Thompson takes over Lady Blues basketball

• (DAVID FLYNN | CONTRIBUTED PHOTO) Baylee Thompson (right) poses for a photo with the Lady Blues’ bi-district volleyball trophy in fall 2023. Thompson served as a volleyball, basketball and track assistant coach but was recently named the head girls basketball coach at Graham.
• (DAVID FLYNN | CONTRIBUTED PHOTO) New Lady Blues head basketball coach Baylee Thompson (blue) works with youth at the girls basketball summer camp. In just her second year of teaching and coaching, Thompson is taking over the girls basketball program.

At the end of the school year, Graham’s athletic department was on the hunt for a new girls basketball coach. They didn’t have to look far as assistant coach Baylee Thompson has taken over the reins of the program and been named the new head coach for the Lady Blues.

Thompson is taking over the girls side for coach Kyle Wood, who has moved over to take the head coach position of the boys basketball team. In just her second year as a teacher and coach, Thompson has received the title of “head coach” and welcomes the responsibility of leading the Lady Blues team.

“(The players) seem really excited, I’m excited. It’s going to be a fun time and I’m looking forward to watching them play this summer and prepare for next season,” Thompson said.

As the position opened somewhat late in the hiring cycle, Thompson wasn’t sure how much of a chance she would have but still expressed her interest to athletic director Clay McChristian.

Due to how well known she already was with her experience as an assistant this past year, it wasn’t long before she got offered the position and jumped at the opportunity.

“It wasn’t the most formal process because of their familiarity with me, but they knew I was excited and when they offered I accepted it,” Thompson said.

Although she had an interest in coaching and teaching, it happened quicker than Thompson was expecting. The second-year coach grew up in Jacksboro and played basketball under Wood for the Tigerettes.

Wood moved to the Lady Blues head coaching position a few years ago, and as Thompson was finishing up her degree at Texas Tech University, an assistant position opened up and he brought it to her attention.

“I wasn’t sure because I was going to get a master’s degree, but I jumped at the opportunity to join the Graham staff,” Thompson said.

During the 2023-2024 school year, Thompson served as an assistant volleyball, girls basketball and girls throwers coach for track. By taking over as head girls basketball coach, she will continue as an assistant track coach while also earning the title of girls cross country coach.

“I’ve been involved in sports my whole life. In high school I did cross country, volleyball, basketball and track and field,” Thompson said. “I did track and field at Texas Tech… (where) I threw shot put.”

The Lady Blues basketball program took steps forward this past season and began an upward trend, and Thompson is looking to carry that forward. The team finished the year with a 12-20 record after only winning a few games the season before. Thompson hopes to keep this program on that positive track.

“I’m looking forward to the relationships with the girls, helping them understand the value of hard work and hopefully, finding a bit of success,” Thompson said. “This past year, they won some more games, and I’m hoping to keep going in that direction and working for a playoff spot.”

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