethic. She doesn’t take days off due to cold weather or rain. If we have an opportunity to get better today, then we’re going to get better.”
Both coaches knew the Clay High game (won by Oakleaf 3-0) would stir some emotions, but they were able to move through the game with a minimum of effort.
Enjoying time together is more important to both father and daughter after the recent death of Christina’s uncle and Rob’s brother, Terry, who was an assistant on last year’s Knights team.
“I don’t know when we’ll (Thompson and her father) ever have this opportunity again,” the younger Thompson said. “We get to spend time together. Mom (Shirley, who is Thompson’s wife) is there taking pictures. Especially with Uncle Terry not being around, it’s great to have us all together in one spot.”
Rob Thompson shared an incident after a close win over district foe Atlantic Coast that reminded him of his brother.
“After Atlantic Coast win, I was feeling good and I’m on way back driving on (Interstate) 295 and got this vision of Terry,” he said. “It was with that snicker he always had. It was almost like he was proud of the girls and giving me a hard time at the same time. You have to appreciate those moments.”
Although the father-daughter coaching story has brought a lot of attention to the team, Thompson also praised the efforts of third base coach Jason Brown for his work after he replaced Terry Thompson on the staff.
The Knights, the favorite to win district 2-8A, are among the top Jacksonville teams in hitting and in the top three in pitching.
Oakleaf has one of the deepest pitching staffs in the area with aces Kelsey Sweatt, (5-0) a junior and Madisyn Davis, a freshman. Sophomore Rebecca Koskey and Cambria Arturo, the ace of the junior varsity team, have shown a lot of promise.
After struggling last season with a .220 team batting average, the Knights hit .360 in the playoffs. This season, the team is hitting near that same mark. Alex Acedvedo, Rebecca Koskey, Baylee Goddard, and Mika Garcia have been among the leading hitters this season.
Thompson said he is so proud of his daughter because she coaches the right way.
“Let me be clear, she was doing great before I came aboard,” he said. “She’s one of the best coaches that I have ever worked with. One of my fears was to go there and steal any thunder away from her, but she’s one heck of a coach. She has girls who are college commits who don’t crack the starting lineup. This may be the most talented team I’ve ever been a part of, including baseball. It was a lot more the talent on this team than anything that I did.”
Will the elderThompson coach baseball again?
“I enjoy this immensely, but if right opportunity opens up I would listen,” he said. “I do miss baseball. It would be fun someday to coach with my brother, Glen, who is an assistant at Ridgeview High School.”
However long it lasts, Christina and Rob Thompson have had a memorable year together.
Special Feature / North Florida / April-May 2016
Christina Thompson, Rob Thompson
Oakleaf High School
Jacksonville, Florida
By Brent Beaird
