Winning Ways: Charlo coach Bret Thompson is one of state's winningest

By Michelle Lovato

Lake County Leader

Bret Thompson learned one of his strongest life lessons after graduating college:

In the workplace, say yes.

And after 29 years as a Charlo Vikings coach, saying ‘yes’ was one of the best career decisions Thompson made.

“As a 23 or 24-year-old boy just out of college, coaching girls basketball was not exactly what I had in mind,” Thompson said. 

But his father, a long-time educator, gave Thompson that ‘say yes’ advice, and Thompson turned his experience coaching girls basketball into a career-long positive that rewarded him with a to-date career record of 502 wins and 174 losses.

“500 wins is cool, don’t get me wrong, but I would much rather have other things happen,” Thompson said. “I’d trade in some of those things in, for example, if I could give every girl the chance to play in a state tournament. Those are the things I would really like to give the girls a chance to do.”

Still, Thompson is one of Montana’s “winningest” coaches.

And he said the school’s success with girls basketball is a team effort that includes students, the entire school staff and Assistant Coach Sheryl Kain, with whom he’s worked for 25 years.

Thompson became a Charlo Vikings coach in the 1986-1987 school year after graduating high school in Superior, and college from Western Montana College, which is now known as University of Montana Western.

When he started coaching ,Thompson said his eyes were open to learning. And through his own experience and the experience of other coaches, Thompson developed a style that draws the hard work and loyalty from his team members that they need to win games. 

“I learned a lot from having my own kids and working with other coaches, both in Charlo and other schools. Also from coaching in All Star games. I picked up an awful lot from a lot of coaches,” he said.

Thompson said one coaching element that did not change through his career is his expectation that his girls must play hard all the time.

Thompson said through the years he and his teams traveled through winning and losing seasons, had parents upset and thrilled. 

One element that did not change over time is the dedication of his players. 

“The girls work just as hard now,” Thompson said. “It’s hard work and we work hard to have fun. We are disciplined on and off the court. And I think we are teaching them things that are making it better for those kids when they move on.”

Thompson’ desire for his players has a long-range payoff.

“I am a firm believer players need to be well-rounded,” Thompson said. “I personally really push our kids to get involved in everything as much as they can, within limits.”

Thompson said keeping students busy is integral.

“I like it that we have our music department back. I like that they are in volleyball, softball track. I hope as we – all of us at school – whatever we are doing, know it’s not just about teaching basketball, but things they can use down the line.”

Over time, Thompson saw girls become doctors and dentists, mothers and friends.

“It’s pretty cool that players can play hard like that and still at the end can tie things together to get their own lives together,” he said. 

Thompson said he is now coaching second-generation students.

In addition to his winning girls basketball program, Thompson works with the Little Dribblers Basketball program that offers kids from the age of five years old a chance to try out the game in a team and on-court setting. Next year’s program will mark Thompson’ 19th year working with the outreach.

Each spring, Thompson works as Charlo High School boys and girls track coach. For the past four consecutive years, Charlo boys and girls track teams won the state title. In 2003 Thompson and his girls basketball team won the state title, and the 2008 team placed second at state, he said. 

“The girls taught me way more than I’ll ever teach them,” Thompson said. “They get four years in high school but I’ve got 29 years experience. I’ve been pretty fortunate here. The girls have been competitive enough to be on the winning side most of the time.”