Matt Herp, Standard-Examiner file photo
Longtime Northern Utah football coach Erik Thompson was one of 10 people added to the Utah Sports Hall of Fame’s “Hall of Honor” during its annual spring banquet on April 7 in Salt Lake City.
The Hall of Fame’s spring honors name coaches and other prominent figures in Utah sports in “distinguished service” and “distinguished high school coaches” categories.
Thompson was named as a distinguished high school coach for his work as a longtime football coach around Northern Utah.
The Roy High alum and former player at Snow College and Colorado Mesa, Thompson spent many years as an assistant coach under Blaine Monkres and Fred Fernandes before being named head football coach at Northridge High in 2004. His 79 wins in 13 seasons are the most wins by a coach in school history.
Thompson then took over the football program at Ogden High in 2017, helping the Tigers end a 33-game losing streak by posting a 3-7 record in his first year. Thompson won 38 games in eight seasons, including two seven-win seasons. Prior to Thompson, Ogden had not reached the seven-win mark since 1988.
Thompson wrapped up his coaching career working through the advancement of ALS for the final five seasons.
“I was able to appreciate all the little things about this job that I got to do every day,” Thompson said of his final season.
He was named to the Ogden High Hall of Fame in January.
Brigham City native and longtime public address announcer Jeff Reeves was also named to the Hall of Honor for distinguished service. His simple but grand style of PA calls has become beloved across Utah, including work at Morgan High, Viewmont High, the Salt Lake Bees, Weber State and various Utah high school playoff venues.
The organization’s next Hall of Fame induction, a separate honor, is Sept. 22 and will include Weber State softball coach Mary Kay Amicone, along with John Buck, Wally Joyner, Stew Morrill and Holly Rowe.
Below is more about the other eight people joining the Utah Sports HOF’s Hall of Honor with Thompson.
Curtis Barney: 12-time state championships coach for girls basketball at Panguitch High.
Wendy Bills: 31-year head coach of girls volleyball at Provo High, winning three state championships.
Todd Jeffs: 32-year head coach of Emery High boys basketball, winning two state titles.
Mike Maxwell: 35-year head coach of Bountiful High boys basketball, winning three state titles and becoming one of 11 boys coaches in state history to reach the 500-win club (joining his late father, Larry, who won 503).
Joe Pereira: Longtime swim coach at Cyprus and Skyline high schools, winning 10 boys and 10 girls state championships.
Barry Pitt: Eight-year head coach of Tooele High baseball, a run that included five state championships and a 34-game win streak that held as the state record until 2022.
Dan C. Leonard: Viewmont High and University of Utah alum who cared for University of Utah’s practice football field and created the softball field at Salt Lake Community College.
Wesley Ruff: Approaching his 40th anniversary as a sportscaster for ABC4, Ruff is honored for his commitment to all sports in Utah — big and small universities, high school athletes and teams, golf and more.
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