; Whereas Thompson became the first African-American head coach to win a major collegiate basketball championship when he led the Georgetown Hoyas to victory in the NCAA National Championship in 1984; Whereas Thompson achieved success on a global scale as an assistant coach for the gold medal-winning men’s basketball team for the United States during the 1976 Olympic Games, and as head coach of the team during the 1988 Olympic Games, winning a bronze medal; Whereas Thompson received the United States Basketball Writers Association’s Henry Iba Award in 1982, the Sporting News Men’s Basketball Coach of the Year award in 1984, the National Association of Basketball Coaches’ Coach of the Year award in 1985, the United Press International Coach of the Year award in 1987, and the Big East Conference Coach of the Year award in each of the years 1980, 1987, and 1992; Whereas Thompson was inducted into National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame and the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame; Whereas Thompson mentored eight NBA first-round drafted players (including Eric Sleepy Floyd, Patrick Ewing, Reggie Williams, Dikembe Mutombo, Alonzo Mourning, and Allen Iverson) and 26 NBA players overall; Whereas Thompson made immeasurable contributions to the game of basketball, which included his posture as an imposing figure on the sidelines, towering over many opposing coaches and players, and was often noticed with his ever-present white towel over his shoulder; Whereas Thompson kept a deflated basketball in his office to remind his players of the importance of an education and active preparation for life after their athletic career, and that their life has greater meaning than nine pounds of air ; Whereas of the 78 players who played four seasons at Georgetown under Thompson, 76 received their degree; Whereas after retiring from coaching, Thompson remained very connected with the Georgetown men’s basketball program while working as a radio and television commentator for professional and college basketball