2025 Interview with Head Coach Bernie Thompson From Union Local

 


 Union Local

Would you share with everyone your coaching career, from your first job up to your current position?

2016-2017: UL WR Coach

2018-present: UL Head Coach

What has been your biggest moment as a high school head coach?

Winning the first-ever road playoff game in school history. That was only the second playoff win in school history. That was a historic moment for our senior class and community.

How important is it to you that all of the lower levels throughout the program play a full schedule?

The lower levels playing a full schedule is so important to the overall program. I am big on our youth football, junior high, and JV football teams playing as many games as possible. The more reps and live action kids get, the more their confidence and skill grow.

Should all teams in the program run the same base offense and defense? Explain:

All teams in your program run base O and D. I think it is beneficial when all levels are teaching the same concepts and speaking the same terminology. Obviously, levels and talents will differ, and I believe you must play to your players strengths, but if you can keep things similar, it will only help your program in the long run.

As the head coach, what do you do to aid your players in getting recruited?

We have really taken a big step in this department. We have multiple coaches on staff reaching out to college coaches. Obviously, social media has become a big part of the networking process. We have our own website that our offensive coordinator, Coach Rocchio, developed that highlights our players and has all of their information on it. We try to get that out to as many coaches as possible. We now have multiple kids playing at the next level.

What is the best part of being the head coach at Union Local High School?

The people I get to surround myself with. We have great young men in our program. Our coaching staff is phenomenal, all great guys who sacrifice for their players. I am a UL graduate, so I have immense pride in being the football coach in my hometown.

What is the toughest part of being a high school coach?

Coaching is very rewarding but can also be very difficult. The reality is you spend a ton of time and effort on this, and it can be exhausting. Most people only think of the Friday night lights part but don’t realize you are also running the January-May workouts, creating the summer schedule, running the two-a-days in August, and prepping Sunday-Thursday to get to that Friday night. Most of the elite programs are year-round.

I know it is impossible to name just one, so could you name some of the best players that you have coached?

I have had the pleasure of coaching some very talented young men. Too many to name just one. I am grateful for all the guys I have coached. The special ones know who they are, and they know how important they are to not only me but the whole program.

What will you miss the most from the 2025 class?

I am going to miss the camaraderie of that group. They were very close, both on and off the field, and were truly fun to be around. They made coming to practice fun. Their energy and effort will be missed!

Who are some of the coaches you have learned the most from?

I always try to be a sponge and learn as much as I can when I am around other coaches. I love reading up on coaches and how they run their programs, whether it’s Coach Reno or Coach Bruney from the Valley, Coach Saban and Coach Tressel in college, or Coach Belichick and Coach Bill Walsh in the NFL. I am a fan and student of the game.

How do you go about scheduling your non-league games?

Like anyone else, you want to find the right game for your team. One thing I take pride in is not backing down or running from competition. Here at UL we have proven each year we will play talented teams and not sugarcoat our schedule.

What is your favorite home-cooked meal?

Steak and mashed potatoes.

What is the best place you have ever gone on vacation?

Miami

What was the last book that you read, along with the author?

Lead for God's Sake - Todd Gongwer

 


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