Ex-coach retiring from teaching to become planner Rick Thompson, out on sick leave, to exit in July. He's been with Phillipsburg district 30 years. Tuesday, May 15, 2007 • By DANIEL HAUSMANN • The Express-Times PHILLIPSBURG | Former high school wrestling coach Rick Thompson will retire from teaching in July. Thompson, 52, took a full-time job as a Met Life financial planner. He's been out on paid sick leave since the fall when he had hip replacement surgery. The former two-time state champ resigned as wrestling and cross country coach in July 2006 when several questionable wrestling tournament travel vouchers came to light. Thompson said his resignation has nothing to do with what happened last summer and said he's leaving with no axes to grind. "It's time to move forward," Thompson said. "It's been a fantastic ride." A health and physical education teacher for 30 years, Thompson was transferred to the middle school in August. By October, his hip condition got bad enough that he went on sick leave. According to a state Treasury Department pension calculator, Thompson's pension should be around $35,000. The career change has also taken Thompson out of the running for any other coaching positions. He had considered the head coaching job at Belvidere High School but withdrew his name. "I gotta put a lot of time into this new change," Thompson said. "It's a new challenge for me and I like challenges." Thompson said his hip condition has improved greatly. Reporter Daniel Hausmann can be reached at 610-258-7171 or by e-mail at dhausmann@express-times.com. © 2007 The Express-Times. Used with permission.