John Thompson RIP

[HALL85]

This question was asked on our board. Who is a better coach? John Thompson or Jim Calhoun?

 

[friar10]

Nope.

He recruited white kids but not many white kids, or maybe it was their parents, wanted to play for a black Coach when Big John was coaching.

Or maybe they got paid to go to another school.

Thompson had teams with 2-3 white kids on them. His national championship team did not have any white players.

But here is the irony:

If a white coach has an all-black team, he's a humanitarian. He's helping kids. He's a f@cking hero.

If a black coach has an all-black team, some people are going to ask if he was racist?

And use a false example to back up their question by asking something like: As in he refused to recruit white kids?

Good point, I met John Thompson a couple times, definitely not a racist was very accommodating answered questions from myself and my friend . Also took a picture with him very nice man.

 

[ElmiraExpress]

One of my favorite white guys to play for Coach Thompson was Brian Kelly. A tough kid who fit in perfectly and started for parts of his senior year.

https://www.hoyabasketball.com/players/b_kelly.htm