UA Assistant Thompson Named Head Coach at Ball State

MUNCIE, Ind. — Ronny Thompson, who completed his third season as an assistant coach at Arkansas, has been named the 16th head men’s basketball coach in Ball State University history, according to BSU athletics director Tom Collins.

Thompson, the son of legendary Hall of Fame and former Georgetown head coach John Thompson, is also the brother of current Georgetown head coach John Thompson III. Thompson, who played for his father from 1989-92 and was the team’s captain as a senior, earned his bachelor’s degree in sociology in 1992.

As a member of Stan Heath’s staff at Arkansas, Thompson’s duties included coordinating recruiting, preparing scouting reports and player development, in addition to on-floor coaching and academics. The Razorbacks finished the 2005-06 season with a 22-10 record, tied for second in the Southeastern Conference’s Western Division with a 10-6 mark and earned an NCAA Tournament bid for the first time in five years.

Prior to Arkansas, Thompson coached for five seasons as an assistant at Georgetown. In addition, he worked with Hall of Fame coach Larry Brown, and general manager Billy King as a National Basketball Association scout for the Philadelphia 76ers from 1996-98. While with the 76ers, Thompson was an integral part in assisting Brown and King in preparing for games as well as preparing for the NBA Draft.

After working on Wall Street for Prudential after graduation, Thompson began his coaching career during the 1993-94 season as an assistant to Jerry Green at the University of Oregon. From 1994-96, he was an assistant at Loyola (Md.) before moving to the NBA.

Thompson joined his father’s staff as an assistant coach after the 1998 NBA season and remained with the Hoyas through 2003. Georgetown’s 2001 squad reached the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament, while the 2003 team reached the finals of the National Invitation Tournament. The Hoyas also advanced to the NIT second round in 2000.

As a player at Georgetown, Thompson helped the Hoyas to a combined record of 94-35, including a trip to the 1989 NCAA Tournament Elite Eight and a pair Sweet16appearances.

Thompson and his wife Erica have a son, Dylan, and a daughter, Devin.