John Thompson Jr., Legendary Georgetown Coach, Passes Away At 78 + Allen Iverson Pays Tribute

It’s with a heavy heart that I report we’ve suffered another great loss. Legendary Georgetown coach John Thompson Jr. has passed away at age 78.

John coached Georgetown from 1972-99 and he was the first Black coach to lead his team to the NCAA men’s basketball championship. 

Thompson turned Georgetown into a national power by bringing Patrick Ewing to campus in 1981.

He recruited and coached four Hall of Famers: Ewing, Alonzo Mourning, Dikembe Mutombo and Allen Iverson.

Allen took to Instagram to pay tribute to the man he says “saved his life.”

Thanks For Saving My Life Coach. I’m going to miss you, but I’m sure that you are looking down on us with a big smile. I would give anything just for one more phone call from you only to hear you say, “Hey MF”, then we would talk about everything except basketball. May you always Rest in Paradise, where there is no pain or suffering. I will always see your face in my mind, hoping that I made you proud. “Your Prodigal Son”. #Hoya4Life

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RIP Big John is trending on Twitter as people celebrate the life and greatness of John Thompson. Jr. 

Rest in paradise, John.