Monroe Dispatch - No Struggle, No Progress

John Thompson, famed African-American Basketball Coach, has now gotten his wings after passing at age 78. He died on August 30, 2020. "Big John" as he was affectionately known, had significant success as Georgetown University's Head Basketball Coach. Big John was born and raised in Washington, DC where he attended Archbishop Carroll High School and played basketball. After high school he attended Providence College, and then went on to play in the NBA for the Boston Celtics along with Bill Russell, 1964-1967. He was selected to play for the Chicago Bulls in the reconfigured NBA league but decided to retire instead. He then became a guidance counselor and head coach at St. Anthony High School in DC from 1966-1972. His career at St. Anthony ended after being hired to be Georgetown's head coach. He served the university, 1972-1999. In between his collegiate coaching career, Thompson served as an assistant coach for the US gold medal winning team in the 1976 Summer Olympics. After retiring from coaching he became a basketball commentator.

John Thompson's legacy includes and developing star basketball players Patrick Ewing, Dikembe Mutombo, Alonzo Mourning and Allen Iverson

His legacy includes coaching and developing star players Patrick Ewing, Dikembe Mutombo, Alonzo Mourning, and Allen Iverson.