Winona High School head football coach Joey Tompkins made it official last week when he announced his retirement at the end of the 2024-2025 school year.
Tompkins will have 25 1/2 years in the public school education system. He has spent the last 11 years as head coach of the Tigers, directing them to the MHSAA 2023 Class 3A state championship with a perfect 15-0 record. Winona beat Noxubee County 42-28 to cap off the season, and Tompkins was named the Coach of the Year in Class 3A.
“I really made my mind up before the season started that this would be my last year,” said Tompkins, who is 48. “I have been treated great at Winona, but with the stress and my anxiety level too high, it’s the best thing for me at this point.
“My family knew of my decision before the season started. The stress really started three or four years ago. You talk to any other coach, and they will tell you that staying at one place for five to seven years is about what you need to do. Getting this program to the level we wanted to get it at has taken time, but maintaining it at this level is very stressful.”
Tompkins has only coached at four schools during his tenure. He started as a student teacher/coach at Weir High School while he was finishing up at Mississippi State University. He was there for six years, serving the last four as defensive coordinator.
He then joined Trey Allman at J.Z. George for one season as defensive coordinator. Tompkins moved on to Eupora High School for five years, and he left there and returned to J.Z. George as head coach of the Jaguars in 2012-2013. Winona offered him the same position in 2014, and he has compiled a 102-39 overall record in 11 seasons.
“I’m still going to work,” he said. “I’m the second assistant principal at the elementary school until the end of this school year. I made the announcement to the football team last Monday. I’ve had things going on with my health, and it’s strictly time to move on and do something else. I’ve had a bunch of calls and texts from former players and students.
“I’ve had a lot of good times and some good kids over the years. We’ve built this program to one of the most respectable in Class 3A. I have a son who is a junior this year at Winona, and my daughter is a sophomore at Ole Miss. Like I said, it’s just time for me to step away.”
Winona High athletic director Veronica Helms said replacing Tompkins won’t be an easy task.
“He’s taken the football program to places it has never been before,” Helms said. “He has a great relationship with the kids, and he is an excellent leader. He feels the need it’s time to move on, and we respect that.
“We’ve had great response from coaches who have applied for this job. We probably have between 10-12 applicants so far, and we will likely start the interview process next week. We’d like to have someone in place sooner than later.”
