Hall of Fame Georgetown basketball coach John Thompson dead at 78

FORMER Georgetown basketball coach John Thompson has passed away at 78. The Hall of Famer was the first African American coach to win a National Collegiate Athletic Association Championship, according to radio station The Team 980 & 95.9FM. Family and friends of Thompson revealed his passing, according to reports. A cause of death has not […]

FORMER Georgetown basketball coach John Thompson has passed away at 78.

The Hall of Famer was the first African American coach to win a National Collegiate Athletic Association Championship, according to radio station The Team 980 & 95.9FM.

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Hall of Famer John Thompson passed away at 78[/caption]

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John Thompson’s cause of death has not been revealed[/caption]

Family and friends of Thompson revealed his passing, according to reports.

A cause of death has not been revealed.

The legendary coach for the Georgetown Hoyas was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1999.

He was also inducted into the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame.

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The legendary coach was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1999[/caption]

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John Thompson coached for the Georgetown Hoyas[/caption]

Before starting his coaching career, Thompson played for the Boston Celtics between 1964 and and 1966.

During his two years as a player in the National Basketball Association, his team won two championships.

Thompson was born in Washington, DC and attended high school at Archbishop Carroll.

In high school, he led his team to 55 consecutive victories and two city championships.

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Thompson worked as a television sports commentator.[/caption]

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John Thompson is seen coaching during an NCAA College basketball game circa 1991[/caption]

He later studied at Providence College – where he was dubbed “Most Outstanding Senior” – and obtained a Master’s degree the University of the District of Columbia.

According to the Official Athletics Site of the Georgetown Hoyas, Thompson’s name is “name is synonymous with success” – along with the “program he built at Georgetown University.”

“Whether the yardstick used to measure that success is overall wins (596- 239), post season appearances (24 consecutive), graduation rate (97percent- 76 of 78 students who stayed four years) or players drafted by the NBA (26, 8 in the first round), Coach Emeritus John Thompson built a winner,” the website states.

He was first hired by Georgetown University on March 13, 1972.

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Thompson, right, was a head coach for theGeorgetown Hoyas[/caption]

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Before starting his coaching career, Thompson played for the Boston Celtics between 1964 and and 1966[/caption]

Thompson worked as a coach for 27 years.

Following his coaching career, he worked as a television sports commentator.

Former ABC7 sports anchor Lou Holder remembers Thompson as the “real-life Black Panther,” according to WJLA.

“He was larger than life for Black people, for mankind, for social justice,” he added.