After 10 years as athletic director at Big Rapids High School, Dawn Thompson will step down following the spring sports season.

Thompson has spent 26 years at Big Rapids as a teacher, coach, and administrator.

“Time is precious and you can't get those moments back, so the difficult decision became much easier as family has always been my number one priority,” Thompson said. “The decision to step down and go back to teaching will allow me to spend more time with them.”

Thompson became athletic director in 2015, succeeding Nick Scheible in an interim role. A Howard City native and Tri-County High School graduate, she coached girls basketball and softball at Big Rapids and served as interim softball coach at Ferris State University on two occasions.

While Thompson plans to return to the classroom, she is undecided about continuing as head softball coach. She has led the program for 19 years, recently earning her 400th career win with the Cardinals. Her teams have captured six Central State Activities Association titles and five district championships.

“I’ll take some time after the season to decide whether to return next year, as coaching remains a passion of mine,” Thompson said.

When asked what ultimately led to her decision to step down as athletic director, Thompson cited the desire to spend more time with family.

“As an aunt to 14 nieces and nephews, many of whom compete in athletics from elementary to high school, it was the time I was missing from their events that led to my decision,” she said.

A Central Michigan University graduate, Thompson won two Mid-American Conference championships and earned all-conference softball honors twice.

Thompson’s successor has not been named.

_{Photo courtesy of Dawn Thompson and Maria Camargo.}