Jim Tompkins<BR><font size=3>Coordinator of Player Relations</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 * 1996-03: Linebackers Coach, Mississippi State University * 2004-present: Coordinator of Player Relations, Mississippi State University |
| NOTABLE | Starting his 16th year on the MSU football staff, his first in the new role of Coordinator of Player Relations...Mentor of State's linebacking corps for previous 15 years...An MSU LB represented the Bulldogs on all-SEC teams 12 times in his 15 seasons...Tutor for all-America Bulldogs Barrin Simpson and Mario Haggan. |
Now in his second decade working at Mississippi State, Jim Tompkinsassumed a new role within the football coaching staff, a new position withinthe athletic program.
After 15 years on the MSU coaching field, Tompkins was given theresponsibility of performing the one task he may do better than coaching onthe field - communicating with the players. In his new position ofCoordinator of Player Relations, he works with current and former Bulldogfootball players, maintaining relationships with high school coaches andcommunicating with National Football League scouts and organizations.
During his career on the playing field, his penchant for producing all-starcaliber players became legendary. Over the course of the 15 seasons, MSUlinebackers earned all-SEC accolades at the conclusion of 13 of thosecampaigns. The most recent honoree was Mario Haggan, who earned all-Americaand all-SEC honors during his career and was selected by the Buffalo Billsof the NFL.
Haggan followed in some proud footsteps. In 1998 and ?€˜99,Barrin Simpson was tabbed to all-SEC teams, earning all-America recognitionfollowing his senior campaign. He has established his professional careeras one of the top linebackers in the Canadian Football League.
In successive years to begin his MSU coaching career, Tompkins producedall-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. In1991, New York Jet-draftee Keo Coleman joined Daniel Boyd in receivingall-SEC recognition. Tompkins kept his streak alive in '93 when Juan Longwas named first-team all-SEC. Dwayne Curry was named a first-team, all-SECselection from 1994-96, and Paul Lacoste was a second-team selection in1996.
A veteran of 40 years in the football coaching profession, Tompkins wasdefensive coordinator at Southern Illinois in 1988, just prior to acceptingthe position at MSU. From 1985-87, Tompkins was defensive coordinator atthe University of Southern Mississippi. He was a defensive assistant atRichmond in 1984, following one year as defensive coordinator atJacksonville (Ala.) State.
Tompkins entered the collegiate coaching profession at his alma mater, TroyState, in 1973, and served as defensive coordinator there for 10 years.Prior to entering college coaching, Tompkins served 11 years on the highschool level in Alabama and Florida.
Tompkins is married to the former Phyllis Parrish amd the couple has a grown daughter, Paige Lee.