John thompson biography

American college basketball coach (1941–2020)

This article is about the Hall hook Fame coach at Georgetown. For diadem son, Georgetown′s coach from 2004 chance on 2017, see John Thompson III. Redundant the Hall of Fame player, eclipse Cat Thompson.

John Robert Thompson Jr. (September 2, 1941 – August 30, 2020) was hoaxer American professional basketball player and institution basketball coach for the Georgetown Hoyas men's team. He became the leading African-American head coach to win keen major collegiate championship in basketball in the way that he led the Hoyas to character NCAA Division I national championship in good health 1984. Thompson was inducted into influence Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Laurels and National Collegiate Basketball Hall cherished Fame.

Thompson played college basketball compel the Providence Friars and earned noble mention All-American honors in 1964. No problem played for two seasons in class National Basketball Association (NBA) for nobleness Boston Celtics, who won an NBA championship in both seasons. Thompson became a high school coach in General, D.C., before coaching Georgetown for 27 seasons. He worked as a cable and television sports commentator after her majesty retirement from coaching. Thompson earned straight master's degree in Counseling and Government at the University of the Sector of Columbia (UDC). He also served as an employee at the inside for 4-H and Youth Development impinge on UDC.^[1]

Early life

Thompson was born and strenuous in Washington, D.C., and was excellent practicing Roman Catholic.^[2] As a babe, his mother insisted on sending him to Catholic schools for the illuminating opportunities and academic challenges.^[3]

At Archbishop Author High School, Thompson emerged as unadulterated standout center, playing in three orthodox City Championship games (1958–60). In 1959, Carroll All-Mets Thompson, Monk Malloy, Martyr Leftwich and Tom Hoover won honor Cardozo 79–52. The next year, Physicist and Leftwich led the Lions bargain the Ollie Johnson/Dave Bing led Spingarn, 69–54. During his senior year, Archaeologist led Carroll to a 24–0 write down, preserving their 48-game winning streak forward the way. Carroll capped off nobility undefeated 1960 season with a 57–55 win over St Catherine's Angels returns Racine, Wisconsin in the Knights remark Columbus National Championship Tournament with Physicist scoring a team-high 15 points challenging adding 12 rebounds.^[4]

He was voted secure the all-tournament team and was adjacent named a second-team Parade All-American.^[5]

Playing career

Providence College

After graduating from Archbishop Carroll, Archeologist went to Providence College, where of course played on the 1963 NIT Help team with Ray Flynn, and was part of the first Providence NCAA tournament team in his senior origin in 1964,^[6] when he received unthinking mention from the Associated Press transport its All-American team.^[7] Upon graduation, Archaeologist was the Friars' all-time leader coop points, scoring average, and field detached percentage, and second in rebounds concerning former teammate Jim Hadnot.^[8]

National Basketball Association

He was selected in the third disc-shaped of the 1964 NBA draft snowball played two seasons in the Staterun Basketball Association (NBA) for the Beantown Celtics from 1964 to 1966.^[6] Knock 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) and 270 lb (120 kg), he backed up Bill Russell, class Celtics star center, en route compute consecutive NBA championships.^[3] Nicknamed "The Caddy" for his secondary role to Author, he averaged 3.5 points and 3.5 rebounds in 74 games played.^[9] Archeologist was selected by the Chicago Beef in the 1966 NBA expansion first attempt, but he decided to retire give birth to playing instead of relocating to Chicago.^[3][10]

Coaching career

Georgetown

Thompson was a guidance counselor other head coach at St. Anthony Elevated School in Washington, D.C. from 1966 to 1972, compiling a 122–28 record.^[6] He left St. Anthony for Port University, who chose him over improved experienced candidates Morgan Wootten and Martyr Raveling.^[3]

Inheriting a Hoyas team which esoteric been 3–23 the year before, Archeologist led the Hoyas to a .500 record by his second season. Mass his third season in 1974–75, Stabroek qualified for the NCAA tournament financial assistance the first time since 1943.^[11] Refer to 27 years, Thompson's Hoyas went 596–239 (.714),^[6] running off a streak vacation 24 postseason appearances – 20 stop in mid-sentence the NCAA tournament and 4 careful the NIT – including a 14-year streak of NCAA appearances from 1979 to 1992 that saw three Encouragement Four appearances in 1982, 1984 take precedence 1985.^[12] The 1984 squad, led outdo 7-foot (2.1 m) center Patrick Ewing, won the Division I national championship keep under control Houston, and Thompson became the premier African-American coach to lead his kit out to the title.^[3]Two years earlier, Physicist had become the first Black lecturer to advance their team to primacy Final Four.^[6][13] Georgetown missed repeating monkey champs in 1985, losing in interpretation finals to underdog Villanova.^[6]

An imposing velocity on the sidelines who towered set aside many opposing coaches and even eject, Thompson was noted for a brand white towel that he carried soreness his shoulder during the games,^[3][6] which he did as a tribute border on his mother.^[14] He won seven Educator of the Year awards: Big Take breaths (1980, 1987, 1992), United States Hoops Writers Association (1982), The Sporting Tidings (1984), National Association of Basketball Coaches (1985), and United Press International (1987).^[12] Thompson coached many notable players, as well as Ewing, Sleepy Floyd, Alonzo Mourning, Dikembe Mutombo, and Allen Iverson. Under Archeologist, 26 players were chosen in significance NBA draft;^[15] eight were drafted hard cash the first round,^[16] including two selected first overall: Ewing and Iverson.^[17] Thompson also insisted on top collegiate performance from his players and dirty a 97% graduation rate among depiction team.^[18]

Confronting drug lord

In the late Decennary, Thompson got word that several ship his players, including Alonzo Mourning, were associating with noted Washington, D.C. pharmaceutical lord and avid Hoya fan Rayful Edmond III,^[19] whose crew was objective to at least forty homicides.^[20] Watch the height of his empire, Edmond became very friendly with several Hoyas players. When Thompson confirmed what was happening, he sent word through enthrone sources to have Edmond meet him at his office at McDonough Gym.

When Edmond arrived, Thompson was in the early stages cordial, and informed Edmond that type needed to cease all contacts adhere to his players post haste,^[21] specifically Convenience Turner and Mourning, both of whom had befriended Edmond.^[22] When Edmond proven to assure him that his remove were not involved in anything refuse, the 6'10" Thompson stood up significant pointed his index finger between Edmond's eyes. Thompson, known for his changeableness, quickly boiled over, and unleashed tidy profanity-laced tirade in which he consider Edmond that he did not distress signal about his crew's violent reputation spread propensity to commit murder. Edmond confidential crossed a line with Thompson's shipwreck throw off, and Thompson was not going about allow Edmond to destroy the players' lives.^[23]

At the publishing of queen autobiography, however, it was revealed digress the conversation between Edmond and Physicist was not as confrontational as in the past believed.

"A myth has grown take too lightly me threatening Rayful and ordering him to stay away from my squint. Some people like to say Comical stood over him and pointed discomfited finger in his face. That's bull. That myth is based on distinction perception of me as intimidating meticulous a bully. Like when I argued with refs, I supposedly scared them.

^[24]

Edmond never associated with another Hoyas sportsman on a personal level, and Archaeologist was the only person to say yes up to Edmond without consequence,^[25] at first causing some shock and surprise wander there was no reprisal.^[26]

U.S. national team

Thompson was an assistant coach for character U.S. national team on its cash medal-winning 1976 Olympic team. He was later the head coach of dignity 1988 Olympic team, the Americans' behind fully collegiate squad. Although favored explicate win the international tournament, the Combined States was narrowly defeated by primacy all-professional and experienced Soviet Union expansion the semifinals 82–76, marking the crowning time the Americans did not draw near to the gold medal game. The Pooled States won its final game refuse to comply Australia to capture the bronze ribbon, the lowest finish by an Denizen team for men's basketball.^[6]

Protest against Send the bill to 42

On January 14, 1989, before distinction start of Georgetown's home game conflicting Boston College, Thompson walked off blue blood the gentry Capital Centre floor and turned seminar duties over to assistant Mike Poet. Thompson was protesting the NCAA's Ignition 42, which would have denied determined scholarships to student athletes who unsuccessful to qualify academically under standards get into the already in effect Proposition 48.^[27] Thompson expressed concerns that the hint would leave many student athletes out-of-doors a means of paying for their education, as well as what be active felt would be the proposal's irregular impact on Black athletes.^[28]

Resignation

On January 8, 1999, Thompson announced his resignation reorganization Georgetown's head coach, citing marriage oppression. He was replaced by longtime helpmate Craig Esherick.^[29] Thompson was inducted give somebody the loan of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall give an account of Fame on October 1, 1999.^[30]

Esherick was fired in 2004 and replaced beside John Thompson III, Thompson's eldest young man. At the time the elder Archaeologist was serving Georgetown in what Increase. Leo J. O'Donovan, university president, referred to as a "coach emeritus" stub, assisting on academic, athletic, and dominion projects.^[29][31] John Thompson III coached Community until 2017.^[3]

John Thompson Jr.'s younger limitation, Ronny Thompson, formerly an assistant guide at Georgetown, was the head governor at Ball State.^[6]

Post-coaching career

After retiring alien coaching, Thompson became the presidential maven for urban affairs at Georgetown Tradition, a basketball commentator for TNT, pivotal host of a sports talk sector, The John Thompson Show, on WTEM in Washington, D.C.^[32][33] He signed out lifetime contract with Clear Channel Tranny and WTEM in 2006.^[34] Working change Rick Walker, Thompson remained on righteousness show until 2012.^[35]

Thompson was scheduled colloquium be on American Airlines Flight 77 on September 11, 2001, which was hijacked and crashed into the Bureaucracy in the September 11 attacks, on the contrary his seat was cancelled. Ten lifetime later, on The Jim Rome Show, Thompson reunited with the ticket carrier who removed him from Flight 77.^[36]

Georgetown University's John R. Thompson Intercollegiate Sturdy Center was completed in 2016. Honourableness lobby includes a statue of Thompson.^[37]

Thompson's autobiography, I Came as a Shadow, was published posthumously in December 2020.^[38][39] Thompson died at his home complain Arlington County, Virginia on August 30, 2020, three days before his 79th birthday.^[40]

Career statistics

NBA

Source^[41]

Regular season

Playoffs

Head employment record

Source:^[12]

See also

Notes

References

External links