Mel Thompson (basketball)
| Sport(s) | Basketball |
|---|---|
| Biographical details | |
| Born |
October 5, 1932 Richmond, Indiana |
| Died |
February 5, 2009 (aged 76) Indianapolis, Indiana |
| Playing career | |
| 1951–1954 | NC State |
| Position(s) | Center |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 1959–1960 | The Citadel (asst.) |
| 1960–1967 | The Citadel |
| Accomplishments and honors | |
| Awards | |
| First-team All-ACC (1954) | |
Mel Thompson (October 5, 1932 – February 5, 2009) was an American college basketball player and coach. He was the head coach at The Citadel from 1960 to 1967 and is perhaps most notable as Pat Conroy's coach at the school during the season memorialized in Conroy's memoir My Losing Season.[1]
Born and raised in Richmond, Indiana, Thompson played college basketball for Everett Case at North Carolina State University. Following a semi-pro playing career, he was named an assistant coach at The Citadel in 1959,[2] then assumed head coaching duties when Norm Sloan left for the University of Florida coaching job. In his seven seasons as head coach of the Bulldogs, Thompson compiled a record of 67–96. He was named to the 1975 'Silver Anniversary Team' by the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame in recognition of his basketball career.[3] He died on February 5, 2009.[4]
References
- ↑ McGrath, Charles (March 2, 2009). "Reconciliation at the Citadel, Through Basketball". New York Times. Retrieved January 5, 2016.
- ↑ "Citadel hires Mel Thompson". Chula Vista Star News. June 7, 1959. p. 25. Retrieved April 5, 2016 – via Newspapers.com.
- ↑ http://www.hoopshall.com/hall-of-fame/silver-anniversary-teams/
- ↑ Hartsell, Jeff (February 10, 2009). "Former Citadel Coach Dies". The Post and Courier. Retrieved January 5, 2016.