Net Worth Ranker
What Is John Thompson’s Net Worth?
At the time of his death on August 30, 2020, John Thompson, the esteemed American college basketball coach, had a net worth of $5 million [1]. Thompson’s financial standing was accumulated over decades of coaching, commentary, and consulting, primarily associated with his influential tenure at Georgetown University [1].
John Thompson’s Salary Details
While specific details regarding Thompson’s salary throughout his entire coaching career are not fully available, some key figures have been disclosed. In his last season coaching Georgetown (1998-1999), Thompson was paid $610,040, along with $24,529 in deferred compensation [1]. This compensation was less than comparable basketball coaching peers who earned between $800,000 and $1 million at the time [1].
Even years after his retirement as head coach, Thompson continued to receive payments from Georgetown University. University tax records indicated that he earned $405,000 per year plus $26,000 in benefits as a “presidential consultant for urban affairs” [1]. Georgetown officials clarified in 2006 that this was deferred compensation for his 27 seasons as head coach [1]. University president Jack DeGioia explained that Georgetown was unable to compensate Thompson at the level of his peers during his time as head coach, so they created a structure to spread the compensation over a longer period [1].
Comparatively, in the late 1980s and early 1990s, elite men’s basketball coaches earned between $200,000 and $400,000 per year [1]. While it is not known exactly how much less Thompson was earning during that time, the deferred compensation plan suggests a notable difference [1]. In 2004, it was revealed that Thompson’s deferred compensation made him the second-highest-paid employee of Georgetown, behind only President Jack DeGioia, who earned $512,228 [1].
Early Life and Career Beginnings
John Thompson was born in Washington, D.C., on September 2, 1941 [1]. He first gained recognition as a basketball player at Archbishop Carroll High School, where he became the Top Scorer in the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference [1]. Thompson continued his basketball career at Providence College, where he set multiple school records and was selected as an All-American [1].
In 1964, he was drafted by the Boston Celtics [1]. After realizing that his true passion was coaching, he retired from professional play in 1966 and began coaching at St. Anthony High School from 1966 to 1972, where he led the team to a 122-28 record [1]. This early coaching success led to his eventual hiring at Georgetown University [1].
Georgetown University Coaching Career
John Thompson’s net worth and legacy are deeply intertwined with his nearly three-decade career at Georgetown University [1]. During his tenure, Thompson won seven Coach of the Year Awards and transformed Georgetown into one of the premier college basketball programs, compiling a record of 596-239 before retiring in 1996 [1]. His most significant achievement was leading the Hoyas to the NCAA Tournament championship in 1984, making him the first African-American head coach to win a major college athletic championship [1].
Thompson coached numerous future NBA stars, including Allen Iverson, Alonzo Mourning, and Patrick Ewing [1]. Ewing later became the head coach of Georgetown, succeeding John Thompson III, John’s son, who coached from 2004 to 2017 [1]. In 2017, Patrick Ewing, who was coached by Thompson II at Georgetown, replaced Thompson III as head coach and earns $4 million per year [1].
Post-Coaching Career and Earnings
After retiring from coaching in 1999, John Thompson continued to contribute to the sport as a sports commentator [1]. While specific details about his earnings from this role are not publicly available, it is known that he remained on Georgetown University’s payroll as a “presidential consultant for urban affairs,” earning a substantial salary and benefits package [1]. This arrangement highlights Georgetown’s commitment to honoring Thompson’s contributions and providing him with continued financial security [1]. The specifics of his commentary contracts and any associated endorsements remain undisclosed, but these activities likely contributed to his overall net worth [1].
Net Worth Comparison and Context
As a point of comparison, John Thompson III’s peak salary as head coach of Georgetown was $3.6 million [1]. Patrick Ewing, who also played for Thompson II and later became Georgetown’s head coach, earns $4 million per year [1]. These figures provide context for the evolving compensation landscape in college basketball coaching, where salaries have significantly increased over time [1].
While John Thompson’s salary during his coaching years may not have been as high as his contemporaries, his deferred compensation and post-coaching earnings contributed to his $5 million net worth at the time of his death [1]. His legacy as a pioneering coach and influential figure in college basketball remains significant, regardless of specific financial details [1].
