-- Arkansas assistant coach Ronny Thompson, the son of former Georgetown coach John Thompson, was expected to be hired as Ball State's coach, a person with knowledge of the negotiations said Monday.
The official, speaking on condition of anonymity because a formal announcement had not been made, told The Associated Press that contract details were still being worked out Monday night. But a news conference was scheduled for Tuesday afternoon at the school in Muncie, Ind., to announce a new men's basketball coach.
Thompson's father, who was broadcasting Monday night's national championship game on radio, declined comment.
Thompson would join his brother, John Thompson III, as Division I head coaches. Thompson III just completed his second season at Georgetown, where he led the Hoyas to the NCAA regional semifinals.
Ronny Thompson would replace Tim Buckley, who was fired March 15 after a 10-18 season -- the Cardinals' worst record in nearly two decades.
Having brothers coach Division I programs is not unprecedented although it is rare.
Last year, Sean Sutton filled in on an interim basis at Oklahoma State after his father, Eddie, took a medical leave of absence. Scott Sutton was the coach at Oral Roberts.
One of the more notable brother tandems was the Ibas, Hank and Clarence, who coached at Oklahoma State and Tulsa starting in 1949.
Ronny Thompson has spent the last three seasons at Arkansas under head coach Stan Heath. Before that, Thompson spent five seasons as an assistant at Georgetown and worked as a scout for the Philadelphia 76ers from 1996-98.
Thompson also played for his father at Georgetown (1989-92) and worked on Wall Street briefly before going into coaching. He also was an assistant Oregon and Loyola before joining the 76ers.
Buckley was 143-139 in six years at Ball State, including this season when the Cardinals had a losing record for the third time in four years.
Ball State burst onto the national scene under Buckley in November 2001 when the Cardinals upset Kansas and UCLA on consecutive nights at the Maui Invitational.
The official, speaking on condition of anonymity because a formal announcement had not been made, told The Associated Press that contract details were still being worked out Monday night. But a news conference was scheduled for Tuesday afternoon at the school in Muncie, Ind., to announce a new men's basketball coach.
Thompson's father, who was broadcasting Monday night's national championship game on radio, declined comment.
Thompson would join his brother, John Thompson III, as Division I head coaches. Thompson III just completed his second season at Georgetown, where he led the Hoyas to the NCAA regional semifinals.
Ronny Thompson would replace Tim Buckley, who was fired March 15 after a 10-18 season -- the Cardinals' worst record in nearly two decades.
Having brothers coach Division I programs is not unprecedented although it is rare.
Last year, Sean Sutton filled in on an interim basis at Oklahoma State after his father, Eddie, took a medical leave of absence. Scott Sutton was the coach at Oral Roberts.
One of the more notable brother tandems was the Ibas, Hank and Clarence, who coached at Oklahoma State and Tulsa starting in 1949.
Ronny Thompson has spent the last three seasons at Arkansas under head coach Stan Heath. Before that, Thompson spent five seasons as an assistant at Georgetown and worked as a scout for the Philadelphia 76ers from 1996-98.
Thompson also played for his father at Georgetown (1989-92) and worked on Wall Street briefly before going into coaching. He also was an assistant Oregon and Loyola before joining the 76ers.
Buckley was 143-139 in six years at Ball State, including this season when the Cardinals had a losing record for the third time in four years.
Ball State burst onto the national scene under Buckley in November 2001 when the Cardinals upset Kansas and UCLA on consecutive nights at the Maui Invitational.
