Thompson basketball is reloading for another run into the playoffs, but this time with a new head coach.

One day after Thompson seniors received their diplomas in May, boy’s basketball head coach Jeff Nichols resigned his coaching duties to spend more time with his family. Assistant coach Patrick Davis has been named his replacement.

“I’m looking forward to finally getting to see all of the things my kids participate in and hopefully take some of the load off of my wife. I’m going to be spending more hours just in different places. It’ll be all family,” Nichols said.

Nichols will continue teaching driver’s ed and math.

Davis, who has been with the program five years, said some things will change offensively and defensively, but “it’s still going to be a fun game to watch, because we’re still going to play fast. Speed is one of our strengths.”

Nichols said he’s glad Davis got the job.

“He’s got the blueprint for success. There’s a great group of guys coming back. I look for him to be very successful,” said Nichols, who won 162 games in 10 years as a head coach at Vincent and Thompson.

During his eight years at Thompson, Nichols posted a 126-110 record, taking the Warriors to five area championship titles, three region tournaments and two region finals.

“I’m excited that the students were so excited about basketball and the players took such pride in it,” Nichols said. “At one time, there was not much pride in the Thompson basketball program.”

Davis looks to pick up where Nichols left off with the tradition.

“I think I have an advantage taking a new job in the fact that I know the kids and they know me. There’s a mutual respect there, and that’s one of the tough things about taking a new job is getting to know your kids,” Davis said.

“I think we’ve built this program to one of the best in the state, and there’s that to live up to. I like to have that expectation level already set.”