honoluluadvertiser.com

Sponsored by:

Comment, blog & share photos

Log in | Become a member
The Honolulu Advertiser

Posted at 3:48 p.m., Thursday, July 12, 2007

College: John Thompson's son leaves Ball State job

Associated Press

MUNCIE, Ind. — Ronny Thompson has told Ball State he will resign after one season as head coach.

Thompson led the Cardinals to a 9-22 record last season and the school has said he and his staff broke NCAA rules by being at voluntary offseason team workouts.

Thompson sent a letter to the university today indicating his plans to resign, school officials said. Thompson is a son of Hall of Fame coach John Thompson, who won a national championship in his 27 seasons at Georgetown. His brother, John III, led Georgetown to the Final Four last season.

"Its disappointing," athletic director Tom Collins said. "We worked very hard with Ronny. I wanted this to work."

Ball State planned a news conference tomorrow to discuss Thompson's resignation.

The Associated Press left a phone message seeking comment from Thompson.

Ball State has said Thompson, who was named coach in April 2006, and his staff broke the NCAA rules last summer and in May by being at voluntary offseason team workouts. The school said the coaches lied about their involvement in the May violations.

Last month, notes including racial slurs and insults were slipped under the office doors of Thompson and other staff members. The university was investigating the source of the notes.