Athletes - John Thompson

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	Athletes - John Thompson

John Thompson, Jr. (born September 2, 1941, in Washington, DC) is a former basketball coach for the Georgetown University Hoyas. He is now a professional radio and TV sports commentator.

Playing career

After attending Archbishop John Carroll High School in Washington, DC, Thompson went to Providence College. At Providence, Thompson was a part of the 1963 NIT Championship team, and was part of the first Providence NCAA tournament team in 1964. He was an All-American in his senior year of 1964. He is currently eleventh on the all-time scoring list at PC, fourth in scoring average, sixth in field goal percentage, and third in rebounds. He graduated as the school leader in points, scoring average, and field goal percentage, and second in rebounds. He played two years in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for the Boston Celtics in 1964-1966. At 6'10" (2.08 m), he backed up Bill Russell, the Celtics' star center, en route to two championships. His career as a player was unimpressive, however, and he retired in 1966 to coach at St. Anthony High School near DC. After racking up an impressive 122-28 record as a high school coach, Thompson was hired to become the head coach of the men's basketball team at Georgetown University.

Coaching Career

Thompson, an imposing figure on the sidelines who towered over many opposing coaches (and players, for that matter), was often noted for the trademark white towel that he carried on his shoulder during the games, a color which his critics took symbolic meaning from. He took over a Georgetown team that had gone just 3-23 the year before. Thompson quickly and dramatically improved the team, which made the NCAA tournament within three years. Over the following 27 years, Thompson's Hoyas went 596-239 (.714), running off a streak of 24 postseason appearances - 24 in the NCAA tournament, four in the NIT - including a 14-year streak of NCAA appearances from 1979-1992 that saw three Final Four appearances in 1982, 1984 and 1985, winning a National Championship in 1984 and narrowly missing a repeat the next year by losing to underdog Villanova.

Thompson still holds conference records for most overall Big East wins (231), most regular-season Big East wins (198) and conference championships (seven regular season, six tournaments). He won seven Coach of the Year awards: Big East (1980, 1987, 1992), United States Basketball Writers Association and The Sporting News (1984), National Association of Basketball Coaches (1985) and United Press International (1987). Thompson coached many notable players, including Patrick Ewing, Sleepy Floyd, Alonzo Mourning, Dikembe Mutombo and Allen Iverson. Under Thompson, 26 players were chosen in the NBA Draft, eight in the first round including two players selected first overall, Ewing by the New York Knicks in 1985 and Iverson by the Philadelphia 76ers in 1996.

Thompson, who had served as an assistant coach for the gold medal winning team in the 1976 Summer Olympics, coached the United States team at the 1988 Summer Olympics. Although heavily favored, the United States was narrowly defeated by the Soviet Union in the semi-finals 82-76, marking the first time the United States did not reach the gold medal game. The team proceeded to win its final game against Australia to secure the bronze medal. News of the humiliating loss sent shockwaves across the country and following the conclusion of the 1988 Olympics, Thompson came under heavy criticism for the players he selected for the team and the coaching style he employed. In particular, his critics pointed to the absence of notable players such as 1989 Naismaith Player of the Year, Danny Ferry and the inclusion of Mourning (then just a high school player), named one of the 17 Olympic team finalists as examples of Thompson's professional incompetence during the selection process. Critics would additionally cite the Ferry/Mourning case of further proof of Thompson's blatant racism, although it must be noted that Ferry injured his knee during a pre-draft workout with the Washington Wizards prior to the final cut. Thompson proponents often point to Bobby Knight's handling of the 1984 Olympic Team (in which future Hall of Famers Charles Barkley, Karl Malone, and John Stockton were cut), as examples of the double standard which black coaches are often held to, although this argument would undoubtedly carry more weight had the 1988 team brought home gold.

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