Thompson broke barriers in 1984 when he became the first African-American head coach to win a major collegiate championship after Patrick Ewing led the Hoyas to an NCAA Division I national championship against the Houston Cougars. He was also inducted into the National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame and the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
Once retired, Thompson became a TV and radio sports commentator.
While we don’t have word on his cause of death yet, our condolences go out to all of Coach Thompson’s loved ones during this time.