Report: Thompson to take helm at Bethlehem Catholic

Rick Thompson is to be named head wrestling coach at nationally-ranked Bethlehem Catholic High School, LehighValleyLive.com -- website for the Express-Times newspaper in northeast Pennsylvania -- reported Wednesday evening.

The website reported the announcement could be made as soon as this week. When contacted by phone Wednesday, Thompson declined to comment.

If hired, Thompson would fill an opening left when Jeff Karam stepped down in April after a decade at Bethlehem Catholic.

Thompson would bring an impressive resume as wrestler and coach to the Bethlehem Catholic mat program which is ranked No. 17 in the nation in InterMat's Fab 50 national high school rankings.

Thompson, a 1973 Phillipsburg High graduate, was a two-time New Jersey state champion (1971, 1973). After graduating from Pennsylvania's Slippery Rock State University in 1977, Thompson launched a coaching career that included three stints at his high school alma mater, where, as head coach, he compiled a 268-54-1 overall record. Over the course of his career, he has coached at a number of high schools, most recently at Bangor High for the past decade.