Thompson awaits raise

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Georgetown heads to Atlanta with a major piece of basketball business dangling amid the frenzy of the Final Four.

As the Hoyas prepare for their first Final Four since 1985, Georgetown still has not announced a raise or contract extension for coach John Thompson III, and the coach's future with the school remains something of an elephant in the room.

Thompson has two years left on a deal that pays him an annual salary of $456,000, according to the university's 990 tax form. That salary ranks 11th among the 15 current Big East coaches and stands as a glaring discrepancy considering Thompson ranks fourth in the conference in regular season winning percentage (72-29, .713) and third in NCAA tournament winning percentage (6-3, .667).

Georgetown athletic director Bernard Muir yesterday declined to comment on the subject.

Sources close to Thompson indicated the coach has been approached by several different NBA franchises in the last year, most recently receiving overtures from the Charlotte Bobcats, who are owned by District native and BET founder Robert Johnson.

Those sources also said yesterday Thompson is not immediately interested in acting on those potential offers. But the Final Four serves as an unofficial convention for coaches and athletic directors. Given plum openings such as the Michigan job, more schools might begin knocking on Thompson's door this weekend.

Muir spent more than an hour in a meeting with Georgetown president Jack DeGioia yesterday, but was unwilling to confirm if the meeting concerned either Thompson's future or a possible new contract offer for the 41-year-old coach.

Thompson, nearing the end of his third season with Georgetown, is neither a chest-thumper nor a desk-pounder. He's not a man to make pecuniary demands, in large part because he doesn't think he should have to beg for just desserts. Demonstrating that side of his personality, Thompson chose not to address the issue yesterday before practice.

"The numbers speak for themselves," one Big East coach said when shown the disparity between Thompson's salary and his accomplishments. "It's not rocket science. The numbers don't add up."

Thompson's legendary father, the original architect behind the program, was outspoken on the subject of finances at Georgetown's recent Centennial Gala on Feb. 24, imploring those in attendance to help his son build the practice facility needed to help the Hoyas keep pace with other Big East schools. Almost every school in the conference boasts vastly superior facilities.