Former Winston-Salem State University men’s basketball coach Corey Thompson said that he was fired without cause in a social media statement.
Thompson, who was in his second season as Rams coach, was fired just hours before the team’s final home game on Feb. 14 against Shaw University.
In an X post, Thompson wrote, “After much reflection, I would like to share a statement regarding the recent decision to relieve me of my duties as head men’s basketball coach at Winston-Salem State University.” He described the move as “with no cause,” expressing natural disappointment, particularly over the timing that fueled “concerning speculation on my character.”
“To be clear, I was terminated with no cause,” he wrote in the statement posted Wednesday night.
Ecclesiastes 9:11 pic.twitter.com/VPC3Z5pbDN
— Corey Thompson (@CoachCoreyThomp) March 12, 2026
Thompson detailed personal firing impact
Thompson emphasized the broader fallout of his dismissal: “This decision affected many people—my family, our program and most importantly our players, whose season was abruptly taken from them.”
Thompson, a WSSU alum, had signed a four-year contract in July 2024 worth $125,000 annually, which ran through July 2028. The move leaves two years remaining on his deal, according to the Winston-Salem Journal.
Thompson’s last game as Rams coach was a 70-69 loss versus Claflin on Feb. 12.
He replaced longtime coach Cleo Hill Jr., who had led the Rams to two CIAA championships during his tenure.
WSSU went 7-15 overall and 2-11 in the CIAA under Thompson before he was fired. Overall, the team went 11-37 and 4-25 in the CIAA.
