Georgetown has had 17 men's basketball coaches in the history of its program.
Two of them are named John Thompson.
Yesterday, the Washington, D.C., university announced the hiring of Princeton coach John Thompson III to replace fired Hoyas basketball coach Craig Esherick.
Thompson's father, Hall of Famer John Thompson Jr., coached at Georgetown from 1972-1999, leading the Hoyas to a national title in 1984.
"I am John Thompson's son," the newly hired coach said at a press conference yesterday. "I have been John Thompson's son for 38 years, and I'm pretty confident being John Thompson's son."
A 1988 Princeton graduate, Thompson became head coach of the Tigers in 2000 when then-Princeton coach Bill Carmody made a similar leap to a major conference program, leaving for Northwestern.
Thompson went 68-42 at Princeton during his tenure as head coach, leading the Tigers to the NCAA Tournament in 2001 and 2004.
"We recognize what a difficult decision this has been for John," Princeton athletic director Gary Walters said in a press release. "While we're disappointed that he is leaving us, we wish him the best as he starts the next chapter of his career."
"It is sad to see John and Monica Thompson leave Princeton, where they have been such an important part of the university community since their student days," Princeton President Shirley Tilghman added. "I understand, of course, the pull of Georgetown, and I wish John all the best as he takes up his new position there."
While Thompson has spent the past nine years living in Princeton, he grew up in Washington D.C., where he attended Gonzaga College High School.
"I'm probably one of the few people in the world who can leave home and then come home," Thompson said.
Thompson's predecessor, Esherick, went 13-15 this past season, the Hoyas' worst record in 31 years. Georgetown only reached the NCAA Tournament once since Thompson's father retired in 1999.
"We are Georgetown," Thompson said. "A few people have forgotten we are Georgetown and we are going to work our behinds off to try and remind them."
Georgetown President John DeGioia introduced Thompson at the press conference, citing his work at Princeton as a perfect qualification for the Georgetown job.
"John has all of the qualifications we are looking for in a head coach: he has had head coaching success at a Division I university academically similar to Georgetown," DeGioia said.
Several Ivy coaches have expressed their best wishes to Thompson in his new position.
"It's a great opportunity for John," Yale coach James Jones said. "He deserves the opportunity."
"I think John's a terrific coach," added Penn's Fran Dunphy.
Jones believes Thompson's biggest challenge will be having "the kids that are there right now buying into his philosophy. It may be a little bit more difficult because of his unique style of play."
Dunphy -- who was rumored to be in the running for the Georgetown job but said he was not contacted -- believes recruiting will be very different for Thompson.
"It will probably be a lot easier," he said.
The leading candidate for the Princeton head coaching position is Air Force head coach Joe Scott.
A 1987 Princeton graduate, Scott led Air Force to its first NCAA Tournament appearance in 42 years this past season. Scott was a Princeton assistant from 1992 to 2000.
An Air Force spokesman told the Associated Press that Princeton spoke with an Air Force associate athletic director yesterday about Scott.
"He's the guy Princeton would like to have," Dunphy said.
Jones doubted that Scott would be interested, citing that he is "very well paid out at Air Force."
Due to the Tigers' unorthodox style of play, it seems likely that they will hire someone close to the program.
"We will do everything we can to bring in someone who is a member of the Princeton basketball family to replace him," Walters said.
Jones is not surprised by this announcement.
"It will be a cold day in hell when they do something different at Princeton on offense," he said. "They will go with someone from Princeton family and go with what they've been successful with over the years."
Other possible candidates include Princeton assistants Chris Mooney, Mike Brennan and Howard Levy, as well as Northwestern assistants Mitch Henderson and Craig Robinson -- former Princeton assistants who left with Carmody.
Dunphy cited Mooney as the leading possibility if Scott turns the job down.
Another Ivy school, Dartmouth, is also seeking a new head coach after the resignation of Dave Faucher earlier this year.
Kyle Koncz, a Strongsville, Ohio, native who has committed to Princeton for next year, said he is saddened that the man who recruited him will not be his coach.
"It's an understandable move," he said. "I wish him luck there."
Thompson called Koncz yesterday morning to inform him of his decision before Koncz went to school.
"He just said he was sorry," Koncz said.
The 6-foot-6 forward still intends to play for Princeton next season.
"I loved coach Thompson," he said. "But I also went there because it was a good school."
