Mentor coach Thompson steps down

Steve Thompson will not be coming back as Mentor’s girl’s basketball coach. But he does have a plan. After 30 years of coaching, whether it be basketball or softball, Thompson has officially stepped down as the Cardinals’ coach.

He sat out last season after undergoing hip replacement surgery, and was replaced by interim coach James Hruvsovsky.

“The hip replacement and rehab went very well, but my doctor told me after the surgery that my knees aren’t looking very good, either,” Thompson said. “I’ve begun a new training (regimen) for a triathlon. My three events will be the hot tub, steam room and heated therapy pool.

“My trainer says I’m showing great promise in all three.”

Thompson coached 10 years as Mentor’s varsity coach, 10 years as an assistant and 10 years as an assistant softball coach. He said he will continue teaching astronomy in the planetarium at Mentor.

He is undecided on if he will coach again, but said it’s important to take care of himself physically at this point.

Sitting out this past season was a big change for him.

“You go from getting home every day between 6 and 9 p.m. on practice days and 10 and 11 on game days, to being around the house all the time,” he said.

“I became a big fan of ‘The Chew,’ ‘Judge Judy’ and finally saw a whole season of ‘The Voice.’

“I don’t think my wife ever got control of the TV remote.”

Thompson is the husband of Mentor softball coach Michelle (Vencl) Thompson. He has spent a lion’s share of this spring watching her team play, featuring their daughter, Raegan.

Throughout his career, Thompson said he accentuated the importance to his players of enjoying the offthe-court (or field) memories and relationships.

To that point, he has a treasure chest of them, including coaching at Quicken Loans Arena with friend Sal Passafiume and defeating Normandy for his 100th career win. To celebrate after that victory, Mentor grad and chef Rocco Whalen hosted the team for dinner.

Meeting legendary women’s basketball coach Pat Summitt when she was in Ohio recruiting former Mentor star Megan Skouby was a highlight, as was meeting UConn’s Geno Auriemma while Thompson was officiating a game.

The annual Christmas Eve 3-on-3 tournament where numerous alumni would return to play against current players was always special to Thompson, as is the memory of going to North Carolina and Duke with former area coach Kevin Snyder and a trip to Florida with former area coach Mark Chicone.

But one memory stands out the most — and that was when he was assistant softball coach with Walt Klepac.

“We beat Rocque Trem’s North Rangers in a hardfought game,” Thompson said. “After the game, I had our players hold a banner that read, ‘Will you marry me?” and I got engaged to North assistant coach Meme Vencl. Twenty-five years later, she is coaching Mentor’s varsity softball team on that same field.”

Thompson guaranteed he will miss the competition aspect of being a coach, the players and his coaching colleagues.

But being Dad, husband and taking care of himself trumps all right now.

“I’ll be the guy sitting by the truck in center field, with an 80-pound Berner pup, waiting for Raegan to drop another home run in my lap,” he said.

NEWS-HERALD FILE Mentor’s girls basketball coach Steve Thompson has stepped down.