Thompson, one of the greatest and most important coaches in college basketball history. The Georgetown Basketball History Project; HoyaBasketball.com. ), 7 Times (Tourn.) He turned Georgetown into a powerhouse and opened doors for other Black coaches. Butler Bulldogs basketball history. LEGENDARY former Georgetown basketball coach John Thompson has died. Thompson famously coached Patrick Ewing, Allen Iverson, and Alonzo Mourning. Official Facebook Page of Georgetown University Men's Basketball Location: Washington, District of Columbia Seasons: 113 (1906-07 to 2020-21) Record: 1694-1081 .610 W-L% Conferences: Big East, EIC and Ind Conference Champion: 11 Times (Reg. John Thompson, the imposing Hall of Famer who turned Georgetown into a “Hoya Paranoia” powerhouse and became the first Black coach to lead a team to the NCAA men’s basketball … Former Georgetown head coach John Thompson at a college basketball game between the Hoyas and Butler in February 2019. Former legendary Georgetown basketball coach John Thompson Jr. has died at age 78, a statement from his family confirms. Georgetown Hoyas School History. Thompson, whose son John Thompson III is the current head men’s basketball coach at Georgetown, gave $42,500 to the organization’s Butler-Wyatt Clubhouse on M Street to keep it open for another three months. 937 talking about this. The circumstances surrounding his death are still unclear. "— A cause of death was not immediately announced for Thompson, who coached Georgetown for nearly 30 years. He passed away on Monday morning at the age of 78. ... One of the most dramatic moments in Georgetown history … Georgetown coach John Thompson, the first African American coach to win an NCAA title, has passed away at 78. Thompson, affectionately known as “Big John,” died this past August after coaching from 1972-1999 and remaining part of the Georgetown community for a total of 48 years. WASHINGTON — A towel on his right shoulder was John Thompson Jr.'s signature look while he coached the Georgetown Hoyas men's basketball team for 27-years. https://www.facebook.com/GeorgetownHoops/videos/1343772775989003 Georgetown men’s basketball became a symbol for African Americans to aspire towards in the ‘80s and ‘90s, in large part because of the player-coach duo of Thompson and Ewing. He was a basketball writer's basketball writer. For Georgetown, the men's basketball coaching position has been all but a family affair for decades. Impact on Court. Thompson became the first Black coach to win an NCAA championship in 1984. John Thompson, the legendary Georgetown Hoyas men’s basketball coach and a major figure in the history of college basketball, died at age 78. The following series is a result of hours of research into the origins of how Georgetown men’s basketball came to be a major part of African American culture in the '80s and '90s. Renowned Georgetown coach John Thompson Jr., known simply as "Big John" throughout college basketball, has died at age 78. For the first time in history, Georgetown University in Qatar’s men’s basketball team, the GU-Q Hoyas were named the champions of the HBKU basketball tournament when they defeated the Northwestern and Carnegie Mellon team by a 44 to 40 score in the final game, bringing home the … Legendary basketball coach … Thompson has died. He was one of the first Black coaches to head a major collegiate basketball program and the first to win an NCAA basketball championship. Georgetown University said Thompson "transformed Georgetown Basketball" and that the school is a "better University because of John's leadership." John Thompson Jr., Georgetown basketball coach who made history with NCAA win, dies at 78. Only Men's Basketball coach, Jim Reid, Volleyball coach, Donna Hawkins and Women's Basketball coach, Susan Johnson, have that many wins at Georgetown College. Basketball Coach: 1945-1946. For 2021, Georgetown has a puncher's chance of riding this all the way to Saturday. Coach Bio: Ewing is one of the more decorated players in collegiate basketball history, not just in Georgetown history. Georgetown head coach John Thompson, pictured hugging center Patrick Ewing after defeating Houston for the 1984 NCAA championship, was the first Black head coach to win the Division-I men's basketball title. Current head coach: LaVall Jordan (2017-) Asst: Omar Lowery (2017-) Asst: Emerson Kampen (2017-) Interim Asst: Will Vergollo (2020-) Interim DBO: Jay Shunnar (2020-) Post-Season: National Championships: 0 "—Jeff Barker , Baltimore Sun "The Capital of Basketball highlights [the DC area's] impact on the area and many other key moments, players, games, and coaches in Washington, DC's storied high school basketball history. Legendary basketball coach John Thompson Jr. has died at 78.Thompson's death was confirmed by his family on Monday, who in a statement said, "Our father was an inspiration to many and devoted his life to developing young people not simply on, but most importantly, off the basketball court. He was 78. Thompson is best know as the towering presence on Georgetown’s sidelines as its head men's basketball coach, a formative figure in young men’s lives and … "I am honored to be considered among such coaches as Reid, Hawkins and Johnson, three of my mentors when I was a student at Georgetown," Thornton said. John Thompson, Jr., the late, legendary coach of the Georgetown Hoyas, is being honored this week by college basketball coaches across the nation.Coaches will be wearing commemorative towels to celebrate his life as a part of Black History Month. He was 78. August 31, 2020 Al Bello / Getty Images. And yet, basketball has returned, even if we cannot. Georgetown coach John Thompson shouts to the floor during the Hoya's NCAA semifinal game against St. John's at Rudo Arena in Lexington, Ky., March 30, 1985. The Hall of Famer was the first African American coach … Seas. NCAA Tournament: 30 Years (47-29), 5 Final Fours, 1 Championship NCAA Champion: 1984 Ranked in AP Poll: 23 Times (Preseason), 20 Times (Final), 397 Weeks (Total) Players; Coaches; Features; Records; Traditions; About Us; Players; Coaches; Features; Records; Traditions; About Us; Home; Coaches; Assistant Coaches; Coaches Assistant Coaches. He was 78. The Soul of Georgetown Basketball Winning symbolized Thompson’s coaching career, which started with Hall of Famer Patrick Ewing , who dominated college basketball in all four years. One season, 11-9 (.550) Engles, the only player-coach in Georgetown's basketball history, assumed coaching duty for the 1945-1946 season when Elmer Ripley was unable to return from Notre Dame. Under Ewing and Thompson, the Hoyas reached the Final Four three times in 1982, 1984 (Georgetown’s only championship in basketball history) and 1985. KOJO NNAMDI Georgetown University basketball coach John Thompson, Jr. made history as the first African American coach to lead his team to an NCAA title in 1984. But it could just as easily end this season before nine other teams ever hit the floor--such is the peril of playing in the consolation bracket of the tournament. He imparted his basketball stories with insider information and wit. Joining us to discuss his life and legacy is Maurice Jackson, associate professor of history and … Now, fellow college coaches … Butler University (Indianapolis, IN) Hinkle Fieldhouse Big East Conference. The Jamaica native was named a consensus first-team All … John Thompson Jr., Georgetown’s head men’s basketball coach emeritus, saved a local Boys & Girls Club from closing over the weekend. [AP Photo/File] He is revered as a historic shepherd of the sport, dedicated to the welfare of his community above all … He died last August at age 78. John Thompson, the imposing Hall of Famer who turned Georgetown into a “Hoya Paranoia” powerhouse and became the first Black coach to lead a team to the NCAA men’s basketball … John Thompson Jr., the first Black basketball head coach to win the NCAA National Championship, died at his Arlington, Virginia, home on Sunday night, according to his family. The larger-than-life force behind Georgetown's rise to national prominence, Thompson died earlier this week at the age of 78.