John Thompson

Biographical information

RolesCoach
SexMale
Full nameJohn Robert•Thompson, Jr.
Used nameJohn•Thompson
Born2 September 1941 in Washington, District of Columbia (USA)
Died30 August 2020 in Arlington, Virginia (USA)
NOC United States

Biography

John Thompson coached the USA men’s basketball team at the 1988 Seoul Olympics. He is best known for his tenure at head coach of the Georgetown University men’s team (1972-99). During that time he led Georgetown to the NCAA Title in 1984, making the Final Four in 1982, 1984, and 1985, along with 20 NCAA tournament appearances.

Thompson had been a top player. He played college basketball for Providence University before spending two years in the NBA with the Boston Celtics, notably as a back-up to Bill Russell. After his career ended, he coached St. Anthony High School in Washington, DC from 1966-72, before taking over the Georgetown position.

Thompson was known as an outspoken critic of policies that he thought discriminated against his players and Black players in general. To protest NCAA policies regarding academic qualifications he famously walked out of a 1989 game against Boston College. Thompson was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame.

Coaching results

Games Sport (Discipline) / Event NOC / Team Pos Medal As
1988 Summer Olympics Basketball (Basketball) USA John Thompson
Basketball, Men (Olympic) United States 3 Bronze