John Thompson, Georgetown University basketball coach, files for divorce

Jet, Nov 17, 1997

John Thompson, the noted basketball coach of the Georgetown Hoyas, has filed for divorce from his wife of 32 years, Gwen Thompson, the Washington Post reported.

Thompson, who in 1984 be came the first Black coach to win an NCAA Division I championship, and his wife have been separated since last year after a fire damaged the couple's home, according to a petition filed by Thompson in Arlington County Court. Gwen Thompson, 54, currently runs a small, non profit organization from her apartment. Thompson, in his 26th season as the head coach of the Hoyas, lives in a penthouse condo purchased for $1.06 million, according to a Sept. 11, 1996 deed, the Post reported.

In addition to his six-figure coaching salary the popular coach had Nike stock and options totaling 80,000 shares, according to the company's August proxy report. Nike stock closed on Oct. 27 at $45.75 a share. Thompson has been a member of Nike's board since 1991.

Deborah Luxenberg, who represents Gwen Thompson, stated in the Post, "That tells you quite a bit. He has all the assets."

In a counterclaim filed by Gwen Thompson, she contends that since they separated, the coach "refused to share or allow...use of marital property," gave her no financial assistance and refused to pay her dental bills. She added that she and her husband "found that they had different interests, priorities and lifestyles that made living together impossible."

Thompson is represented by Marna Tucker, who has great experience in asset protection and extrication. She told the Post: "Has he refused to take care of his wife? Of course not. He's been a caring man to his wife and his family for a long time, and he will continue to be that."

The Post reported that Georgetown University alumni bought the home that suffered the fire damage for $350,000 in 1980, and the university deeded it over to the Thompsons two years later. The accidental electrical fire caused $12,000 in damages, according to the city fire marshal's report; the couple then sold the home for $325,000. Gwen Thompson maintains that her husband failed to give her any of the proceeds.

The Thompsons have three children: John III, 31, an assistant basketball coach at Princeton University; Ronnie, 28, a front-office employee of the Philadelphia 76ers; and Tiffany, 22, who lives with her mother.