Longtime Lakeland football coach Keith Thompson is stepping down from leading the Lakers.
The Lakeland athletics department confirmed Thompson's departure after his 15 years as head coach.
"We would like to thank you for your time with the Lakeland Football program," said a shared statement from the sathletic department, school district and the board of trustees. "You learned, molded yourself, grew as a coach and committed yourself to serve the athletes of Lakeland High School."
Thompson started as an assistant coach in 1989, serving under then-head coach Rex Bowser. Thompson was elevated to head coach upon Bowser's retirement in 2005. The Lakers won 53.4 percent of its games since, including Northeast Corner Conference championships in 2009 and 2013. Thompson and Bowser stand atop the Lakeland coaching wins list at 82.
Lakeland is one of 26 high schools that partners with Parkview Sports Medicine for athletic training, sports performance, nutrition, athletic rehabilitation and other sports medicine services for Laker student-athletes. Learn more at ParkviewSportsMedicine.com.