Come fall, the Lindbergh Eagles will have a new head coach calling the plays.

Danny Thompson was named head coach May 24 after former coach Timothy Tramp stepped down earlier this year.

Thompson spent last season as defensive coordinator across the school district boundary line at Kentridge. Before coaching the Chargers, he spent 2011-2016 as the defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach at Lakeside High School.

Aside from little league, this is Thompson’s first time as head coach at the high school level.

“I have a desire to be here,” Thompson said. “I don’t see Lindbergh as a stepping stone, I see it as somewhere I want to be for the next 30 years.”

This was not the first time Thompson threw his name into the hat for the head coaching job at Lindbergh. He said he also applied last year but was not chosen.

“I’m here to build a program, build a legacy,” he said.

The Eagles may have ended last season with a 1-7 record but Thompson doesn’t see next year as a rebuild year.

“(They) had one bad year in six years,” he said.

He hopes to bring in some young coaches to help him accomplish his goals at Lindbergh.

Thompson said he doesn’t plan to change too much when he arrives, but only fine tune what was already being done.

“I want to get the ship pointed in the right direction,” he said.

Thompson views Lindbergh as a prime location to be successful.

He spent his high school career playing football for two years at Wilson High School and two years at Curtis High School. He graduated in 2000 from Curtis.

During his time at Curtis, Thompson said he was coached by Bob Lucey.

“I’m a disciple of Lucey,” he said.

Thompson plans to use what he learned from Lucey at Lindbergh.

Not only will Thompson be coaching at Lindbergh, he also plans to be a full time teacher. He said he teaches English and Business Marketing.

Thompson not only wants to help the players on the field but off the field. He said he hopes to prepare them to pursue their dreams.

“Everyone has the opportunity to pursue their dreams,” he said. “But often times they are either scared or not prepared.”

Thompson said his goal is to help students learn how to prepare and not be scared when it comes to succeeding at their dreams.

“We are excited to have coach Thompson lead our program to the next level,” Kirsten Roberts-Hunkovic, incoming athletic director at Lindbergh wrote in an email. “His skills and leadership will provide a foundation for the young men in our program to develop both as players and influential leaders in our community.”

The 2018-2019 season begins Aug. 30 with a home game against Clover Park.