Thompson takes Georgetown job

Men's head basketball coach John Thompson '88 said on Tuesday he'd leave Princeton to lead Georgetown University's squad.

Thompson's decision sends the athletics department into a scramble to find a candidate who can try to match his success, with two trips to the NCAA tournament in four years as head coach.

All eyes point to Air Force head coach Joe Scott '87 as the top replacement. According to the Colorado Springs Gazette Online, Princeton asked on Tuesday and received permission to talk to Scott about the vacancy.

At a press conference at Georgetown yesterday, Thompson made clear his decision was tough.

"I'm walking away from an institution I truly love," he said. "Princeton basketball is such an integral part of who I am, and to leave that was extremely difficult."

But Thompson ultimately could not turn the offer down. Thompson was born in Washington, D.C., and his father, also named John Thompson, coached the Georgetown Hoyas from 1972 to 1999.

"I'm extremely fortunate in that I'm one of the few people in the world who can leave home and come home," Thompson said.

Thompson's father converted Georgetown's obscure basketball program into a hoops powerhouse.

But Thompson the younger quickly established his own reputation in the basketball world.

After starring at Gonzaga High School he played forward under the legendary Pete Carril at Princeton. He returned to the Tigers in 1995 as an assistant coach under Carril and became head coach in fall 2000 when Bill Carmody left for Northwestern.

Speculation that Thompson could leave began as soon as the Hoyas fired Craig Esherick as their coach in late March.

Players on Tuesday expressed support for their departing coach.

"The opportunity is so good for him," center Judson Wallace '05 said. "It's a dream job for a guy growing up in D.C."

Athletics director Gary Walters '67 declined to give a timetable for finding a replacement but was confident in finding a top candidate.

"We've always been able to hire very strong coaches," he said. "My expectation is that we'll be able to hire somebody with equal ability."

Air Force's Scott and other possible candidates are likely to fall under the spotlight in coming weeks as the search heats up.

Scott garnered national attention for his coaching this year, leading Air Force to 22-7 season and earning a top-25 national ranking. Chris Mooney '94, Scott's top assistant, will also merit consideration. For now, neither Scott nor Mooney are commenting on the Princeton job opening.

Two other candidates — Craig Robinson '83 and Mitch Henderson '98 — have each spent the past four years at Northwestern as assistant coaches under Carmody.

Two internal candidates are also possible — Mike Brennan '94 and Robert Burke, both assistant coaches for four years under Thompson.