John Thompson didn’t want to be first. Being first wasn’t what validated the discipline, the consistency, the bone-crushing intimidation of “Hoya Paranoia”, the program he spearheaded at Georgetown for 24 consecutive postseason appearances.
In 1984, fielding an all-Black roster, he became the first Black coach to lead his team to the NCAA title. According to Milton Katz’s autobiography of coaching legend and civil rights activist John McLendon, Thompson was asked if he was proud of being first. “If I am a pioneer in 1984,” he replied, “it is only because men more qualified than I were wrongly denied the opportunity.