Changes coming to sports program at Francis Scott Key

Francis Scott Key is making some changes in two of the more prominent leadership roles within its athletic department.

Will Thompson recently announced his resignation as varsity football coach by posting a message on his Twitter account. Thompson coached the Eagles for the past three seasons and went 11-16, but made two trips to the playoffs.

FSK went 7-4 this past fall and won a home playoff game by beating Carroll County rival Winters Mill 34-12 and advancing to a regional final. 

Thompson guided Key in 2019 to its first postseason berth in 13 years. In 2021, the Eagles started 5-0 and battled Westminster in Week 6 in one of the more memorable games of the season. They finished the regular season at 6-3, then captured the program's second home playoff victory.

Let's take a look back at that overtime clash between the Owls and Eagles.

"The program is in a stable and successful situation for whoever the next coach is," Thompson said in his Twitter post. "As the program moves forward, I will be rooting for continued success."

Francis Scott Key will look to replace Thompson as soon as possible, and it will be a new athletic director getting a chance to help make the hire.

Longtime boys basketball coach Ryan Kimble will be taking over as the school's AD. FSK had Troy Warehime in that spot from 2018 until he left in January to take a position in southern Pennsylvania.

Kimble powered the Eagles to a 17-8 record and their first state tournament berth since 1977 when FSK topped Pikesville and Loch Raven in the 1A South Region 1 playoffs.

Michelle Brilhart has been Key's interim athletic director since Warehime's departure, but Carroll County Supervisor of Athletics Michael Duffy said the transition to Kimble will be upcoming.

And this is as good as time as any to revisit one of Kimble's recent wins -- a finish for the ages when his Eagles hosted Pikesville in their playoff opener.