From 0-10 to a Playoff Run: The Towson Football Turnaround

How do you take a team that didn’t win a single game and turn them into a playoff contender in just one season? At Towson High School, Coach Will Thompson showed us exactly how it is done. By focusing on culture first, he turned a struggling program into a powerhouse.

A Program in Need of a Spark

When Coach Will Thompson arrived at Towson High, the situation was tough. The team had finished the 2024 season with 0 wins and 10 losses. Many of the seniors had barely seen a varsity win in their entire high school careers. The culture was described as being in shambles, with students skipping class and showing poor body language on the field.

Coach Thompson knew he needed to change the mindset before he could change the scoreboard. His very first call was to Lead ‘Em Up. He had worked with the program at two other schools and knew it was the key to building a connected team.

Speaking a New Language

The change started with the way the players talked to each other. The team began to embrace Lead ‘Em Up concepts like the Green Team and My Six. These were not boring lectures, instead, they were engaging sessions that the players looked forward to. The athletes truly enjoyed the experience, often using the phrases to joke around and hold each other accountable in the weight room.

“I honestly think it changed our whole culture. It didn’t just make us better at football, it made us better teammates and helped us grow into stronger men.” — Sam Martinez, Senior Center

The athletes loved the Hype Battles and Gold Mining exercises. These activities helped reduce conflict between teammates and allowed them to work as a unit. As Coach Thompson noted, the players were really invested, and it was not just smoke and mirrors.

“Lead ‘Em Up helped us become leaders in the school, not just on the field. It taught us how to be more confident, how to actually work as a team, and how to respect each other.” — Kobe Jordan, Sophomore LB

The Power of the Brotherhood

The results on the field were nothing short of amazing. Towson went from a winless season to a 7-4 record, making it to the second round of the playoffs. This was the most wins the school had seen in eight years, and more wins than the previous five years combined.

But for the players, the success was about more than just the final score.

“Lead ‘Em Up showed us that caring about the guy next to you is how you actually start winning. This is a powerful brotherhood, and I’m going to remember this team for the rest of my life.” — Raf Prumo, Junior QB

A Bright Future

By the end of the season, Towson was a completely different program. They were no longer the team that people expected to lose. Instead, they became ambassadors for their school, full of excitement and confidence.

Coach Thompson is already locking in dates for next year because he knows this is just the beginning. When a team stays Green and stays committed, they become very hard to stop.