Originally appeared on Vype.com.

Dre Thompson has been promoted to be the new Aldine ISD athletic director, and has one seemingly simple mission as he begins his new regime.

“We have to recruit our own kids and make them want to stay in Aldine ISD,” he said. “It’s easy to get lazy and take it for granted that these athletes will automatically come to us. We have to get into the families’ houses, the elementary and junior high schools and keep our kids. We have the players here, we just need to keep them.”

Thompson is a Madison High School alumni and got his start in the Aldine ISD as a defensive coordinator at Eisenhower. He then became the Ike head coach, before moving to administration as an assistant AD.

“I still consider myself a coach,” he said. “It’s in a little different way. Now, I coach the coaches. I’ve been where they are today, and I like to give them the tools that make their jobs easier. I know their situations and give them realistic goals.

Thompson must fill the two head football coaching spots at MacArthur and Eisenhower.

“You have to find the right fit for the kids,” he said. “There are a lot of great coaches out here in Houston, but you have to decipher who fits the needs of our kids. I have to stick to that formula, even if it’s not all that popular.”

He will also be hiring an assistant athletic director.

“Like in any job, I’m looking for a hard-working person who has ideas,” he said. “I like to empower people and give them the credit for their ideas. That’s just how I’m programmed.”

At the end of the day, Thompson has his plate full as he launches his new administration.

“We are working on getting our on-site facilities upgraded as well,” he said. “We have a lot of work ahead of us, but this this is what I’ve dreamed of—having a career in athletics. It doesn’t get better than that.”