Hewitt’s contract rolled over Tuesday
Any doubt about Paul Hewitt’s future at Georgia Tech was all but erased last week when his Yellow Jackets won three times in the ACC tournament and advanced to the NCAA tournament. But it became more official Tuesday with the passing of an annual deadline in his contract, which rolled over as usual.
Hewitt’s contract is a six-year deal with an automatic rollover, which is triggered each year 30 days prior to April 15. Tech would have had to notify Hewitt by Tuesday if it planned to terminate his contract, or it would have cost an additional $1.375 million on top of the $7.1 million required to buy him out.
“There was no action taken, as has been the case since the contract was signed,” Tech associate athletic director Wayne Hogan said Tuesday. “Today is business as usual. We’re trying to figure out how we’re going to advance in the tournament. We move forward.”
Hewitt came under fire after a last-place finish in the ACC last year, and took his share of heat through the ups and downs of a seventh-place finish in the ACC this regular season. Athletic director Dan Radakovich acknowledged as such last week in an e-mail to Tech fans.
“Please understand that I hear all of the comments and opinions about our men’s basketball program just as I do with all of our 17 sports,” wrote Radakovich, who alluded to the financial part of the equation as well. “…There are many parts to any discussion, issues which are visible and not so visible. By now I’m sure you know that there are factors which make our men’s basketball situation unique.”
Radakovich had said both in that e-mail and in a response to a media query earlier last week, that he would “not get into a discussion regarding the evaluation of a program while there are still significant games to be played and goals to be reached.”
That discussion is all but moot now, with No. 10 seeded Tech (22-12) heading to Milwaukee to play seventh-seeded Oklahoma State Friday in the first round of the NCAA tournament.
When asked in the midst of last week’s run to the ACC tournament finals if he took any personal satisfaction out of the success Tech was having and what it mean for his job security, Hewitt said, “No, not at all. I know what the facts are. I know what we’ve done here for nine years, going on 10 years. When somebody wants to have an honest, frank discussion about the facts, then we’ll be fine. We’re not Duke and (North) Carolina, OK. Do we want to be? And will we some day? But I’ll leave it at that.”
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256 comments Add your comment
Fact Time
March 16th, 2010
2:18 pm
FACT – One winning season in 10 years in the ACC. It was 2004 and Tech went 9-7. Name another coach that gets to lose that much and keep his job.
Tech Fan
March 16th, 2010
2:25 pm
Here are the 3 most telling statistics about Paul Hewitt:
1) In the last 5 years (including this year), he is 76-74. With all of the McDonalds All Americans and future
NBA players, he is two games over .500 in all games, which include 8 or so each year against the likes of
Arkansas Pine-Bluff and Winston Salem State.
2) In his entire 10 years, he is 26 games under .500 in regular season ACC games, and has only one season over
.500 (9-7 in 2004).
3) In his entire 10 years, he has a winning record against 3 ACC schools and a losing record against the other
8. He also has a losing record against mostly poor UGA teams.
4) “This seventh-seeded Tech team cannot dribble, cannot pass, cannot hit free throws, cannot exploit a
massive size and talent advantage when it has one, cannot inbound the ball to save its life” – Pat Forde ESPN
article that sums up our coach brillianty
5) TV commentators talking during the tourney saying things like, “This has to be one of the most talented
teams in the country…they look like world beaters…this has to be the most sloppy and undisciplined
basketball team we’ve seen this year…this team has to be very frustrating to watch for the Tech fans…”
FIRE PAUL HEWITT…apparently we didn’t scream it enough yet…so…here we go for a year of LOUDER SCREAMING!!!!! END GROUND HOG DAY…!!!FIRE PAUL HEWITT!!!
Tech Fan
March 16th, 2010
2:27 pm
Yes, there were two extra/bonus stats..no extra charge!
Cuttysark
March 16th, 2010
2:28 pm
Basketball is unique among the major sports in that success is generally attributed to what somebody does at the NCAA Tournament. While Tech was inconsistent this season, they showed what they are capable of by making an excellent run in the ACC Tournament which provides for some much needed momentum going into March Madness. Paul Hewitt is a great recruiter and has shown the ability to get a team ready for the important games.
For Georgia Tech Football articles go to http://isportsweb.com. Looking forward to the Yellow Jackets taking on the OSU Cowboys in the first round this week. Go Jackets!
Go Jackets
March 16th, 2010
2:29 pm
Beat Okie St.!
GT fan in MS
March 16th, 2010
2:30 pm
When in the heck does his contract end? Never? Continually rolling over in prepetuity with a 5 year buyout?
Thanks Braine.
Basketball God
March 16th, 2010
2:31 pm
Losing record in the rough tough ACC–yes, but he does have a plus .500 winning percentage overall plus a excellent teacher of the game and great recruiter. Not to mention he has graduated most of his players and ran a squeaky clean program inside and out for 10 years….its takes more than wins and losses in the ACC to keep your job Fact Time
Obama
March 16th, 2010
2:31 pm
Yall need to wait for the deconomy to turn around before putting 7.1 million in his pockets… Oh wait, that may be never with all my plans, hehe. Here’s one bro givin another a ’solid’.
neil marlowe
March 16th, 2010
2:31 pm
a world class engineering school whose administration is on the hook for $11 million to two coaches( I think I am correct that we paid Ole Man Chan $4 mill and are committed to Hewitt for $7 mill). Think what
that money could do for the school. And apparently there is no way to punish the idiot or idiots who made
that commitment. What an embarrasment! ! !
GT Hoops Fan
March 16th, 2010
2:32 pm
“I know what the facts are. I know what we’ve done here for nine years, going on 10 years. When somebody wants to have an honest, frank discussion about the facts, then we’ll be fine. We’re not Duke and (North) Carolina, OK. Do we want to be? And will we some day? But I’ll leave it at that.”
Coach, just keep your mouth shut. You can’t win this argument. Your team has been poor to mediocre except for one great run in 10 years. If not for the buyout in your contract, you would likely have been let go by now. Instead of complaining about what people are saying about you, how about working on some new inbounds plays, passing/dribbling drills and free throws? You can just Tweet us your thoughts after the season is over…
Blue Fox
March 16th, 2010
2:33 pm
Tech set a record for # of turnovers and missed free throws in the 57th ACC tourney, plus the announcers used the ineptness of simply getting the ball in bounds as a running joke on TV, embarrassing. Pure talent and defense kept us in the tourney games, not sound coaching.
Dave Braine
March 16th, 2010
2:33 pm
The fact that I got Wayne Clough to sign off on that contract was incredible. I will always have the last laugh, but not too hard if I am on the john. Where’s my smoked Hokie lunch anyhow? I am tired of trout.
TU87
March 16th, 2010
2:34 pm
With the automatic rollover, Hewitt will keep his job until the Jackets miss the tournament. I watched all their games this weekend and while I like Hewitt’s sideline demeanor, there is something wrong when a team supposedly so talented can’t take care of the ball better or break the press.
misterwax
March 16th, 2010
2:35 pm
Well, he CAN’T teach free throws, reducing turn-overs or inbounds passing…..so what exactly does he teach?
Tech Fan
March 16th, 2010
2:36 pm
GT, even worse, a six-year deal with an automatic rollover. It sickens me that we’ve gone from blind loyalty in frustration in what we see and feel…to appathy…to occational bashing…to regular bashing…and it still didn’t solve the problem…painful as it is to speak out against our coach NOT THE TEAM…it’s hard to imagine how ugly things are going to be for the next year in the press and blogs.
Apparently we didn’t scream it enough yet.
**GO JACKETS…but…FIRE PAUL HEWITT!!!**
**GO JACKETS…but…FIRE PAUL HEWITT!!!**
**GO JACKETS…but…FIRE PAUL HEWITT!!!**
**GO JACKETS…but…FIRE PAUL HEWITT!!!**
**GO JACKETS…but…FIRE PAUL HEWITT!!!**
**GO JACKETS…but…FIRE PAUL HEWITT!!!**
**GO JACKETS…but…FIRE PAUL HEWITT!!!**
**GO JACKETS…but…FIRE PAUL HEWITT!!!**
**GO JACKETS…but…FIRE PAUL HEWITT!!!**
UGA victorious yet again
March 16th, 2010
2:36 pm
We love Hewitt, thanks again for the win this year, and all the previous years, I believe he is 4-6 against UGA. GT is a the laughing stock of the ACC for keeping him around this long. Do like football and get a quality coach for your elite recruits.
See you again next year!
Tech Fan
March 16th, 2010
2:37 pm
Obama – funny stuff dude!
Woo Hoo
March 16th, 2010
2:37 pm
There’s some found money I won’t be spending on Tech basketball tickets anymore.
Maybe I’ll buy a new flat screen so I can watch them on TV a few times next year.
Unreal.
messin with sasquatch
March 16th, 2010
2:42 pm
what was the score?
T3
March 16th, 2010
2:42 pm
In the “Southeast” bracket, I’m pulling for St. Johns “victory” over GT.
Shame
March 16th, 2010
2:43 pm
Shame……
Golden Hand
March 16th, 2010
2:43 pm
Tech’s administration has nothing to do with coaches’ contracts. The coaches are hired/fired by the Georgia Tech Athletic Association, which is an independent organization affiliated with the school. No sports funding goes to the school’s budget, and vice versa. So money “saved” on Gailey and Hewitt’s contracts could be spent elsewhere in the sports budget, but not on the academic side.
It’s interesting that people seem to think that Hewitt’s teams play such great defense by themselves, without his input. He’s certainly not a perfect coach, but he is a: a great recruiter and b: a great teacher of defense. He has the second-best winning percentage of any Georgia Tech basketball coach in the school’s history.
Hewitt has had a better record than any of the ACC coaches who have been fired/forced out during his tenure. The contract may hamstring Tech in terms of hiring a better coach (a very risky and theoretical prospect), but it certainly helps recruiting because players can assume Hewitt will be there all four years.
wesleywhatwhat
March 16th, 2010
2:45 pm
hewit’s record is the only thing that matters, and it speaks for itself. he isn’t getting the job done.
as a fan, and alumnus, i am starting to be embarassed by the lack of action on the part of GT’s administration.
Paul Hewitt
March 16th, 2010
2:47 pm
Looking Forward to 2011 !
Yeah, Go Jackets
Go Jackets
Yeah, Go Jackets
Tech Fan
March 16th, 2010
2:51 pm
It’s truely unfortunate that the admin have let it get to this point. They clearly are aware that blind loyalty turned to mass appathy turned to vocal majority long ago. They are telling us that we didn’t scream it enough yet. Sad that now we will be even louder and uglier, just to try and get through to the admin. I love my Jackets, have NEVER spoke out against a coach, but this coach has to go, like 8 years ago….
**GO JACKETS…but…FIRE PAUL HEWITT!!!**
**GO JACKETS…but…FIRE PAUL HEWITT!!!**
**GO JACKETS…but…FIRE PAUL HEWITT!!!**
**GO JACKETS…but…FIRE PAUL HEWITT!!!**
**GO JACKETS…but…FIRE PAUL HEWITT!!!**
**GO JACKETS…but…FIRE PAUL HEWITT!!!**
**GO JACKETS…but…FIRE PAUL HEWITT!!!**
**GO JACKETS…but…FIRE PAUL HEWITT!!!**
**GO JACKETS…but…FIRE PAUL HEWITT!!!**
Miss Me Yet - Signed Bobby Cremins
March 16th, 2010
2:53 pm
Hewitt has Tech held hostage! It’s like Groundhog Day all over again. We will see the same underachieving team year after year after year. And we will continue to hear about all the talent and promise the program has. Check out this teams turnover stats and then tell me how good the coaching is. I’ve not purchased a ticket in years and my option will rollover to 2010 and I’ll stay away until Hewitt is screwing up someone else’s program!
critic
March 16th, 2010
2:53 pm
Get ready for an empty coliseum next year.
Maybe when Gailey has been paid, we can upgrade.
Let me know when we want to get serious about BB again.
Miss Me Yet - Signed Bobby Cremins
March 16th, 2010
2:55 pm
Hey “Tech Fan” – don’t you get it. We can’t afford to fire Hewitt. Hewitt knows it. D. Rad knows it. There isn’t one thing the AD can do about it. If you’d like to write the $7.1 million dollar check to get your wish, then have at it. Until theN THEY CAN’T AFFORD TO FIRE HEWITT!
Hey, GT Fan in MS...
March 16th, 2010
2:57 pm
…don’t thank Dave Braine for that contract – thank the UGA educated lawyer who negotiated the perpetual rollover of the contract!
And, as stated elsewhere, Hewitt has not played a minute and has not thrown passes away uncontested, nor has he dribbled off his foot, no missed dead on layups, etc, etc etc. At some point the players have to play, and they have not and probably could not no matter who coached them. Lots of people on this blog say that the UGA coach is so good – what did that get them this year – NADA – but a losing record.
Others comment as to how the “Mcdonald’s” Hewitt has recruited have not gotten better – ever stop to think that maybe, just maybe, those guys were overrated when they came here?
So, wesleyshatwhat – if you are so embarrassed by a winning team, YOU put up the $8.45mil to buy him out, or like the rest, STFU!
Woo Hoo
March 16th, 2010
2:59 pm
Tech has resigned itself to basketball mediocrity today. Can’t really compete, so let’s leave it at the status quo.
Painful.
Good thing alum’s don’t treat their careers the way the GTAA is treating this.
Inquiring Mind
March 16th, 2010
3:00 pm
I would love to get the backstory on the contract. Who represented the GTAA in these negotiations? Who represented Hewitt? How does the controversial rollover compare to other coaches’ contracts? Overall, did the GTAA simply overvalue Hewitt (certainly not the first business to overpay for an asset) or did one side simply have much better lawyers?
Tech Fan
March 16th, 2010
3:06 pm
Nancy, I would give it up if they had fired him. The man has ONE winning acc season in TEN years. The first person to use the “R” word is always the real one…congrats…you are the one!
It wouldn’t have come to this if he had been fired already. “We can’t afford NOT to” fire him. BTW it’s not a 7.1 mil check, it’s the same amount of check he always gets, paid out over time. Granted, that’s a heck of a lot of money, but it’s easier to pay it if people buy tickets than what this is coming to.
**GO JACKETS…but…FIRE PAUL HEWITT!!!**
**GO JACKETS…but…FIRE PAUL HEWITT!!!**
**GO JACKETS…but…FIRE PAUL HEWITT!!!**
**GO JACKETS…but…FIRE PAUL HEWITT!!!**
**GO JACKETS…but…FIRE PAUL HEWITT!!!**
**GO JACKETS…but…FIRE PAUL HEWITT!!!**
**GO JACKETS…but…FIRE PAUL HEWITT!!!**
**GO JACKETS…but…FIRE PAUL HEWITT!!!**
**GO JACKETS…but…FIRE PAUL HEWITT!!!**
Smyrna Jacket
March 16th, 2010
3:07 pm
I can’t even bring myself to watch the Jackets on TV, let alone buy season tickets again. Too frustrating to watch a team that just flails away with no rhyme or reason. Youth teams are better coached. We’ve all had our say as to how wretched we think the Jackets have played and, worse, been coached. The only way to influence any decision by the GTAA is by affecting the cash flow.
Tech Fan
March 16th, 2010
3:11 pm
Smyrna Jacket – That’s what I’m afraid of. If we keep buying tickets, we are ’supporting’ the current situation. That didn’t work. We gradually keep loosing season ticket holders, and that was before there was such a clear vocal majority against Hewitt on the blogs. I hate that we have to let this thing get significantly worse before the right thing happens. NO ONE in the world keeps their job with his performance. Amazing. (fire paul hewitt) GO JACKETS!!!!
BigTimeTechFan
March 16th, 2010
3:11 pm
Hire Mark Price
BigTimeTechFan
March 16th, 2010
3:13 pm
Dwayne Ferrell and Bruce Dalrimple as assistants
Fire Paul Hewitt
March 16th, 2010
3:14 pm
And my decision for renewing bball tix in 2010 has been made for me. I used to enjoy going to games but I can’t handle leaving AMC more frustrated and stressed than when I went in. And that’s when we win.
Count on more people jumping ship right about now. I simply can’t believe that DRad is content with a product this bad on the floor. Maybe we can lose another 7 million next year at the gate.
And to all of the Hewitt defenders out there – yes, he can recruit, yes, he is a fantastic representative of the institute, but if you can defend his actual coaching skills for more than 10 seconds with a straight face, then I’ll buy you a rollover contract ad nauseum.
Real Tech fan
March 16th, 2010
3:15 pm
For all of you who are no longer giving GT basketball a dime. Well, go ahead. It will just allow the real fans to move closer to the court to cheer on our favorite team.
Road Scholar
March 16th, 2010
3:15 pm
Let us redefine” and other duties as assigned” part of Hewitt’s contract, like sit at the other end of the bench.
Tech Fan
March 16th, 2010
3:18 pm
Real Tech fan – enjoy the product! I support and love the Jackets, even though most of my friends are UGA guys, which is brutal in terms of win/looses, but I was finished with the Hewitt product a couple years ago. Continuing to buy tickets is only going to keep him around longer. Enjoy the show, if you can. GO JACKETS (fire paul hewitt)
John
March 16th, 2010
3:18 pm
i’m so tired of you racist white folks. you are so threatened by black men its a dam shame. to the white people the world is yours and you can have it. remember in the bible it stated that the devil was knocked down to the earth. read between the lines you blue eyed devils.
eric
March 16th, 2010
3:19 pm
go coach hewitt we love you
susan
March 16th, 2010
3:20 pm
coach hewitt is my guy hes so sexy. i’m a white girl and love me some black men
Brenda
March 16th, 2010
3:20 pm
we are so lucky to have coach hewitt. go jackets
Fire Paul Hewitt
March 16th, 2010
3:21 pm
Real Tech fan – take my seats….please. Just remember that the closer you get, the more likely you are to be hit in the head by a turnover (or 20).
Brenda
March 16th, 2010
3:24 pm
To fire paul hewitt get a life you jerk, is your wife home with the neighbor.
you need to stop being so racist. i’m a white girl and i love some black men.
underachieving white man
March 16th, 2010
3:27 pm
i wish i was black because they are such resilient people. myself i’m a devil who hates to see black men make something of themselves because i feel threatened
Tech Fan
March 16th, 2010
3:29 pm
MODERATOR:
Please do not BAN, but please do REMOVE the posts by “Nancy Reagan” and “John”, as they have clearly stepped over appropriate boundaries for a basketball blog by accusing people of being racists. This is not the appropriate forum for that sort of blatant insensitivity. If you leave their comments, it will only show that the AJC encourages such behavior.
Back to basketball..>FIRE PAUL HEWITT<
HugoStiglitz
March 16th, 2010
3:37 pm
Paul Hewitt is staying. We pretty much have to deal with it. We should force him to shake up the coaching staff or something though. We are losing close games while we have 20+ turnovers and shoot 50% free throws. We are basically giving wins away. Hire some assistant coaches who specialize in what we are weak at.
MODERATOR......
March 16th, 2010
3:42 pm
…Pleae REMOVE the posts by Tech Fan – he is not a fan of GT and should not be allowed to post his anti-Hewitt vitriol on this site – thanks.