Ronny Thompson, who completed his third season as an assistant coach at Arkansas in 2005-06, begins his first season as head coach at Ball State Univeristy. Thompson was named the 17th head men's basketball coach in Ball State history April 4, 2006.

"We are elated at the selection of Ronny and welcome he and his family to Ball State," said Ball State University President Jo Ann Gora. "We look forward to his wife Erica and their two small children becoming a part of the Muncie and Ball State community."

"I have spoken to well over a hundred athletic directors, conference commissioners and basketball coaches in the last several weeks," said Ball State Director of Athletics Tom Collins upon Thompson's hiring. "One name that continued to come up in all my conversations was Ronny Thompson.

"Ronny comes from a great family, and I think it is evident today by his family being here and their presence at today's press conference," Collins continued. "We appreciate them coming. We are delighted that the entire Thompson family is here to be a part of our Ball State University family and we are looking forward to great things from Ronny in the future. I can't wait to start working with Ronny on a daily basis."

As a member of Stan Heath's staff at Arkansas, Thompson's duties included coordinating recruiting, preparing scouting reports and player development, in addition to on-floor coaching and academics. The Razorbacks finished the 2005-06 season with a 22-10 record, tied for second in the Southeastern Conference's Western Division with a 10-6 mark and earned an NCAA Tournament bid for the first time in five years.

Prior to Arkansas, Thompson coached for five seasons as an assistant at Georgetown. In addition, he worked with Hall of Fame coach Larry Brown and general manager Billy King as a National Basketball Association scout for the Philadelphia 76ers from 1996-98. While with the 76ers, Thompson played an integral part in assisting Brown and King in preparing for games as well as preparing for the NBA Draft.

After working on Wall Street for Prudential after graduation, Thompson began his coaching career during the 1993-94 season as an assistant to Jerry Green at the University of Oregon. From 1994-96, he was an assistant at Loyola (Md.) before moving to the NBA.

Thompson joined his father's staff as an assistant coach after the 1998 NBA season and remained with the Hoyas through 2003. Georgetown's 2001 squad reached the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament, while the 2003 team reached the finals of the National Invitation Tournament. The Hoyas also advanced to the NIT second round in 2000.

As a player at Georgetown, Thompson helped the Hoyas to a combined record of 94-35, including a trip to the 1989 NCAA Tournament Elite Eight and a pair of Sweet 16 appearances.

Thompson, the son of legendary Hall of Fame and former Georgetown head coach John Thompson, is also the brother of current Georgetown head coach John Thompson III. Thompson, who played for his father from 1989-92 and was the team's captain as a senior, earned his bachelor's degree in sociology in 1992.

Thompson and his wife Erica have a son, Dylan, and a daughter, Devin.