In any kingdom, when the sitting monarch departs the throne, the question of succession arises. Will the king's favored son rise to power, or will an outsider grab the reins of the empire? Who will rule the land for years to come?
These very questions were answered Sept. 6 when John Thompson III '88 — the latest in a nearly royal coaching lineage dating back over six decades — was anointed the new head coach of the men's basketball team.
Thompson replaced Bill Carmody, who days earlier announced that he would leave Princeton for the head coaching position at Northwestern.
"I am honored to follow those who came before me in Princeton's storied basketball history," Thompson said at the Sept. 7 press conference announcing his hiring. "I want to let every person that ever played here at Princeton know that I will work hard to honor this tradition. Princeton is excellence, and this is no different for basketball at this institution."
Experience
A four-time varsity letterman in basketball and captain for the 1987-88 season, Thompson excelled at the forward position. Upon graduation, he left college basketball and entered the business world. Five years ago, however, Thompson returned to Jadwin as an assistant coach under his former coach Pete Carril and later Carmody. Through his time on the floor and on the bench, Thompson has become well-versed in the unique characteristics of Princeton basketball.
"[Thompson] will maintain the lineage of basketball excellence," Director of Athletics Gary Walters '67 said at the press conference. "He is an outstanding player, a product of and a believer in liberal arts education. He has a burning passion for the game."
Thompson's court sense and vision — attributes that helped him earn third position on the Tigers' all-time assist list — have also translated to his instruction as well. In his tenure as an assistant, Thompson helped recruit and coach two All-Americas, three Ivy League Players of the Year and nine first-team All-Ivy League players in addition to coaching the JV basketball program.
Thompson represents the sixth generation of Princeton's coaching dynasty — one that originated with the hiring of Franklin "Cappy" Cappon in 1938. According to the Princeton Alumni Weekly, Cappon brought the five-man weave offense — one in which players remained in continual motion, handing the ball off above the key, in order to create open shots and layups — to Princeton and used it throughout his coaching tenure, which came to a tragic conclusion with his death in the fall of 1961.
Passing the baton
Then JV coach Jake McCandless '51 ran the varsity team for one season, only to be replaced by Willem "Butch" van Breda Kolff '45 the following year. Van Breda Kolff had been the captain of the varsity squad his senior year, like Thompson. At the end of his tenure as head coach, van Breda Kolff recommended that the administration hire Carril.
This started a trend in Tiger basketball as van Breda Kolff, Carril and even Carmody gave their endorsements to their eventual successors. Carril coached at Princeton for 28 years before retiring and naming Carmody, his assistant for 14 seasons, as head coach. The Thompson hiring was little different from its predecessors.
"This is a decision that I strongly encouraged," Walters said. "Billy [Carmody] recommended John to me."
In fact, just last month, while Walters and Carril were playing tennis, the two began conjecturing on future coaches. According to Walters, "John Thompson was the first name mentioned."
Ordinarily, a position as important as the Cappon-Green Head Coach of Basketball is filled only following a thorough nationwide search. In this case, however, given the immediacy of the vacancy with the season approaching and the quality of the primary candidate, the athletic administration acted quickly.
"Given the timing of Bill's departure and the tremendous talent we had in our midst, it appeared to us to be a no-brainer," Walters said.
After a tumultuous week, featuring the departures of a stalwart prince — last year's captain Chris Young — and the reigning king, a new leader has emerged, borne from the same coaching legacy that has governed Princeton basketball for over 60 years.
Read More
Men’s and women’s lacrosse seasons come to an end after NCAA losses
Hayk YengibaryanThe men’s lacrosse team had their season ended at the hands of No. 7-seeded Maryland. Meanwhile, women’s lacrosse earned an opening-round win before falling to No. 2-seeded Boston College.
The men’s lacrosse team had their season ended at the hands of No. 7-seeded Maryland. Meanwhile, women’s lacrosse earned an opening-round win before falling to No. 2-seeded Boston College.
Jesse Marsch ’96 appointed as Canada men’s soccer national team head coach
Hayk YengibaryanAfter managerial stints with RB Leipzig and Leeds United, Jesse Marsch ’96 will be on the sidelines for the Canadian national team as they prepare to compete in the 2024 Copa America this summer.
After managerial stints with RB Leipzig and Leeds United, Jesse Marsch ’96 will be on the sidelines for the Canadian national team as they prepare to compete in the 2024 Copa America this summer.
Tigers win Ivy League Softball Tournament to get automatic NCAA tournament bid
Andrew BosworthAfter four games, three of which were against the Harvard Crimson, the Princeton softball team prevailed on Saturday to win the 2024 Ivy League Softball Tournament, earning themselves a bid to the NCAA tournament.
After four games, three of which were against the Harvard Crimson, the Princeton softball team prevailed on Saturday to win the 2024 Ivy League Softball Tournament, earning themselves a bid to the NCAA tournament.
