Ronny Thompson

Last updated
Ronald Thompson
Biographical details
Born1969 (age 54–55)
Washington, D.C., U.S.
Playing career
1988–1992 Georgetown
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1993–1994 Oregon (assistant)
1994–1996 Loyola (MD) (assistant)
1998–2003 Georgetown (assistant)
2003–2006 Arkansas (assistant)
2006–2007 Ball State
Head coaching record
Overall9–22

Ronald Thompson (born 1969) is an American former college basketball player and coach and current Emmy Award-winning broadcaster for Comcast SportsNet, based in Bethesda, Maryland. He is the son of Gwen Thompson and former Georgetown University head coach John R. Thompson, Jr., whose children also include a daughter, Tiffany, and John Thompson III, who also is a former Georgetown head coach.

Contents

Born in Washington, D.C., Thompson spent his formative years on basketball courts in the Boys & Girls Clubs throughout the Washington metropolitan area. He contributed on Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) teams in the Washington, D.C, region and played high school basketball for coach Stu Vetter at Flint Hill School in Oakton, Virginia. In 1992, Thompson graduated from Georgetown University as a four-year basketball letterman with a degree in sociology. After a brief stint as a trading assistant with Prudential Securities in New York City, he became an assistant coach, first at the University of Oregon from 1993 to 1994, then with Loyola College in Maryland from 1994 to 1996. His career in professional sports began as a video coordinator for Hall of Fame coach Larry Brown and the Philadelphia 76ers of the National Basketball Association (NBA) in 1996; shortly afterward, he became a 76ers scout. In 1998, Thompson returned to Georgetown as an assistant coach under his father from 1998 to 1999 and then under head coach Craig Esherick from 1999 to 2003. He then was an assistant coach at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, Arkansas from 2003 to 2006. [1]

Thompson accepted the head coaching job at Ball State University in April 2006. [2] In his one season as coach of the Cardinals they finished a disappointing 9-22. Following the season, controversy developed surrounding a potential NCAA investigation into the basketball coaching staff attending voluntary player workouts outside of the regulated practice dates. The Ball State newspaper reported that on Sunday, June 24, 2007, "men's basketball coach Ronny Thompson was greeted at his office with seven note cards that simply read 'liars, cheaters, [racial slur].'" [3] Thompson resigned as men's basketball coach in July 2007, later claiming that he had been in a "racially hostile work environment." [4] Ball State later exonerated Thompson of rules violations, [5] apologized, and awarded him a $200,000 settlement. "In return, Thompson agreed to waive all claims he may have against the university and that nothing in the settlement constitutes an admission of liability or illegality by either party." [6]

Thompson joined Comcast SportsNet in 2007, offering pre-game/postgame analysis for the Washington Wizards and color commentary for college games. He also hosted the series My Life 365 with Ron Thompson, which featured interviews with the preeminent athletes and media figures of the United States. His subjects included sports/media moguls Ted Leonsis and Sheila Johnson, former Duke University swingman Grant Hill, Georgetown Hoyas teammate Alonzo Mourning, and legendary Hoyas guard Allen Iverson;Thompson received an Emmy for the latter interview. Thompson also conducted a rare, exclusive interview with Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant months before he helped the Lakers secure their seventeenth franchise title. In the summer of 2010, Thompson served as director of the Kobe Bryant/Nike Summer Basketball Camp which toured China.

Thompson is also a contributor to NBA TV and occasionally served as guest-host for his father's The John Thompson Show, which was broadcast daily on-air/online on ESPN Radio until ending its run in February 2012. [7]

Head coaching record

Statistics overview
SeasonTeamOverallConferenceStandingPostseason
Ball State Cardinals (Mid-American Conference)(2006–2007)
2006–07 Ball State 9–225–115th (West)
Ball State:9–22 (.290)5–11 (.313)
Total:9–22 (.290)

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joe Bryant</span> American basketball head coach and player (1954–2024)

Joseph Washington "Jellybean" Bryant was an American professional basketball player and coach. He played for the Philadelphia 76ers, San Diego Clippers, and Houston Rockets of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He also played for several teams in Italy and one in France. Bryant was the head coach of the WNBA's Los Angeles Sparks from 2005 to 2007 and returned to that position for the remainder of the 2011 WNBA season. Bryant also coached in Japan and Thailand. His son, basketball player Kobe Bryant, was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Thompson (basketball)</span> American college basketball coach (1941–2020)

John Robert Thompson Jr. was an American college basketball coach for the Georgetown Hoyas men's team. He became the first African-American head coach to win a major collegiate championship in basketball when he led the Hoyas to the NCAA Division I national championship in 1984. Thompson was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Thompson III</span> American basketball player-coach (born 1966)

John Robert Thompson III is a professional basketball coach and executive who has been the assistant coach for the United States men's national basketball team since 2017. He previously served as the head coach of the men's basketball team at Georgetown University. He grew up in Washington, D.C., and was named first team All-Metro by The Washington Post while playing for Gonzaga College High School in 1984. Thompson was hired on April 20, 2004, to replace Craig Esherick and was fired at the end of the 2017 season. Prior to being hired at Georgetown, Thompson was the head coach for four years at his alma mater, Princeton University. Thompson is the son of John Thompson Jr, Georgetown's head coach from 1972 to 1999, and is a 1988 graduate of Princeton University.

Craig Robert Esherick is an American academic, lawyer, and former basketball coach who is currently an assistant professor of sport management for George Mason University and color commentator for college basketball games. He was formerly the head coach of the Georgetown University men's basketball team and assistant basketball coach and scout for the 1988 U.S. Men's Olympic basketball team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1982 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament</span> Edition of USA college basketball tournament

The 1982 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament involved 48 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 11, 1982, and ended with the championship game on March 29 in the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana. A total of 47 games were played.

David Grover Stacey Wingate Jr. is an American former professional basketball player. The shooting guard-small forward spent 15 years in the National Basketball Association (NBA) with six teams.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Georgetown Hoyas</span> Intercollegiate sports teams of Georgetown University

The Georgetown Hoyas are the collegiate athletics teams that officially represent Georgetown University, located at Washington, D.C. The Georgetown's athletics department fields 24 men's and women's varsity level teams and competes at the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I level as a member of the Big East Conference, with the exception of the Division I FCS Patriot League in football and women's heavyweight rowing. The University also fields 5 non-NCAA varsity teams in men's have that the heavy weight and lightweight rowing, women's lightweight rowing, women's squash, and sailing. In late 2012, Georgetown and six other Catholic, non-FBS schools announced that they were departing the Big East for a new conference. The rowing and sailing teams also participate in east coast conferences. The men's basketball team is the school's most famous and most successful program, but Hoyas have achieved success in a wide range of sports.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">McDonough Gymnasium</span> Arena on Georgetown University campus

McDonough Gymnasium, sometimes referred to as McDonough Arena when hosting a sports or entertainment event, is a multi-purpose arena on the campus of Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. Officially known as McDonough Memorial Gymnasium, it opened in 1951 and can hold 2,200 spectators for sports events.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Georgetown Hoyas men's basketball</span> Mens basketball team of Georgetown University

The Georgetown Hoyas men's basketball program represents Georgetown University in NCAA Division I men's intercollegiate basketball and the Big East Conference. Georgetown has competed in men's college basketball since 1907. The current head coach of the program is Ed Cooley.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kevin Broadus</span> American college basketball coach

Kevin Levoin Broadus is an American college basketball coach and currently the head coach at Morgan State. He is the former head coach at Binghamton University, where he resigned after an NCAA Investigation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1981–82 Georgetown Hoyas men's basketball team</span> American college basketball season

The 1981–82 Georgetown Hoyas men's basketball team represented Georgetown University in the 1981–82 NCAA Division I college basketball season. Led by tenth-year head coach John Thompson, it was the first season in which they played their home games at the Capital Centre in suburban Landover, Maryland, except for five games at McDonough Gymnasium on campus in Washington, D.C.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2004–05 Georgetown Hoyas men's basketball team</span> American college basketball season

The 2004–05 Georgetown Hoyas men's basketball team represented Georgetown University in the 2004–05 NCAA Division I college basketball season. The Hoyas were coached by John Thompson III – his first year at Georgetown – and played their home games at the MCI Center in Washington, DC. The Hoyas are members of the Big East Conference. They finished the season 19–13, 8–8 in Big East play. They advanced to the quarterfinals of the 2005 Big East men's basketball tournament before losing to Connecticut They played in the 2005 National Invitation Tournament and advanced to the quarterfinals before losing to South Carolina.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1998–99 Georgetown Hoyas men's basketball team</span> American college basketball season

The 1998–99 Georgetown Hoyas men's basketball team represented Georgetown University in the 1998–99 NCAA Division I college basketball season. They were coached by John Thompson, in his 27th season as head coach until January 8, 1999, when he resigned and Craig Esherick succeeded him. The Hoyas played most of their home games at the MCI Center in Washington, DC, although they played one home game at McDonough Gymnasium on the Georgetown campus. They were members of the Big East Conference and finished the season 15–16, 6–12 in Big East play. They advanced to the quarterfinals of the 1999 Big East men's basketball tournament before losing to Miami. Not invited to the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament for the second year in a row, they instead appeared in the 1999 National Invitation Tournament (NIT) – their second consecutive appearance in the NIT – and lost to Princeton in the first round. Georgetown finished with its first losing record since the 1972–73 season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1988–89 Georgetown Hoyas men's basketball team</span> American college basketball season

The 1988–89 Georgetown Hoyas men's basketball team represented Georgetown University in the 1988–89 NCAA Division I college basketball season. John Thompson, coached them in his 17th season as head coach. They played their home games at the Capital Centre in Landover, Maryland. They were members of the Big East Conference and finished the season with a record of 29–5, 13–3 in Big East play. They finished as the Big East regular season champions and won the 1989 Big East men's basketball tournament, the sixth Big East tournament championship in Georgetown men's basketball history, defeating Syracuse in the final game. They were the No. 1 seed in the East Region of the 1989 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament – the 11th of 14 consecutive Georgetown NCAA tournament appearances – and advanced to the East Region final before losing to the region's No. 2 seed, Duke. They were ranked No. 2 in the season's final Associated Press Poll and Coaches' Poll.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1976–77 Georgetown Hoyas men's basketball team</span> American college basketball season

The 1976–77 Georgetown Hoyas men's basketball team represented Georgetown University during the 1976–77 NCAA Division I college basketball season. John Thompson, coached them in his fifth season as head coach. An independent, Georgetown played its home games at McDonough Gymnasium on the Georgetown campus in Washington, D.C., and finished the season with a record of 19-9. Knocked out of the ECAC South Region tournament for the first time in the semifinals, the team missed an NCAA tournament bid for the first time since 1974. The Hoyas instead appeared in the 1977 National Invitation Tournament (NIT), their first NIT appearance since 1970, and lost in the first round to Virginia Tech.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1975–76 Georgetown Hoyas men's basketball team</span> American college basketball season

The 1975–76 Georgetown Hoyas men's basketball team represented Georgetown University during the 1975–76 NCAA Division I college basketball season. John Thompson, coached them in his fourth season as head coach. An independent, Georgetown played its home games at McDonough Gymnasium on the Georgetown campus in Washington, D.C., and finished the season with a record of 21-7. The team won the 1976 ECAC South Region tournament and appeared in the 1976 NCAA tournament for the second consecutive year, losing in the first round to Arizona.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1974–75 Georgetown Hoyas men's basketball team</span> American college basketball season

The 1974–75 Georgetown Hoyas men's basketball team represented Georgetown University during the 1974–75 NCAA Division I college basketball season. John Thompson, coached them in his third season as head coach. Georgetown was an independent that played its home games at McDonough Gymnasium on the Georgetown campus in Washington, D.C., and finished the season with a record of 18-10. The team won the 1975 ECAC South Region tournament and appeared in the 1975 NCAA tournament – the Hoyas's first appearance in that tournament since 1943 – and lost to Central Michigan in the first round.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1972–73 Georgetown Hoyas men's basketball team</span> American college basketball season

The 1972–73 Georgetown Hoyas men's basketball team represented Georgetown University during the 1972–73 NCAA University Division college basketball season. John Thompson, coached them in his first season as head coach. The team was an independent and played its home games at McDonough Gymnasium on the Georgetown campus in Washington, D.C. It finished the season with a record of 12–14 – a significant improvement over the previous season's record – was not ranked in the Top 20 in the Associated Press Poll or Coaches' Poll at any time, and had no post-season play.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1949–50 Georgetown Hoyas men's basketball team</span> American college basketball season

The 1949–50 Georgetown Hoyas men's basketball team represented Georgetown University during the 1949–50 NCAA college basketball season. Francis "Buddy" O'Grady coached it in his first of three seasons as head coach. The team was an independent and played its home games at the D.C. Armory in Washington, D.C. It finished with a record of 12-12 and had no post-season play.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1985 NCAA Division I men's basketball championship game</span> American college basketball final

The 1985 NCAA Division I men's basketball championship game was the final of the 1985 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament and determined the national champion in the 1984–85 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The game was held on April 1, 1985, at Rupp Arena in Lexington, Kentucky. The Georgetown Hoyas, the defending national champions and the tournament's number one seed from the East region, faced the Villanova Wildcats, the eighth seed from the Southeast region. The teams came from the same conference, the Big East, and the championship game was the third meeting between them in 1984–85, after two regular season contests.

References

  1. ↑ ballstatesports.com "Ronny Thompson Introduced As Ball State Men's Basketball Coach," April 3, 2006.
  2. ↑ Herman, Steve (2006-04-04). "Ball State picks Ronny Thompson as its new coach". USA Today.
  3. ↑ Wood, Ryan (October 17, 2009). "A year ago Wednesday, racially charged notes were found in Ronny Thompson's coaching office". The Ball State Daily News.
  4. ↑ Garcia, Marlen (2007-09-27). "Stir over Thompson's exit lingers at Ball State". USA Today.
  5. ↑ Garcia, Marlen (2007-12-21). "Ball State report clears Thompson of NCAA violations". USA Today. Retrieved 2007-12-21.
  6. ↑ AP (2008-01-23). "Ball State to pay ex-coach Thompson $200,000 in settlement". USA Today.
  7. ↑ Steinberg, Dan, "John Thompson ends run as D.C. radio talk show host," washingtonpost.com, February 29, 2012.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.