June 1, 2006
Washington, D.C. - The Black Coaches Association today awarded Georgetown University Head Men's Basketball Coach John Thompson III the Fritz Pollard Male Coach of the Year Award at the 2006 National BCA Convention and Expo in Miami. Established in 2004 by the BCA and Brown University, the annual award honors Frederick Douglass "Fritz" Pollard, the first African American coach in the National Football League.
"I have a tremendous amount of respect for the BCA and its mission to foster the development of minorities in athletics," Thompson said. "It's an honor to receive this award and a privilege to be in a position to mold tomorrow's leaders through the strong academics of Georgetown and the athletic and professional discipline we teach our student-athletes."
In his second year at the helm, Thompson led Georgetown to one of its most successful seasons in recent memory. He guided the team to a 23-10 overall record as the Hoyas reached the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA Tournament. Georgetown posted a 10-6 record in the BIG EAST Conference and advanced to the semifinals of the league tournament in March. The Hoyas, who toppled then No. 1-ranked Duke at the Verizon Center in January, were ranked among the top-25 teams in the country for the final eight weeks of the season.
Thompson's record since taking over the Georgetown program is 42-23, including a 19-13 mark during the 2004-05 season, when the team advanced to the NIT quarterfinals. In six years at the collegiate level, he has a career record of 110-65, including a 68-42 mark at Princeton, and has led teams to the NCAA Tournament three times and to the NIT twice.
"We're thrilled for Coach Thompson and this is a tremendous honor for him," Director of Athletics Bernard Muir said. "It is once again a credit to the hard work put in by all associated with the program and shows what an exemplary representative he is for this special institution."
Fritz Pollard Award recipients are nominated and selected by members of the BCA based on the following criteria: team success during the current season, team improvement from previous season, fulfillment of team potential and professional manner and attitude.
"It's an honor to be recognized by the BCA," Thompson said. "Any time you get recognized for the accomplishments of your team, it's a significant achievement and is a tribute to the hard work that our team and staff, from top to bottom, put in."
Thompson joins several other award recipients honored this year for excellence in coaching and administration, including Shann Hart, IUPUI Women's Head Basketball Coach, BCA Female Coach of the Year Award; Craig Littlepage, University of Virginia Athletic Director, BCA Athletic Administrator of the Year Award; and Ted Ginn Sr., Glenville High School Football Coach in Cleveland, Ohio, BCA High School Coach of the Year Award.
"Our honorees are not just successful professionals, but they are also outstanding people," said Floyd Keith, BCA Executive Director. "Our membership has chosen well."
The annual BCA convention, which focuses on "Empowering our Leadership with Accountability and Action," brings together professional, collegiate, high school and amateur coaches as well as administrators for four days of educational workshops.
The Black Coaches Association (BCA) is a non-profit organization that seeks to foster the growth and development of ethnic minorities at all levels of sports both nationally and internationally. The BCA is committed to creating a positive enlightened environment where issues can be examined closely, debated sincerely and resolved honestly.
