Super 5 Coach of the Year: Katie Tompson, Midwest City
Katie Tompson’s first goal in her first season as Midwest City’s coach was to connect with her players off of the court, which in turn would make basketball easier.
“I feel like when you do as much team bonding as possible, that helps,” Tompson said. “What I did, I think, is show them how much I care. My interest at heart is them.”
Tompson met the goal early and became the architect of an impressive run to the Class 6A state championship as Midwest City did what many thought it couldn’t — pull two upsets and then win a rematch with Owasso. She is The Oklahoman’s Super 5 Coach of the Year.
Tompson spoke with The Oklahoman about bringing the Bombers together, the title run and more.
Q: Being a first-year coach, what did you do to bring everything together?
A: Winning and losing is what it is and as a coach you’re always going to have seasons that are up and down, but at the end of the day it’s that relationship you have with that player and how they are going to represent you and your program 10 years from now. That’s, in my opinion, a true definition of if you’ve done a good job as a coach. That really was something I wanted them to understand is that I care about them as a person.
I really had a great coaching staff this year, too. I always say having all females sometimes can be a good thing, but sometimes not. I think we’re the only all-female staff. Every single one of us have a connection with one or two of the girls, so then it makes it all work and come together. I feel like that’s what I want to be known for is how to help these girls become better women in society. That’s my biggest goal.
I think the first was (beating) Sapulpa. I feel like we had the toughest road to get there. We played Sapulpa, Westmoore and Muskogee. These are top teams. I felt like after every game it was, “Oh my gosh, we just did that.”
I would probably be a counselor or a social worker. I love to figure out kids and help them and try to help them find different avenues in life. People always laugh and say I’m a huge feminist. Feminism doesn’t mean I hate men, it means I want to liberate women. I want them to succeed in life. I want them to look up and be proud of who they are.