By NEAL WAGNER / Managing Editor

ALABASTER – The Thompson High School football program added several new staff members plucked from other local high schools – and even the University of Alabama – after the city’s Board of Education approved the hires during a Jan. 8 special-called meeting.

The School Board voted during the meeting to hire four assistants to help fill out new THS football coach Mark Freeman’s staff as the Warriors begin preparing for the 2015 season.

Freeman, the former Spanish Fort High School head football coach, was hired at Thompson during a Dec. 12, 2014, special-called meeting, bringing with him one of the best overall records in the Alabama High School Athletic Association.

Tim Castille, a former Briarwood Christian School, University of Alabama and Arizona Cardinals star who previously served as a graduate assistant with Nick Saban’s staff at UA, will serve as Thompson’s strength and conditioning and running backs coach after he was hired as a physical education teacher at THS.

The School Board also gained assistant coaches from a pair of successful Birmingham-area high school programs, as it hired former Hoover High School defensive end coach Mark Reaves, former HHS defensive back and special teams coach Merritt Bowden and former Shades Valley High School linebacker coach Kevin Todd.

Reaves and Bowdon will split offensive coaching duties, with Reaves handling the offensive line and Bowdon working with receivers. Todd will be the Warriors’ linebacker coach.

“I’m real proud of all these guys. They’ve all been successful where they’ve been,” Freeman said during a Jan. 13 phone interview. “There will be some more (coaches) coming down the road too. We’ve just got to find guys that are a good fit for what we are looking to do with this program.”

Alabaster School Superintendent Dr. Wayne Vickers said he was “very pleased” with the caliber of coaches Freeman is attracting to THS.

“I’m so proud of coach Freeman for luring these types of coaches to THS,” Vickers said during a Jan. 13 phone interview.

Since he was hired at THS, Freeman said he has been impressed with the players’ attitudes and work ethics.

“I love the kids. They are eager to work hard and please people,” Freeman said. “It’s hard to predict wins and losses, but if you do the right thing, show hard work and work ethic, that will fall into place.”