Assistant Coach Jim Tompkins<BR><font size=4>Assistant Head Coach/Linebackers</font>
 | PERSONAL |
| Born: February 27, 1940 Birthplace: Brantley, AL Married: former Phyllis Parrish Children: daughter Paige Lee College: Troy State, 1962 |
| PLAYING CAREER | * Played four seasons (1959-62) at Troy State University |
| COACHING CAREER | * 1962-65: Line Coach, Foley [AL] HS * 1966: Defensive Coordinator, Crestview [AL] HS * 1967: Outside Linebacker and Secondary Coach, Choctawhatchee [FL] HS * 1968-71: Head Coach, Troy [AL] Charles Henderson HS * 1972: Head Coach, Scottsboro [AL] HS * 1973-82: Defensive Coordinator, Troy State University * 1983: Defensive Coordinator, Jacksonville State University * 1984: Defensive Assistant, University of Richmond * 1985-87: Defensive Coordinator, University of Southern Mississippi * 1988: Defensive Coordinator, Southern Illinois University * 1989-95: Inside Linebackers Coach, Mississippi State University * 1996-present: Linebackers Coach, Mississippi State University |
| NOTABLE | Starting his 15th year as an assistant at MSU...Mentor of State's linebacking corps, which has been represented on all-SEC teams 13 times in his 14 seasons at MSU... Tutor for all-America Bulldogs Barrin Simpson and Mario Haggan. |
Now in his second decade working at Mississippi State, Jim Tompkins continues to produce all-SEC linebackers in Maroon and White on an annual basis.
His penchant for producing all-star caliber players was what led head coach Jackie Sherrill to retain Tompkins for his first MSU staff upon his arrival in Starkville in 1991.
Over the course of the past 14 seasons, MSU linebackers have earned all-SEC accolades at the conclusion of 13 of those campaigns. The most recent honoree was Mario Haggan, who earned all-America and all-SEC honors during his career. Haggan followed in some proud footsteps. In 1998 and ?”99, Barrin Simpson was tabbed to all-SEC teams, earning all-America recognition following his senior campaign.
In successive years prior to Sherrill's arrival, Tompkins had produced all-SEC players James Williams (1989), the school's all-time tackle leader, and Reggie Stewart (1990), who led the country in tackles as a senior.
In 1991, New York Jet-draftee Keo Coleman joined Daniel Boyd in receiving all-SEC recognition. Tompkins kept his streak alive in ?”93 when Juan Long was named first-team all-SEC. Dwayne Curry was named a first-team, all-SEC selection from 1994-96, and Paul Lacoste was a second-team selection in 1996.
But producing outstanding players and aggressive defenses is nothing new for Tompkins.
A veteran of 40 years in the football coaching profession, Tompkins was defensive coordinator at Southern Illinois in 1988, just prior to accepting the position at MSU. From 1985-87, Tompkins was defensive coordinator at the University of Southern Mississippi.
He was a defensive assistant at Richmond in 1984, following one year as defensive coordinator at Jacksonville (Ala.) State.
Tompkins entered the collegiate coaching profession at his alma mater, Troy State, in 1973, and served as defensive coordinator there for 10 years.
Prior to entering college coaching, Tompkins served 11 years on the high school level in Alabama and Florida.