Scott Thompson
Scott Thompson (born c. 1955)
Teams coached: Rice Owls, Wichita State Shockers, Cornell Big Red
Rice record: 65-79 (.451)
Wichita State record: 40-70 (.364)
Cornell record: 45-60 (.429)
Overall record: 150-209 (.418)
Career Accomplishments:
- NCAA National Championships: 0
- NCAA Tournament Appearances: 0
- NIT Championships: 0
- NIT Appearances: 1 (1991)
Coaching Career (head coach, unless noted):
| 1996-2000 | Cornell |
| 1992-1996 | Wichita State |
| 1987-1992 | Rice |
| 1983-1987 | Arizona (asst) |
| 1980-1983 | Iowa (asst) |
| 1977-1980 | Notre Dame (asst) |
Scott Thompson Facts
- Scott Thompson
- Born c. 1955
- Hometown: Chicago, Illinois
- Alma Mater: University of Iowa (BA, 1976)
- Played guard at Iowa for four seasons, two each under head coaches Dick Schultz and Lute Olson
- Averaged 12.2 ppg for his career, including 19.6 ppg as a senior in 1975-76
- Joined Digger Phelps‘ staff at Notre Dame in 1977, coaching with the Irish for three seasons
- Was a part of three NCAA Tournaments, including a trip to the 1978 NCAA Final Four
- Reunited with Olson at alma mater Iowa in 1980, then followed him to Arizona in 1983
- In seven seasons with Olson, he was part of seven NCAA Tournaments and the 1986 Pac-10 title
- Became a head coach in 1987, going 65-79 in five seasons with the Rice Owls
- Improved from 6 wins in his first season to a NIT berth in 1991 and a 20-win campaign in 1992
- Left for Wichita State in 1992, coaching the Shockers for the next four seasons
- Was just 40-70 during his tenure at WSU and did not reach the postseason
- Final head coaching role was a four-year stint as the head coach at Cornell
- Went 45-60 overall before stepping down in 2000
- Thompson was diagnosed with cancer in 1999 and had the cancer reappear in 2000
- At the time he cited a need to focus on his health and his family
Scott Thompson Coaching Tree
- Grey Giovanine (Augustana, Lamar)
- Desmond Oliver (East Tennessee State)
- Willis Wilson (Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, Rice)