TIFTON — In May, Cook High School had to deal with the tragic death of football player Roy White III on the practice field.

A mere nine months later, the Hornet family has experienced another tragic death.

Head football coach Mac Thompson died suddenly late Wednesday at Adel Memorial Hospital. He reportedly died of a massive heart attack.

He was 39 years old.

Cook High Principal Jute Wilson released a statement by e-mail Thursday, saying, “As we all know, Wednesday was national signing day. While Florida and USC had their usual very strong class, God finished #1 with standout 6-foot-4, 240-pound Mac Thompson out of Adel. God was looking for a man after His own heart, and Coach Thompson fit the bill.”

Thompson was 7-6 in 2009, his only season at Cook High. The Hornets began the year 1-2, but finished as one of the top-8 teams in Class AA football. The Hornets fell to eventual champion Buford 26-0 on Nov. 27.

Before coming to Adel, Thompson spent three seasons as the head coach of the Calera (Ala.) High Eagles from 2006-2008.

With the Eagles, Thompson compiled a 28-9 record. In Calera’s final season in Class 3A (2007), the Eagles went 12-2 and fell in the state semifinal to eventual champion, Cordova (Ala.) High.

Thompson’s first head coaching job was at Ider (Ala.) High School in 2002. He served as the head coach there for two seasons.

His total career record was 38-32 in six seasons as a head coach.

Thompson served as offensive line coach for Rush Propst’s state championship team at Hoover (Ala.) High in 2005. That team was featured on the popular MTV show “Two-A-Days.”

Propst had high praise for his former assistant.

“What he stood for goes beyond the football field. He was the ultimate family man — he loved his boys,” Propst said.

“I was with his wife (Thursday), and the number of coaches and former players calling — she finally just had to turn the phone off. It was so emotional.”

Propst continued, “When I hired Mac, I hired him as a ninth-grade coach. But he worked as a varsity assistant. He was at every meeting — he was very unselfish.”

Other head coaches around the Tiftarea had poignant memories of the Cook coach.

“Terrible news,” Fitzgerald head coach Robby Pruitt said.

“I just talked with him yesterday at five o’clock. We scheduled a JV (football) game for next season. We had about a 15-minute conversation.

“Obviously, I did not get to know him well because he was only there the one season, but he was a stand-up individual. I have nothing but positive thoughts about him.”

“I am heartbroken — my heart goes out to them,” Pruitt said.

Another Region 1-AA head coach, Berrien’s Ryan Branch, also spoke of Thompson in a positive manner.

“Our hearts and prayers go out to his family and sons, and to every member of the Cook system,” Branch said.

“They are our rival, but they are family just like everyone else.”

Berrien and Cook are two of the oldest rivals in the state of Georgia.

Tift County head coach Jay Walls added, “This is certainly a shock to everyone. I spoke with him two weeks ago at the (Border Wars) all-star practice. It’s sad for his wife and kids – and also the community.”

“He had it going in the right direction down there. He was a good coach, good man — a solid guy. The things I heard were that he had already made an impact on Cook football and at the high school in only one year.”

Thompson and his family were active members at New Life Baptist Church in Adel. He is survived by his wife, Regina, and four sons — Kolby (14), Ethan (13), Mackenan (11) and Isaak (8).

A memorial service was held Thursday at New Life Baptist Church in Adel. Funeral services will be held Saturday at 2 p.m. at the Concord Baptist Church in Calera, Ala.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Mac Thompson Fund, care of Cook Community Bank, The Trust Bank or Park Avenue Bank in Adel.