Effingham County softball is ranked among the top-10 in the state. Credit the new coach.

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SPRINGFIELD – Brad Thompson played and coached high school baseball. Then a softball coaching job opened up.

Seventeen years and 400-plus softball wins later, Thompson, in his first season at Effingham County High School, is still making an impact

“For me, (coaching softball) was like Little League baseball and a good time in my life was Little League baseball,” said Thompson after the Rebels swept a doubleheader from Lakeside Evans on Sept. 22 to improve his overall record to 402-157.

Between games of the doubleheader, ECHS honored Thompson with an on-field ceremony. His Rebel players held a banner of congratulations with numbered balloons marking the milestone.

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Thompson’s 400th win came on the road Sept. 20 against Evans.

“It’s a lot of games to coach and a lot of games to win,” ECHS senior center-fielder Shelby Aiken said.

The majority of Thompson’s success came at Vidalia High, where he won five region championships and took the Indians to 15 state tournament appearances in 16 years.

Under Thompson, Vidalia made eight Elite Eight appearances, four Final Fours and two runner-up showings at the state championships in Columbus.

Someone who's always known success

Thompson's high school baseball career at Vidalia had similar highs. He won a state title in 1995. Eight years later, as an assistant, he helped coach Greg James capture another state crown.

Within a few years, high school softball in the state began to transition from slow-pitch to fast-pitch and Thompson accepted the chance to mold his own program.

“At a young age, I knew coaching was something I wanted to do. I just really took to softball,” Thompson said. “Not to knock boys, but every girl doesn’t want to be a Division I player. I figured out early on, boys have to play good to feel good. Girls have to feel good to play good.”

Despite the success, Thompson said he has never coached a Division I player. He stressed core values – correcting, teaching and breeding confidence. He strived for teamwork and lasting relationships. He likes to use the word “relentless,” taking a team from good to great to unstoppable.

Kourtnee Williams, Thompson’s former player, sent a congratulatory text that read, in part:

“I thank you for showing me what it takes to be a true representative of the words 'Vidalia Indian', 'Pride' and 'Tradition',” she wrote. “When I picture someone who embodies these words still to this very day, it’s always you, no matter what.”

Thompson said a highlight of his coaching career came in 2015 when Vidalia advanced to the state championship game before losing to Gordon Lee. The next year, the Indians went undefeated through the regular season.

“That’s when you knew you were doing things right,” Thompson said. “The girls didn’t take going to Columbus for granted and they took care of business. That was a special group.”

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He says he has another special group at Effingham County. The Rebels jumped out to a 20-3 record this season and are ranked eighth in Class 6A, according to Score Atlanta.

“I love this situation here,” Thompson said. “I didn’t have a set number. I’m just trying to win games. Like I told the girls, winning is what you’re supposed to do.”

Aiken still remembers the first team meeting after Thompson took the ECHS job in February.

“At first, we didn’t know him and he didn’t know us,” Aiken said. “He asked what our season was like last year and we told him we were region champs but we wanted to go farther. He said he’d help us and he has.

“You have to take a chance. Now we love him and it’s turning out pretty good.”

This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Effingham County High School hired a proven winner to coach softball