Georgetown fires Thompson III
Hoyas haven’t advanced to Sweet 16 since 2007
John Thompson III will not be back as coach of the Georgetown men's basketball team, university President Jack DeGioia announced in a statement on Thursday afternoon.
The move comes a little more than two weeks after the Hoyas finished with a 1418 record, their second losing season in a row and the third time in four years that they missed the NCAA tournament. Students, alumni and others within the fan base had called for Thompson's dismissal from the program, which until last season had experienced only one sub.-500 finish since 1998-99, when the team transitioned away from Thompson's father, the Hall of Fame coach John Thompson Jr.
“It is with profound regret and deep appreciation that I informed John Thompson III this morning that the university will no longer be retaining his services as head men's basketball coach,” DeGioia said in a statement. “Our tradition of excellence will forever be inextricably linked with John and his family.”
Thompson III spent 13 seasons at Georgetown, directing the Hoyas to the Final Four in 2007. He had been one of two active coaches in the Big East to appear the national semifinals, but since then Georgetown has not advanced out of the first weekend of the NCAA men's basketball tournament.
He was paid more than $3.6 million by the university in 2014, the most recent year tax returns were available.
A search for Thompson's replacement is to begin immediately, DeGioia said. It's unclear if any candidates have emerged as front-runners for the position, which has been held either by a member of the Thompson family or Thompson Jr.'s staff since 1972.
“I am grateful to fans of Georgetown for their tremendous support,” Thompson said in a statement released through his agent, David Falk. “Georgetown basketball has been a party of my life since 1972, which makes this moment even more impactful, but I look forward to my next chapter.”
The announcement also comes following multiple player departures from Georgetown, including most recently guard L.J. Peak forgoing his senior year after signing with an agent and declaring for the NBA draft, according to people familiar with the situation.
Peak was the Hoyas' second-leading scorer this past season, averaging 16.3 points and starting all 32 games. He became the fourth player to leave the program this season.
Junior forward Trey Mourning announced he was transferring last week. The seldom-used reserve is the son of basketball Hall of Fame member and former Georgetown standout Alonzo Mourning, who played under Thompson Jr.
Junior forward Isaac Copeland transferred to Nebraska after playing in just seven games and sitting out the remainder of the first semester.
In August, junior forward Paul White announced he would be transferring, eventually winding up at Oregon. White missed all but seven of the Hoyas' 33 games two seasons ago after undergoing an abdominal procedure.
Peak's departure leaves Georgetown with eight scholarship players on the roster. Only guard Tre Campbell remains among Georgetown players who came in as part of the freshman class in 2014-15.
The Hoyas had been awaiting the arrival of highly regarded recruit Tremont Waters next season, but the point guard reopened his recruitment process after recently decommitting from Georgetown amid uncertainty regarding the status of Thompson III.