April 20, 2004

John Thompson, a Pete Carril disciple who returned to his alma mater and reaffirmed the championship tradition of Princeton basketball, has been named the head coach at Georgetown University.

Thompson was introduced at a press conference at noon at Riggs Library at Georgetown. Thompson's father, the longtime Georgetown coach also named John Thompson, coached the Hoyas to the 1984 NCAA championship and is a member of the basketball Hall of Fame.

"I could have stayed at Princeton for a long time and been very happy," Thompson said. "It's a place that is so much a part of who I am as a person, and it's a place I love. But I have a strong affection for Georgetown, and I also have a great deal of history at Georgetown."

A search for Thompson's successor will begin immediately.

"We recognize what a difficult decision this has been for John," said Princeton director of athletics Gary Walters. "While we're disappointed that he is leaving us, we wish him the best as he starts the next chapter of his career. We will do everything we can to bring in someone who is a member of the Princeton basketball family to replace him." Thompson, a 1988 Princeton graduate, became the Tiger head coach in September 2000 when Bill Carmody left to become Northwestern head coach. Inhereting a team that lost five potential starters, Thompson guided Princeton to the 2001 Ivy League championship and NCAA tournament.

"I want to thank Gary for giving me the opportunity to be a head coach," Thompson said. "Princeton basketball is very important to me, and I'm grateful to have had the opportunity to be a part of it for as long as I have."

Thompson led Princeton to a share of the 2002 Ivy title and a spot in the NIT. After a third-place finish in 2003, Thompson led Princeton to his best season this past year, when the Tigers went 20-8, won the Ivy League by three games and returned to the NCAA tournament.

Thompson went 68-42 record during his four seasons as head coach at Princeton. He served as assistant coach under Carril and Carmody at Princeton from 1995-2000 and helped lead the team to a Top 10 national ranking and five consecutive postseason appearances.

Thompson has helped recruit and coach three All-Americas, three Ivy League Players of the Year, two Ivy League Rookies of the Year, and 12 first team All-Ivy League players.

Thompson ranks third all-time in assists at Princeton with 358. He had 103 assists and just 34 turnovers as a senior. He was co-captain of the 1988 team and shared the B.F. Bunn trophy that year as team Most Valuable Player.

Thompson, 38, grew up in Washington, D.C., where he graduated from Gonzaga College High School. As a high school senior he was named first-team all metro by The Washington Post.

"It is sad to see John and Monica Thompson leave Princeton, where they have been such an important part of the University community since their student days," said Princeton president Shirley Tilghman. "I understand, of course, the pull to Georgetown, and I wish John all the best as he takes up his new position there. John has been both a wonderfully successful coach and an outstanding representative of this University and its values. We will miss him and his family greatly."