Hewitt says it’s highly unlikely he’d leave Tech for St. John’s
Georgia Tech coach Paul Hewitt said it’s highly unlikely that he would leave Georgia Tech for St. John’s.
Tech athletics director Dan Radakovich has given the Storm permission to speak to Hewitt about its vacant men’s basketball coaching job. Hewitt grew up in New York, and is one of the Storm’s top targets for the job, according to several New York newspapers. St. John’s declined to comment about its search until it is concluded.
When reached on Tuesday, Hewitt said he wouldn’t rule out talking to St. John’s if athletics director Chris Monasch called.
The Storm tried to woo Hewitt in 2004 after he led Tech to the Final Four, but former athletic director Dave Braine countered with a contract with a unique automatic annual buyout of $7.1 million. Hewitt recently said that he actually had two other college job offers at the time of the negotiations. Should Hewitt resign, the contract also stipulates that he would owe the Georgia Tech Athletic Association one-half of the remaining term of his contract, which would be $3.4 million.
The 2004 season remains the pinnacle of Hewitt’s success in 10 seasons at Tech. He is 177-144 overall at the Institute, including 67-93 in the ACC. He has led the Jackets to the NCAA tournament five times, including this year when they were knocked out in the second round by Ohio State.
With a lineup featuring two projected NBA lottery picks in Gani Lawal and Derrick Favors, Hewitt led the Jackets to a 23-13 mark this season, including a seventh-place 7-9 finish in the ACC. Tech lost to Duke in the ACC tournament championship game.
Some fans have expressed their displeasure with Hewitt the past few seasons, particularly after the 2008-09 team, beset by injuries, went 12-19 overall and 2-14 in the ACC.
The Jackets bounced back this season and jumped out to a 11-2 start and eventually rose to as high as No. 19 in the Associated Press poll. Tech had some bad luck once ACC play began, losing on last-second shots at Miami and at Maryland that jeopardized its chances of making the NCAA tournament.
A few days after the loss to the Terps, Hewitt approved a series of tweets in which he asked people to either support his team or leave it alone. He later said that those tweets were meant for the media, and not the fans. Nevertheless, after the messages his relationship with the Atlanta media took center-stage in print, online and on radio shows as his team was trying to secure its place in the NCAA tournament.
That died down after a week or so but reignited on March 15. Hewitt’s contract stipulates that if Tech were to fire him, he must be notified at least 30 days before April 15. On March 16, he was asked if he had any comment on his contract being rolled over. He responded by expressing his displeasure that anyone would presume his contract is why he is still employed at Tech.
“I think it’s pretty cheap that anybody would make an issue out of it,” Hewitt said. “I think it’s really underhanded. It’s the lowest form of journalism there is. … I really resent the hell out of somebody trying to insinuate that it’s like I’m stealing money from somebody and that the only reason I have my job is because of this contract.”
Hewitt later said that he and his family are happy at Tech and in Atlanta.
The GTAA recently oversaw construction of the Zelnak Center, a practice facility that opened last year for the men’s and women’s basketball teams. It also recently received a donation that will help pay for as much as $15 million of a proposed $45 million renovation to Alexander Memorial Coliseum.
St. John’s reportedly offered Florida coach Billy Donovan a contract worth more than $3 million a season but were turned down. Hewitt’s base salary was $1.375 million this season.
Monasch fired coach Norm Roberts last week after going 17-16 overall, 6-12 in the Big East this season. They weren’t invited to the NCAA tournament for the eighth consecutive season. They last won the Big East in 2000. They’ve been to the NCAA tournament 27 times, including two Final Fours.
Carroll Rogers contributed to this report.
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111 comments Add your comment
JW
March 23rd, 2010
3:22 pm
for everyone who is so excited about showing CPH the door, question for you……
who REALISTICALLY could GT GET TO COME IN AND RECRUIT AND BE MORE COMPETITIVE IN THE ACC BETTER THAN WHAT CPH HAS DONE???
And before you all start tossing out outlandish coaching replacements, remember the operative word is ‘REALISTICALLY’
gandhi
March 23rd, 2010
3:23 pm
Craig Neal, anyone?
Stan
March 23rd, 2010
3:25 pm
I say bring on a winner!!!!!….In the name os Steve Alford
Cherokee
March 23rd, 2010
3:30 pm
Why would he want to leave Tech?? He has a sweetheart of a deal.
TECH FANS BLEWITT
March 23rd, 2010
3:34 pm
Tech “fans” don’t go to sporting events, even if the team is winning. Tech’s football team was a National Contender last season, and the stadium was never filled. I know cause I was there. I feel bad for Paul Hewitt; he has to put up with all the dorks that think they know something about coaching a team, much less sports. I hope Hewitt stays…just to piss you off. No matter which coach is at Tech, the best players are always going to leave early because the student body can’t even engineer a “Lime Light” or celebrity atmoshpere for their athletes. Tech fans wouldn’t know a good coach if he dropped a championship trophey on their head.
George P
March 23rd, 2010
3:35 pm
rrring, rring
DRad – Hello?
Storm – Hey, DRad, we’d like to talk to CPH about the job up here.
DRad – Why sure. When can you meet with him…
Storm – I dunno, I was thinking..
DRad – Delta has a flight that leaves at 3:40pm into La Guardia..that too soon?
Dirk Diggler
March 23rd, 2010
3:35 pm
Being a great player does not equal being a great coach. A lot of times the best coaches are guys who were good basketball players but not the great ones. Matt Harping has never coached. Mark Price has bounced around from high school ball to Suwanee Sports Academy to Hawks shooting coach. Price doesnt exactly have the personality to be a great recruiter. Hes actually pretty boring to talk to. Those of you saying you cant get a better coach for the money GT is paying Hewitt are clueless. Coaches cant control if kids hit shots or make turnovers but they can put them in the best positions possible to do those things. Hewitt has admitted that hes the type of coach that prefers to work on individual improvement over team things. That equals great individual players going to the NBA and nothing to show for it team wise. His substitution pattern is terrible. His use of timeouts is terrible. His offense is terrible. I dont think he has a very good coaching staff either. Im not sure any of his assistants will go on to be head coaches. And the article in the paper yesterday quoted Hewitt as saying “we had a great year” and we were “unlucky”. PITIFUL!
Born2Buzz
March 23rd, 2010
3:38 pm
4jacks, you hit it right on the head.
It would seem obvious that DRad is praying for St Johns to make the call and Hewitt to accept. Why else would he allow them to even talk to Hewitt if he doesn’t want him to go. This is the perfect escape from a bad situation. Only question is whether he secretly also told St. J’s that we would forgo the $3.4M buyout.
And I agree with ZamBonE..Paul Hewitt is a nice man and a good person, but a change would be for the better for both programs.
Tech Hoops
March 23rd, 2010
3:38 pm
Not enough wins. That is the issue. But Tech competes. YOu don’t have the 4th best FG %age defense int he nation without good coaching. Yes I agree that the offensive execution suffers at times. But I came to tech AFTER the glory years of Cremins. I got here in fall of ‘90. And I knew exactly what he did previously. Check your facts and Cremins did not do much better if any better than Hewitt. He had ACC tourney win of ‘93 and that was it after ‘90. Well Duke was not as much of a powerhouse in the ’80s. They were really good but not as consistent as they are now. I agree that there is too much expectation and if you get behind this program it may turn the corner in the next few years. we have ranked freshmen. That’s new. We have a new facility and new arena upgrade coming. But his teams compete. We were blown out of only a couple games. With Cremins except for a select year or 2, we were blown out of many games. Beating Duke and UNC was fluke. he has his tems expecting to win.
And to the fan who said UGA got that tourney win in the SEC. Well, middle of the pack ACC teams could have won that tourney they were so down that year in the SEC. And winning the SEC in Hoops is face it, like winning the ACC in Football. UGA got a good new coach I will agree, but year in and out if you let him do his job, he will have more success than Fox. My brothers and father went to Duke anc Chapel Hill. They were never “worried” about Tech in hoops for 12-14 years (except the MArbury year). In fact they had chalked up the games as wins up until that night in Cameron in 2004 when we put it to Duke. After that, they do not take Tech lightly. I do wish we would win more, but you ahve to have his style of ball to go all the way. Pressure D, running at teams and in your face defense. Notice that the times we lost, the games were called closely. Too many tick tack fouls. If he has these players mature and learn to curb that, this bunch that started this year could really turn into something, even without Favors. Remember, there were 2 more recruits that were not playing. One on purpose, the other because of injury. I think this would not be happening if he had been able to go all season. He is higher recruited than Rice Jr and we lost many many games by just a few. Bell was not an offensive threat. I agree that if he were to leave, we would have a decline for sure. Be happy your team can compete in both sports and still not be a sports powerhouse. ACC chapionship game in both sports 1 win 1 loss is not bad at all. In fact 2-3 years ago you would kill to have that kind of season. This team is jsut getting started. Give him a chance. He has had sub-par players quite a bit. NBA is different, more games, more time to score. Look at how many off nights our players from last couple years have except for bosh and Young. Its the same. Some nights, Morrow hardly scores. others he scores a lot. Jsut like at Tech. But I am happy with what was done. Not excited but happy. We were a few baskets from an ACC champ and sweet 16 invite. from 2-14 in the ACC last year that’s not bad.
GT76
March 23rd, 2010
3:43 pm
Cliff Ellis….yeah I was kidding.
KC
March 23rd, 2010
3:52 pm
I believe it is the contract that will force this separation. A never ending contract puts pressure on Hewitt and removes yearly decisions from the GT Administration. I agree losing Hewitt will be tough, but ending the contract is the important piece. It is never a good business decision to enter into a contract that never ends. The contract is creating bitterness. If a typical agreement existed Tech fans may be happy with just not extending it another year. Hewitt would then feel the pressure. Instead all that can happen is fans get irate, and the fans feel like he is taking advantage of the situation. Hewitt is human and tries to battle back which then creates more tension. All while the GT AD has been cut out of making any decisions because it is all automatic in the contract.
I also wouldn’t be so quick to tell St. Johns they can have Hewitt without the buyout. Why get show all your cards. If they really want him then make them pay something for him but don’t give him away. GT coaching search will costs a few hundred thousand dollars to search firms at a minimum.
hoopslover
March 23rd, 2010
3:52 pm
Coach Hewitt, you have been a class act and a winner at the Institue for ten years now. We are proud of you and our teams, past and present. Here’s hoping you lead our basketball program for many years to come.
TECH FANS BLEWITT
March 23rd, 2010
3:57 pm
Hoopslover, you have the class that Tech “fans” lack. I’m with you and Hewitt. Thanks.
IndyGT
March 23rd, 2010
3:57 pm
The eternal optimist in me keeps thinking that next years team is going to be even better bc we’ll be loaded at the guard spot. But base on past experiences, I’m not keeping my fingers crossed. If hewitt leaves, I just don’t think we have the money to go after someone that is proven. Well have to find a diamond in the rough. My dream pick would be Tubby. How he gets recruits to Minnesota is beyond me.. But he does
Dave
March 23rd, 2010
4:01 pm
This would be a great fit for all involved, Hewitt has lost a majority of the die hard Tech BB fans and it can’t get much worse, his record speaks for itself. Yay we made the second round out the NCAA tournament this year the fourth in 10 years of Hewitt being here with a team that should be competing for a final four. We looked like and were the most undisciplined team in the field, great timing for Hewitt to go back to NYC and for GTAA to reset and get on with a new era for GT Basketball. Trust in D-Rad he will find a good coach I have complete confidence he will lower Hewitt’s buyout if he leaves and use the difference to grab a good coach.
Buzzzed
March 23rd, 2010
4:01 pm
KC, 100% correct. 1.) Contract has created bitterness with fans (and the contract should end). 2.) St. Johns should pay something to get Hewitt
Gordon
March 23rd, 2010
4:07 pm
This article needs to be corrected. Hewitt is NOT 105-109 in the ACC. Not even close. We play 16 games a year in the ACC, and he’s been here 10 years.
Try 67-93.
db
March 23rd, 2010
4:08 pm
Paul Hewitt is a great ambassador for GT and a helluva coach. I hope he stays for many more years.
Buzzzed
March 23rd, 2010
4:10 pm
I would be okay with giving Hewitt another year if it wasn’t for the contract. Any chance Tech has of getting out of the contract, it should take. That contract is for a coach who can finish in the upper half (generous) of the ACC 4 out of 5 years.
Monticello Dawg
March 23rd, 2010
4:12 pm
collegeballfan, if UGA is a “middle of the pack” football team, the SEC is an even tougher conference than given credit for. How many “middle of the pack” teams in other conferences can finish in the top ten 6 of 9 years, averaging 10 wins a season. That gives new meaning to the middle.
Read the UGA sites and you will find most fans do not expect to challenge for a NC annually. We do expect to finish around the top ten most years, and have succeeded in that.
To compare Hewitt’s catching lightning in a bottle one year, with one year above .500 in ACC play to 2 SEC championships, several BCS bowl wins, a 2nd and 3rd end of season national ranking, with a coach with one of the top winning percentages in the country seems ludicrous to me. Comparing Hewitt to Chan Gailey is more reasonable, and even at that Paul comes off second over a period of time.
Tech82
March 23rd, 2010
4:17 pm
DRAD should announce that Tech will reduce Hewitt’s buyout obligation to them by half – or more – if he takes the job with St. Johns.
Tech82
March 23rd, 2010
4:21 pm
Hoopslover – Hewitt has been a winner for ten years? Dude, you need to lay off the crack. Hewitt was a winner for ONE of those years. He has been a ball & chain for the most part.
BuzzGT
March 23rd, 2010
4:26 pm
I think it is a good situation for Hewitt. If he leaves, he gets a fresh new start. If he stays, he has renewed confidence that he is still respected and in demand. On another note, who are the two lottery picks that EVERY single article about GT mentions. I know that Favors is projected to go 3 or 4. But Lawal is projected as a late first rounder at best. Now if he stays and has a great year, he may be a lottery pick next year.
Tech75
March 23rd, 2010
4:33 pm
HE….COULD…..BE………OUTTA HERE!!!!!!!!!
Give him a victory lap around Alexander Memorial….then drive him to the airport!
Can Paul Johnson coach basketball?
Carolina Gator Lover
March 23rd, 2010
4:33 pm
Tech Hoops, you are 100% correct. DRAD if you are listening, if you loose Hewitt, you will loose me as a season ticket holder for over 36 years. Not everyone agrees with the Hewitt haters!
Bulldawg Bob
March 23rd, 2010
4:35 pm
Paul,
Please don’t go. Only Georgia Tech deserves a Coach like you.
Tech75
March 23rd, 2010
4:36 pm
I’d like to see what CPJ’s reaction would have been to one of Lawal’s 3 for 10 foul-shooting performances…you think he’d have had poor ole Gani up at 5AM running stadium steps and shooting 500 free throws a day?
Old School
March 23rd, 2010
4:37 pm
Tech Hoops: so you are “happy with what he has done.” Really.
Then you are happy with:
*13 games UNDER .500 in ACC play during his 10 years
*one(1) winning season in the ACC in 10 years
*winning record against ONLY THREE of the other 11 teams in the ACC
*losing record against UGA in his 10 years
*3 NCAA appearances in 10 years—one in the title game 6 years ago and two since, including one “one and done”
You are “happy” (aka “satisfied”) with all of the above.
Oh yes, for those of you who are familiar with the term “STUDENT-Athlete”– in the past 6 years Georgia Tech men’s basketball ranks in the BOTTOM 10 among all D1 programs in graduation percentage (this was aired this past weekend on CBS Sports)–and that figure DOES NOT factor in players who turned pro
Still happy and satisfied, Tech Hoops?
Tech75
March 23rd, 2010
4:38 pm
Carolina Gator Lover – your name says it all.
wesleywhatwhat
March 23rd, 2010
4:38 pm
mr roberson, please do the research and correct the part of your article that says hewitt’s acc record is 105-109.
georgia tech’s record in the acc is actually 67-93 under hewitt.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Hewitt
GT Fan...
March 23rd, 2010
4:40 pm
“The 2004 season remains the pinnacle of Hewitt’s success in 10 seasons at Tech. He is 177-144 overall at the Institute, including 105-109 in the ACC. He has led the Jackets to the NCAA tournament five times, including this year when they were knocked out in the second round by Ohio State.”
DK
March 23rd, 2010
2:09 pm
A little reality people. Tech cannot afford to hire a coach better than Paul. And frankly he has not been all that bad. Most schools would be happy with five appearances in the NCAA in 10 years
PH hasn’t been all that bad — are you serious!?? 105-109 in ACC play!!!! 5 out of 10 NCAA tourneys … GT ain’t most schools, idiot.
Technophobia
March 23rd, 2010
4:41 pm
I’m with Tech hoops, hoopslover Carolina gator lover and many others. Hewitt’s strengh’s outweigh his weakness’s. Comparing him to coach’s of mid major schools or Fox is comparing apples to oranges. We need to strengthen the program we have not tear it down and rebuild. I hope he stays.
Piso Mojado
March 23rd, 2010
4:46 pm
Since joining the SEC in 1933, 77 years ago, the Dawgs have won 1 regular season championship and 2 conference tournament championships.
Honest Frank Discussion
March 23rd, 2010
4:47 pm
Both sides are getting a little extreme here.
First, Hewitt isn’t a loser and he’s not a terrible coach. He’s a great spokesman and representative for the Institute, a very talented recruited, a solid defensive coach, and he’s taken us to the finals of the NCAA tournament – the best we’ve ever done.
That said, he’s arguably the worst coach in the ACC over the past five years, comparing neutrally only to Sidney Lowe, Frank Haith, and UVA’s former coach.
But really, does being one of the worst coaches in the ACC make you a terrible coach? I don’t think it does. Hewitt has done a lot for the program, but he hasn’t taken us to the elite level most of us wanted when we got rid of Cremins. He certainly hasn’t fully tapped into the talent he coaches. That doesn’t mean he’s an awful coach, he’s just not a great one – particularly at coaching fundamentals on offense.
I understand the Gailey / Hewitt comparisons and have made them myself, but its really apples to oranges. The ACC in football is nothing like the ACC in basketball, and its much easier to make a BCS bowl (10% of Division I teams make it each year) than it is to make the sweet sixteen (about 5% of Division I teams make it each year), particularly when you factor in that one or two great players can have a much greater influence on a basketball team than a football team. Hewitt put us in the NCAA finals six years ago – Gailey got us as far as a New Years day bowl.
Douglas
March 23rd, 2010
4:52 pm
I’m a DAWG alumni and I cannot believe any GT fan believes Hewitt has done a great job…even Felton was a better coach than Hewitt with less talent. Give Fox all the talent Hewitt has and I bet he would at least be in the final 4 every year.
Honest Frank Discussion
March 23rd, 2010
5:02 pm
“even Felton was a better coach than Hewitt with less talent”
lol, Felton couldn’t have made it to the NCAA finals using the US Olympic team. Go back to hibernation mutt, we’ll let you know when its football season.
Buzzzed
March 23rd, 2010
5:04 pm
Techno (and others), do you really like the GT Bball product? Do you think we are getting what we pay for? I do not understand why you want Hewitt to remain and allow his contract drain the program more every year while not yielding satisfactory returns (in wins, revenue, or academic progress). Is it just that you are afraid of the unknown (the state of the program with the next coach)? Do you know Hewitt personally or are his neighbor or something? Help me understand.
Techster
March 23rd, 2010
5:09 pm
Forgive the buyout, Pay for the move, A big hug. That’s my last offer! Wink Wink
Tech75
March 23rd, 2010
5:09 pm
Hey Techno – If my Tech student son came home with C’s and D’s, according to your “logic”, as long as he was ” a good guy and represented the Institute well” I should be happy?
Bullspit!
Ashley
March 23rd, 2010
5:13 pm
I am really tired of hearing Hewitt defenders talk about what a great “representative” or recruiter or whatever he supposedly is for Georgia Tech. He was not hired as a spokesman, defensive coach, recruiting coordinator, or lobbyist! He was hired to be the head coach, and his tenure is at best utterly average. I don’t care that he brings in great players, or that his teams play great defense, or that he is a man of character (whatever that means). I care that he does not win enough! If you choose to be satisfied with mediocrity, that’s your business, but don’t try to dance around the core issue by praising his skills as a church deacon or yoga instructor or whatever auxiliary roles he may have. That’s not what he’s paid for, and as a graduate, fan, and contributor I want a coach who wins games and takes responsibility when his team loses. With Hewitt we have neither.
For those who say that we have unrealistic expectations, I say to you: look at our football coach, our baseball coach, our softball and volleyball and golf and women’s tennis coaches. Look at our women’s basketball coach. All of these coaches have achieved consistent success (or, for the newer hires, seem to be well on their way towards that goal). All of them have at worst maintained the stature of their programs. Most have raised the stature. Hewitt stands almost alone as a Tech coach who has lowered the stature of the program from where the previous coach had it.
The Dude
March 23rd, 2010
5:46 pm
This may have already been corrected, but don’t think for a minute Hewitt is 105-109 in ACC play. His 38 conference wins over three years with Sienna in the Metro Eastern Junior Community College AAU Conference definitely do not count. He’s 67-93 in ACC play. Stop misrepresenting this information AJC reporters.
The Dude
March 23rd, 2010
5:48 pm
Sorry for repeating Wesley’s comments.
GTPhenom
March 23rd, 2010
6:44 pm
Wow, Techno, you are the last GT fan I expected to want Hewitt around here. Hewitt needs to be gone, plain and simple. I’m not going to get into the reasons because quite frankly everyone else has mentioned them.
supersize that order, mutt
March 23rd, 2010
6:49 pm
Carolina Gator Lover, after you go back to school and learn how to spell, then maybe (MAYBE) what you have to say will have some significance. The word is LOSE, not LOOSE, dummy
NEW DIRECTION IM BEGGING U
March 23rd, 2010
7:03 pm
HALLELUJAH PRAISE GOD, a new direction is needed for both institutes..GT needs someone who played at GT, has point guard know how, can teach a new kid coming in to lead for four years in that point guard role, be a free throw leader in the ACC as well as in the NBA, and preferably be a grad of GT..WAIT..THERE IS SOMEONE..MARK PRICE
NEW DIRECTION IM BEGGING U
March 23rd, 2010
7:05 pm
not to mention can we strive to not be dead last in basketball players who graduate in the ACC
the Price is Right
March 23rd, 2010
7:11 pm
GT has never had a GT grad or player who was also an NBA star as coach of the GT men’s basketball program. Please go in that direction, DRAD, I am begging you. MARK PRICE is right down the street. UNC has Roy,NC St has Sidney Lowe, we want MARK PRICE MARK PRICE MARK PRICE MARK PRICE MARK PRICE MARK PRIC MARK PRICE MARK PRICE MARK PRICE MARK PRICE
supersize that order, mutt
March 23rd, 2010
7:39 pm
Mark Price was a great basketball player, but he has never had a head coaching job anywhere, high school, junior college, division 2 college, or division 1 college. And the only assistant coaching jobs he has had have been lackluster. WE DO NOT WANT MARK PRICE AS HEAD COACH !!!!!
GTPak
March 23rd, 2010
9:38 pm
Forgo the renovation to Alexander and pay off Hewitt.
Yumpomillion
March 23rd, 2010
10:16 pm
@collegeballfan: I agree with your assessment of the UGA and Tech fans’ expectations for football and basketball, respectively. I said as much on another posting yesterday. Where I’d disagree is that “they always will be.” Nah, always is too permanent. This stuff can go in cycles.