Deon Thompson, a 2009 national champion, is returning to UNC as part of new coach Michael Malone's staff. Thompson played for the Tar Heels from 2007 to 2010, scoring over 1,400 points and grabbing more than 700 rebounds.
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CHESTNUT HILL, MA - FEBRUARY 20: Head coach Roy Williams of the North Carolina Tar Heels talks with Deon Thompson #21 during a time out in the first half against the Boston College Eagles on February 20, 2010 at Conte Forum in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) | Getty Images
As we head towards the summer months, we should be starting to get less news in the college basketball world, but we’re not there yet. With new coach Michael Malone still putting together his first team at UNC, earlier this new, we heard about another new addition, this time to the coaching staff.
According to Inside Carolina, the Tar Heels are set to announce that 2009 national champion Deon Thompson will be returning to Chapel Hill as part of Malone’s staff.
Thompson played at Carolina from 2007-10, scoring over 1400 career points with over 700 career rebounds. In his sophomore through senior seasons, he started all but two games, mostly paired with Tyler Hansbrough in the frontcourt. That included the 2008-09 national championship season, where Thompson averaged 10.6 points and 5.7 rebounds per game. He even scored the first points of the game in the championship game victory over Michigan State. After the departure of Hansbrough and company, Thompson had a bigger role the following year in 2009-10 and put up career best averages. That Carolina team famously was a bit of a flop, but it’s hard to put that on Thompson himself. With all the various deep NCAA Tournament runs that Thompson and UNC went on over those years, when his senior season ended, he actually held the record for most games played in a college career. That record has sorta been blown to pieces in light of the additional years players were given after COVID, but still.
Deon Thompson will join the coaching staff under new head coach Michael Malone.
Deon Thompson played for the Tar Heels from 2007 to 2010.
Thompson scored over 1,400 points and recorded more than 700 rebounds during his college career.
Thompson was part of the 2009 national championship team and held the record for most games played in a college career at the time.
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After college, Thompson had a long playing career overseas, including winning championships in Germany, Israel, Lithuania, and Serbia. He also represented the Ivory Coast in international play, including at the 2019 Basketball World Cup.
Thompson is returning to Chapel Hill as a graduate assistant, joining the coaching staff while attending classes at Kenan-Flagler Business School as he works towards a masters degree.
It’s always nice when a former player joins the coaching staff, especially one like Thompson who evokes a lot of good memories. Unlike Hubert Davis, who went entirely with people who played for or had a long-time association with UNC, Malone has gone outside the family a little bit more with his staff hires — a move which I personally think is probably best in the long run. That being said, he did retain Sean May and Pat Sullivan and now has Thompson returning in this role.
There are other reports out there on another addition that will be joining the UNC staff. However in Thompson, we’re welcoming someone back home for what hopefully will be the start of a nice coaching career — if that’s what he wants. Best of luck to Deon as he begins this journey!