Georgetown Basketball Coach John Thompson Resigns

Black Issues in Higher Education, Jan 21, 1999

WASHINGTON -- Georgetown University Coach John Thompson ended a 27-year career on Jan. 8, saying he could no longer juggle the demands of his personal life and those of running a nationally renowned basketball program.

"Basketball is 24-hour job, a seven-day-a-week job," Thompson says. "I do not have the ability at this time to address those things in my personal life and to do my job."

Thompson strongly disputed rumors that he would be moving on to the NBA to coach the Los Angeles Clippers. The stunning resignation comes about midway through a college basketball season that has seen the Hoyas struggle to an 0-4 record in the Big East Conference and a 7-6 overall record.

Thompson declined to be specific about his future, but repeated several times that he had been neglecting his personal life. He says he wasn't retiring from basketball and won't rule out a return to coaching at some point. He also says he expects to remain at the university.

Thompson is known for his opinions as much as he is for his on-court success. In January 1989, Thompson gained attention for his views on athletics and education when he walked off the floor before a home game against Boston College in protest of NCAA legislation, known as Proposition 42, that tightened criteria under which students could receive athletic scholarships. He also did not coach the next game, on the road against Providence.

Georgetown University officials immediately named Craig Esherick, an assistant under Thompson for the last 16 years, as the new coach and said he would be signed to a long-term contract.