Coach Thompson with a commemorative plaque and Millikan boys’ athletic director Chris Kinder
 
  
The only thing better than reaching an historic milestone is doing it in your own home, which is happened for Millikan wrestling coach Marshall Thompson when the Rams defeated Diamond Bar in the Millikan gym to earn Thompson his 600th career victory.  Later that day, the Rams defeated Los Al for victory 601 (they swept the Millikan Duals 7-0 over the weekend).

Ironically, it’s that close-to-home comfort that drew Thompson to the school 19 years ago.  Thompson was a graduate of Mark Keppel, where he coached for 11 years.  “I was planning to stay there for the rest of my career,” says Thompson, who intends to coach for a few more seasons.  “But I live right near Millikan, and it was such a commute—so when they offered me a job here, I took it.”

Since becoming a wrestling coach 35 years ago, Thompson has held the clipboard at Wilson, Keppel, and a school in Arizona as well—he’s been a head coach for 32 years, and has established an incredibly consistent program at Millikan that won back-to-back CIF titles in 2003 and 2004.

Thompson, who conducted his interview while keeping one eye on the wrestlers he’s worked so hard to prepare, says his team’s booster club over the last few years has made the work easier and more enjoyable, lengthening his career. 

But, Thompson says, “Coaching wrestling is not a job—it’s part of my life.”