In brief: Indians add Thompson

Baseball: Former major league all-star Justin Thompson will be the Spokane Indians’ pitching coach for the 2009 season.

Thompson was an all-star selection in 1997 while playing for the Detroit Tigers. He was traded by the Tigers to the Texas Rangers in an eight-player trade after the 1999 season. After a series of injuries over six seasons with the Rangers, Thompson worked his way back to the majors for two games in 2005. He spent the 2003 season in Spokane, appearing in 23 games while compiling a 1.24 ERA and a 2-0 record. Thompson was part of the bullpen that led the club to the Northwest League championship in 2003.

The Indians will kick off the 2009 season on June 20 at 6:30 p.m. at Avista Stadium. Season ticket and mini-season ticket packages are on sale, along with single-game tickets. For more information, call 343-OTTO.

Huskies grab Montana’s son

Football: The Seattle Times reports that the son of former NFL great Joe Montana has decided to play football at Washington.

Nick Montana, from Oaks Christian School in Westlake Village, Calif., is rated among the top quarterbacks in the class of 2010.

The Times reported Wednesday that Montana called Washington coach Steve Sarkisian on Tuesday night and said he would become a Husky. Montana had scholarship offers from Ohio State, LSU, Alabama, Georgia and his dad’s alma mater, Notre Dame.

Montana says he isn’t deterred by Washington’s 0-12 record last season. He visited the campus last weekend with his parents.

Washington fans will get a chance to see Montana on Sept. 18 when Oaks Christian plays Seattle-area power Skyline at Qwest Field.

Hamilton leaves Alcorn

Athletics: A little more than a year after he was hired as Alcorn State’s athletic director, Darren Hamilton resigned to take the athletics director job at Livingstone College in North Carolina.

Hamilton, the former Eastern Washington University A.D., takes over at the Division II school in Salisburry, N.C. on June 30.

Livingstone College has a little more than 1,000 students and is supported by the African Methodist Episcopal Zion church.

Hamilton said he will have good memories of Alcorn State and hopes to be remembered as a leader.

“I’m a servant leader,” Hamilton said. “I listen to what my constituents need and want. When you talk about Darren Hamilton, talk about that he’s very loyal, very collaborative and a servant leader.”

Natchez Democrat