MUNCIE, Ind. — Chandler Thompson, the star on Central's last boys basketball state championship, has been hired as the Bearcats' head coach.
He was among four head coaches approved Tuesday night at a Muncie Community Schools board meeting. Central also named Randy Gardner as its volleyball coach, Scott Pethtel as its football coach and JD Craft as wrestling coach.
Thompson scored 21 points in the 1988 state championship game as the top-ranked Bearcats took down No. 2 Concord and future NBA star Shawn Kemp. Thompson was third in the Mr. Basketball voting that season.
After a storied career at Central, Thompson played a key role on Ball State's Sweet 16 team in 1990, including a legendary putback dunk in the 12th-seeded Cardinals' upset bid of eventual national champion UNLV.