KANSAS CITY, Mo. – College basketball lost one of its most iconic leaders on Sunday with the passing of legendary Georgetown University coach John Thompson, Jr. He was 78 years old.
A long-time member of the NABC Board of Directors and NABC president in 1986, “Big John” was the first Black coach to guide his team to a NCAA championship when Georgetown won in 1984. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1999 and was a member of the founding class of the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame in 2006.
Tributes from the National Association of Basketball Coaches:
Jamie Dixon, NABC president and head coach at TCU
“The world lost a great coach and great person in John Thompson. As a trailblazer in the game of basketball and a BIG EAST legend, John had a profound impact on his players and served as a mentor to other coaches. He will be missed.”
Craig Robinson, NABC Executive Director
“John Thompson Jr. altered the history of college basketball through both his on-court success and his passionate advocacy for equality for all coaches and student-athletes. He was a shining example for all coaches, especially those of us Black coaches who didn’t have many role models.”
Jim Haney, NABC Executive Director Emeritus
“Coaches have won more games, but I am not sure anyone cared so deeply about young people and opportunity, particularly people of color. He was a difference maker and left an imprint on so many lives. He clearly impacted the game of men’s college basketball.”
“I look at John Wooden, Bob Knight and John Thompson as the coaches who stand out. For them, it was not just about winning – it was about right and wrong.”
Reggie Minton, NABC Deputy Executive Director
“I first met John when we played against each other at the 1964 Olympic trials at St. John’s University and played again on the Kelly Miller playground in Washington, DC in 1965.”
“It was a big breakthrough when John was named head coach at Georgetown after his successful high school coaching career at St. Anthony’s. He was not just important to the game of basketball; he was important to the whole community. People listened to John because there was no idle chatter. He was so well respected throughout the coaching profession.”
