BIG EAST HONORING JOHN THOMPSON’S MEMORY WITH ANNUAL AWARD FOR SOCIAL CHANGE

By Henry Ashby

The Big East will honor the memory of the late Georgetown coach John Thompson Jr. with the creation of the John Thompson Jr. Award to recognize the individual, team or athletic department who made significant efforts to fight prejudice, discrimination and advance positive social change.

“Few individuals are more closely associated with our conference than Coach Thompson,” Big East commissioner Val Ackerman said during today’s media day. “He quite literally put the Big East on the map and so we’re very, very grateful to the Thompson family for allowing us to honor his memory in this way.

“We hope that the award will provide additional inspiration and motivation and carry forward the principles that coach Thompson fought for. And in that way allow us, as an organization, to be part of the change in bringing about a more equitable society.”