By BAKER ELLIS / Sports Editor

ALABASTER – The boys basketball program at Thompson High School will have a new face come the 2016-17 season. Patrick Davis, who has been with the Warriors’ program for the past 12 years, and has been the head coach for the past seven, will not be returning to the Thompson sideline next year, having been relieved of his coaching duties on March 31.

“I am extremely grateful for the years that I have been able to serve as basketball coach at Thompson High School,” Davis said in a statement. “I love Thompson High School, the city of Alabaster, and the young men that I have been so blessed to have coached. I feel like our program has done things the right way through the years and I stand by the job we have done. We have always sought to use basketball as a way to teach young men how to be successful in the rest of their lives as husbands, fathers, employers, employees and good citizens. We truly have a Thompson basketball family.

“God obviously has a plan for me to be somewhere different. God is completely sovereign and is completely good, all the time. I look forward to seeing what He has in store for me and for my family.”

Thompson principal Wesley Hester said there is not a timetable in regards to naming a new head coach, but said the administration will seek out the best fit for the program.

“We don’t have a timetable that is tied to a particular time,” Hester said. “But it’s about finding the right person, the right coach with the right qualifications who is the right fit for our school, community and kids. Patrick is still employed as an Alabaster City Schools teacher and is continuing to do a great job in that capacity.”

Davis went 121-86 during his seven years as Thompson’s head coach, winning 58 percent of his games. His 2012-13 team advanced to the 6A Elite Eight, although the Warriors have not advanced out of the area tournament in either of the last two seasons. He was named the Birmingham Tipoff Club’s Alabama Coach of the Year and the Shelby County Coaches Association Coach of the Year in 2013. While he always put a competitive product on the floor, what Davis is most proud of is the relationship-driven program he built at Thompson.

“You’re not going to remember specific wins, losses, how many points you scored, any of that,” David added. “You’re going to remember relationships that last. The most special thing to me is guys that come back all the time, that just want to be around the program. I’ve been fortunate to coach some good players, but it’s the relationships that matter.”