St. John’s basketball program mourns the loss of John Thompson
The St. John’s basketball program mourns the loss of former Georgetown head coach John Thompson.
College basketball fans around the country woke up to the sad news on Monday morning that former Georgetown Hoyas head coach John Thompson had passed away at the age of 78 late Sunday night.
Thompson was the head coach of the Hoyas from 1972-1999 and became the first African-American head coach to lead his team to a National Championship in 1984.
The Hall of Famer won 596 games during his time at Georgetown, leading the Hoyas to six of the first twelve Big East Tournament championships, seven NCAA Tournament Elite Eight appearances, and three National Championship games with the one victory.
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Over the course of his time in Washington DC, John Thompson had some legendary battles and games with St. John’s and its head coach Lou Carnesecca, but none perhaps more memorable than when the Hoyas head coach emerged from his team’s locker room at Madison Square Garden wearing Carnesecca’s famous sweater.
RIP John Thompson #HoyaSaxa #SJUBB pic.twitter.com/XOMD475Ey8
— Storm The Paint (@StormThePaint) August 31, 2020
The former St. John’s head coach released a statement through the school on Monday afternoon on the passing of his longtime friend, colleague, and rival.
Statement from fellow @Hoophall inductee Lou Carnesecca on the passing of John Thompson, Jr. #SJUBB pic.twitter.com/ojsAT6yxY3
— St. John's Men’s Basketball (@StJohnsBBall) August 31, 2020
St. John’s current head coach Mike Anderson also released a statement regarding the passing of Thompson as the two were just together in the Red Storm’s last trip to our Nation’s Capital last season to play the Hoyas.
Statement from #SJUBB Head Coach Mike Anderson on the passing of John Thompson, Jr. pic.twitter.com/UvtI6ZroTf
— St. John's Men’s Basketball (@StJohnsBBall) August 31, 2020
As a program, the Red Storm also published a public statement following the death of the three-time Big East Coach of the Year.
The basketball world has lost a giant. Big John stood for all that was right. He stood for his players, often in the face of immense pressure. He also did it while winning, a lot. The BIG EAST is the BIG EAST because of men like John Thompson.
— St. John's Men’s Basketball (@StJohnsBBall) August 31, 2020
📸: George Kalinsky/MSG pic.twitter.com/johDKc5lNC
Former Johnnie standout Mark Jackson, who competed against Thompson’s Georgetown teams during his days in Queens also tweeted his condolences to the family, saying that the Hoyas head coach was the one coach he did not play for in his career that he wished he played for.
If i could pick 1 Coach that i never played for to be my Coach, it would be Coach John Thompson! He LOVED his players!!! They LOVED him!!! He Impacted their Lives!
— Mark Jackson (@MarkJackson13) August 31, 2020
Thank u 4 ur Example! Praying 4 your Family, Friends, and Fans. Well Done Coach! pic.twitter.com/v8bQJPIbKN
Coach John Thompson leaves an enormous legacy in the Big East Conference that will be felt until the end of time as he will be dearly missed.