CollegeSportsInfo.com News: Ball State coach Ronny Thompson resigns

Thursday, July 12, 2007

Ball State coach Ronny Thompson resigns

Ball State coach Ronny Thompson resigned after one season, BSU assistant athletic director Joe Hernandez told ESPN.com.

An official announcement is due later Thursday with a news conference Friday.
Hernandez said he was unsure if there was a buyout of any kind.

Thompson, the son of Hall of Fame coach John Thompson and brother of Georgetown coach John Thompson III, lost a school record 22 games last season. Ball State is awaiting word from the NCAA after commiting a secondary violation for the second year in a row for conducting offseason workouts.

The resignation comes two days after Collins told ESPN.com that there will be no change in men's basketball by the school or the coach.

"I'm committed to Ronny Thompson and his staff he's got and the great recruiting class he has coming in," Collins said Monday afternoon. "I'm committed to Ronny Thompson, and Ball State is committed to him. We want to see this thing through, and we're all behind him 100 percent. I'm here to help him be successful."

Throughout the first weekend of the July evaluation recruiting period, Thompson's job status was the source of intense speculation by colleagues. Rumors swirled at various coaches camps, and in the Muncie, Ind., area, that Thompson would resign after his staff was caught committing offseason workout violations for the second time in as many years.

Late last month racist letters were slipped under Thompson's door. According to the Muncie Star-Press, racial slurs, along with words "cheaters" and "liars," were written on notes left in the basketball offices in a "break-in" on June 24.

Ball State University police officer Gene Burton told ESPN.com Wednesday that the case should be resolved next week.

The suspense intensified when Thompson went on vacation the first weekend of the July evaluation period while the majority of coaches were on the road.
Thompson and his staff were cited for the second year in a row for violating NCAA rules by being present at voluntary offseason workouts. It has been reported by the Star-Press that the staff lied about the violations, too.

Ball State athletic director Collins said the school is waiting to hear back from the NCAA.
"We filed them as secondary violations and now we'll wait to hear from them," Collins said. "We have no idea how long the response will take."

Collins said Thompson and the staff have gone through rules education and understand "the consequences" and what "the issues are and are now working hard on the recruiting trail."

Labels: coaching changes

posted by Matt Peloquin # 7/12/2007

Discuss this topic and others in the CollegeSportsInfo.com Forums

Comments:

Archives

January 2000 May 2000 May 2003 January 2004 July 2005 October 2005 November 2005 December 2005 January 2006 February 2006 March 2006 April 2006 May 2006 June 2006 July 2006 August 2006 September 2006 October 2006 November 2006 December 2006 January 2007 February 2007 March 2007 April 2007 May 2007 June 2007 July 2007 August 2007 October 2007 November 2007 December 2007 January 2008 February 2008 March 2008 April 2008 May 2008 June 2008 July 2008 August 2008 September 2008 October 2008 November 2008 December 2008 January 2009 February 2009

Subscribe to Posts [Atom]

Sponsor Ads

Important site News

You are currently reading an article on the old CollegeSportsinfo.com Blog as we've recently upgraded. Click on any of the "News" links on the site for the new address. Also be sure to update your RSS feeds with the new address below.

Subscribe feeds rss Feed Rss

Subscribe feeds via e-mail

Subscribe feeds rss Recent News

Subscribe feeds rss Recent Comments

Advertise on this site Sponsored links

Message Board Directory

Looking for an opponents message board? We have them all in one handy directory.

Message Board Directory

CollegesportsInfo Forums

Have thoughts on any college sport? A specific team? Maybe you think it's about time for a coaching change or a revamp of the BCS. Chance are, there are others who would love to discuss. Drop by the CollegeSportsInfo Message Boards and give it a shot...
Forums Home
Today's Active Topics