John Thompson was more than a head basketball coach. He was an icon. Thompson put Georgetown University athletics on the map, guiding the Hoyas for 27 seasons. On Monday, Thompson died at the age of 78. His family released a statement through Georgetown.
Thompson led Georgetown to three national championship games in four years from 1982-1985. He became the first Black head coach in NCAA history to win a national championship when his Hoyas, led by Patrick Ewing, cut down the nets in 1984.
Georgetown made 14 consecutive trips to the NCAA tournament under Thompson. The Hoyas also won seven Big East Conference tournaments and was named Big East Coach of the Year three times.
Through the near three decades, Thompson coached a plethora of talented players in addition to Ewing, the first No. 1 overall pick in the NBA Lottery era. Alonzo Mourning, Dikembe Mutombo, Allen Iverson, Sleepy Floyd, David Wingate, Reggie Williams, Jerome Williams and Othella Harrington among many others.
John Thompson was Georgetown. The fabric and imprint of the university.
His success blazed a trail for Black basketball coaches. He helped shape Nike’s influence into college athletics and today’s sneaker craze.
Learning of his death surely rocked the basketball world. Former players, rivaling programs and many others who understood his impact in college basketball as well as the Black culture.
