Lakeville South coach Larry Thompson resigns

Larry Thompson, who coached high school football in Lakeville for 38 years, has resigned. He was the first and only head coach at Lakeville South.

Thompson's decision was disclosed in a letter, made public Tuesday, to school athletic director Neil Strader, the District 194 school board and players and booster club members.

"I want to thank all the great players I have had the honor of coaching,'' Thompson wrote. "The football families I have worked with are going to be my lasting friends. I have really enjoyed working with all the outstanding coaches that have been on my staff.''

Thompson, 63, moved to Lake-ville South when the school opened in 2005 after the district decided to build a second high school. He led Lakeville South to the 2006 Prep Bowl, where the Cougars lost to Eden Prairie for the Class 5A title.

Previously as coach at Lakeville High School, he led the program to three state championships, most recently the Class 5A title in 2003. He also led the school to three runner-up finishes.

Thompson was named coach of the year five times.

"It has been fun, but I am trying to move on," Thompson said in an interview.

"I do not have the energy anymore to get it done."

Asked if he had future coaching plans, he said, "The only thing I would do right now is coach my grandsons," who are sixth- and eighth-graders. "I usually just watch them [play]. But now I might have time to [coach them]."

Thompson lives on a farm south of Lakeville, "about 1,500 acres, so it is a lot of work to do,'' he said. "I look forward to doing that."

In his letter, Thompson added, "I was going to coach at South until we got turf, but I can't wait until I'm 100.''

Rushford-Peterson running back Noah Carlson was named the Minnesota Associated Press Player of the Year for high school football.

The AP's all-state team was announced Tuesday. Carlson helped lead the Trojans to the Class 1A championship game, where they lost to Minneapolis North while he fought through a knee injury.

Carlson finished with a state-best 2,785 yards rushing, which ranks among the top five single-season totals in Minnesota history, and scored 48 total touchdowns.

Carlson has scholarship offers from North Dakota State and South Dakota State, with some interest from Minnesota as a walk-on. The five-time state track and field champion also has scholarship offers in that sport from Michigan and Minnesota.

Marshall offensive tackle Blaise Andries and Maple Grove quarterback Brad Davison also received votes for the award.