And by "love," I mean "money."In his first 3 years of taking over a Georgetown program that had fallen hard and fast, John Thompson III took the Hoyas to the Sweet 16 last year and this year won the Big East Tournament and got to the Final Four. He has an excellent incoming recruiting class that includes two McDonald's All-Americans in Austin Freeman and Chris Wright. He was named coach of the Year by the National College Basketball Hall of Fame. Georgetown is back in the national scene. So, how come the Hoyas aren't paying him?
Thompson, who has two years left on his current deal, is paid $456,000 a season -- 11th among the Big East's 16 coaches and half as much as any other coach who has won a league title, much less made a Final Four appearance.Last month the rumors started that John Thompson could be considering the NBA. His name keeps popping up among college coaches who could be enticed and/or possibly succeed at the NBA level.
"I'm working on it," Georgetown president Jack DeGioia said quickly before exiting from further questioning after the team's annual awards dinner Wednesday night -- when a new contract was expected to be announced.
But time to work on it could be running out.
Asked whether it was safe to assume he would be back next season, Thompson responded with a somewhat shocking lack of certainty: "Next question."
Meanwhile, Rick Pitino is once again extended by Louisville. Even Mike Brey at Notre Dame gets yet another extension and raise just for finally making the NCAA Tournament after a 4 year gap. Brey has job security up until after the 2012-13 season, while Thompson is being paid on the cheap for only a couple more seasons.
It seems stupid that Georgetown is not in any rush to lock up the coach that once more made them relevant nationally. Really, they are playing a dumb game. If they piss off Thompson III to the point that he would leave, how do they think Big John will react? Not just that, Thompson's top two assistants are gone to head coaching jobs of their own. There is no obvious next choice.
Previously at Fanhouse:
Father Floating Rumors that John Thompson III Could Leave?
Could John Thompson Leave Georgetown For the NBA?
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
5-08-2007 @ 1:29AM
dairishhoya said...
It's unfortunate that individuals not involved with the program, University or this situation decide upon themselves to set their own expectations on how and when Georgetown should conduct business.
Coach Thompson is currently under contract and has stated repeatedly that he is a proud member of the Georgetown University community. With regards to Thompson "being paid on the cheap" his original salary was on par for someone with his experience and record. If it wasn't, he would not have taken the job in the first place.
Within his first three years Coach Thompson has moved a program that was barely on life support to one that is on the verge of being in the upper echelon for a long time to come. And as President DeGioia has stated publicly on more than one occasion, it is his intention to work with Coach Thompson to find the right terms and conditions for him to be a member of our community for years to come.
Bottomline is that he will be the coach for Georgetown men's basketball for years to come, just not on your -- or others -- timetable or because you happen to blog about it. So get over it.
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