On this day in 1984, Coach John Thompson of Georgetown became the first Black head coach to win the NCAA basketball tournament

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Georgetown head coach John Thompson, left, gives a happy pat to the most valuable player, Patrick Ewing, after Georgetown defeated Houston in the NCAA college basketball championship game in Seattle, in this April 2, 1984, file photo. (AP Photo/File)
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On April 2, 1984, history was made on the basketball court as Coach John Thompson of Georgetown University led his team to victory in the NCAA basketball tournament, becoming the first Black head coach to achieve this milestone.

Georgetown’s Patrick Ewing cuts his share of the net after Georgetown beat Houston for the NCAA college basketball national championship in Seattle, in this April 3, 1984, file photo. (AP Photo/File)

Throughout his 27-year tenure at Georgetown, Thompson steered his team to an impressive record, including 20 appearances in the NCAA tournament, clinching seven Big East titles, and achieving a remarkable win-loss record of 596-239.

Former Georgetown coach John Thompson, Jr., listens during an NCAA college basketball press conference to formally announce Georgetown’s new basketball head coach Patrick Ewing, Wednesday, April 5, 2017, in Washington. Ewing played at Georgetown under coach Thompson. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

In 1988, John Thompson Jr. further solidified his legacy by making history as the first-ever Black head coach of the Olympic team.

In this March 9, 2013, file photo, former Georgetown coach John Thompson Jr., left, congratulates his son Georgetown head coach John Thompson III, right, after the Hoya’s 61-39 win over Syracuse in an NCAA college basketball game in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass, File)

He passed away in 2020 at 78 years old.

Click play to listen to the AURN News report from Clay Cane. Follow @claycane & @aurnonline for more.

Clay Cane is an award-winning journalist, writer, radio host, and political commentator. A graduate of Rutgers University with a degree in African-American Studies, his work on race, culture, and politics have appeared in national publications, including the Washington Post, CNN, and The Grio. Clay is a regular political commentator on MSNBC. Twitter: @claycane

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