NEW YORK (September 2, 2025) – Seton Hall University’s longtime head men's & women's cross country coach John Moon, who retired after 53 seasons on June 1, has been chosen as the winner of the fifth annual John Thompson Jr. Award, which recognizes significant efforts within the BIG EAST Conference to fight prejudice and discrimination and advance positive societal change. Today’s announcement comes on what would have been Thompson’s 84th birthday.
 
A selection committee made up of personnel from all 11 BIG EAST schools, together with a representative of the Thompson family, selected the winning nomination. The award considered efforts undertaken during the 2024-25 academic year.
 
"For more than a half-century, John Moon has served as an advocate, mentor, and role model for student-athletes at Seton Hall University, not only guiding them as competitors but teaching them valuable life lessons and preparing them to meet the challenges of tomorrow,” said BIG EAST Commissioner Val Ackerman.  "Like Coach Thompson, Coach Moon was a trailblazer and change agent who made an indelible impact on campus and on national and international stages.   We commend him on his legacy of leadership, integrity and achievement and congratulate him on this most deserving honor.”
 
The John Thompson Jr. Award was created in 2020 to annually recognize a BIG EAST athletic department, team or individual who has demonstrated outstanding leadership, perseverance and creativity in promoting an environment of inclusiveness or championing the end of discrimination, racism and bigotry.  Prior recipients have included St. John’s University in 2024, the Villanova University athletic department in 2023 and 2024, Providence College athletic director Bob Driscoll in 2022 and the Georgetown University athletic department in 2021.
 
"Congratulations to Coach Moon on being recognized as this year's John Thompson, Jr., Award recipient," said Seton Hall Director of Athletics Bryan Felt. "Over the course of 53 years, Coach Moon's influence has resonated throughout our department, from mentoring student-athletes to sharing wisdom with his coaching colleagues to being a positive influence on our entire community. As a member of our diversity, equity and inclusion committee, Coach Moon's voice was steadfast and helped sparked new initiatives and change within the department. He is a tremendous choice to receive the award that bears Coach Thompson's name."
 
Thompson, who died on August 30, 2020, was the head men’s basketball coach at Georgetown from 1972 to 1999.  He led the Hoyas to 24 consecutive postseason appearances in 27 seasons, six BIG EAST Tournament titles, and three NCAA Final Four berths, including the 1984 National Championship.  He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1999.  Beyond his basketball accomplishments, Thompson was a national leader and fierce advocate for racial equality and social justice. He was a 1964 graduate of Providence College.
 
"For me to be synonymous with the great Coach Thompson is an incredible honor," said Moon. "Of all the honors I've received, this one stands out as one of the greatest. Coach Thompson stood for fairness and equality; he wanted to ensure that everyone was treated equally no matter their background, and that is what I've strived for my whole life as well. All I can say is that I'm so honored, this means everything to me and thank you to the BIG EAST and the committee for this incredible recognition."
 
Moon, who was an All-American track athlete at Linden High School and at his alma mater, Tennessee State University, was named the head coach of Seton Hall's track & field/cross country programs in 1972, and took the program to new heights with immediate success. In his first season in South Orange, he coached the men's mile relay team to the NCAA Indoor Track Championship.
 
From there, Moon elevated Seton Hall to prominence with a strong tradition of track excellence showcased in a plethora of individual achievements by his student-athletes. A seven-time BIG EAST Coach of the Year, his slate includes 87 BIG EAST champions, 71 All-Americans and seven NCAA Champions. Moon has tutored 19 Olympic athletes during his career, including four runners that competed in the 1988 Summer Olympic Games in Seoul, South Korea, one in the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona and one in the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta.
 
The BIG EAST:
The BIG EAST Conference is an association of 11 nationally prominent colleges and universities that foster healthy athletic competition, community service and the pursuit of excellence in academic environments.  The BIG EAST-sponsored athletic programs of our institutions provide national-caliber participation opportunities for more than 3,800 student-athletes on over 200 men’s and women’s teams in 22 sports.  Established in 1979 and headquartered in New York City, the BIG EAST’s members are located in eight of the country’s top 36 largest media markets and include Butler University, University of Connecticut, Creighton University, DePaul University, Georgetown University, Marquette University, Providence College, St. John’s University, Seton Hall University, Villanova University and Xavier University.  For more information, visit www.bigeast.com.