Staff Photo: John Bohn Christie Thompson, a Gwinnett North graduate and current North softball coach, runs a softball camp held at North Gwinnett High School. The camp is hosted by former Gwinnett softball players now playing in college.

Christie Thompson knows as well as anyone, and better than most, how important it is to pick a college for more than a coach or a name.

Thompson was well advised when she was a standout at North Gwinnett. Her instructors at The Pitcher's Mound, where she had been training since she was 13, did everything they could to help her get a handle on what was most important when picking a college.

"I had plenty of visits everywhere," Thompson said. "I was told exactly what I needed to do. I sent letters to colleges. I went on several different visits to figure out exactly what I wanted. And I got everything I needed out of it. I had a great college experience. I ended up exactly where I needed, and where I wanted, to be.

"I loved it -- even when we didn't do that well. It was such a good time."

It wasn't about a coach. Hers changed after one season. Or about being at a big-time SEC school. Columbus State turned out to be just the right place for Thompson.

"I was told that several times -- it's about what works for you," Thompson said. "It's not about you going to a Georgia. That helped me a lot. I didn't want that and I was not pushed to do that just because it looked good. I appreciated that because a lot of instructors might have been like, 'Go out there and make me look good.'"

Now it's Thompson offering the advice.

She's been a full time instructor at The Pitcher's Mound in Duluth for the last two years.

Going to Columbus State, where she started at second base for four years, and going through a coaching change is something she draws from when talking to her students.

Excerpt from:
Former North softball star enjoying life in the coaching ranks