Tech’s Hewitt says no to St. John’s — updated at 2:39 p.m.
Paul Hewitt has withdrawn from consideration to be St. John’s next basketball coach.
Hewitt is out of town on a recruiting trip and has not returned a message left on his cell phone at 10:33 a.m.
“My family and I have developed deep ties to Georgia Tech and the city of Atlanta,” Hewitt said in a statement released by Georgia Tech. “I strongly believe in what Georgia Tech can do for young people, and I am committed to returning the Tech basketball program to the level of success our fans have come to expect. We took a step in that direction this past season, and I fully intend to continue on that path.”
He is scheduled to meet with the media at 9:30 p.m. tonight.
“I think what has transpired over the last few days speaks volumes about Paul Hewitt and about Georgia Tech,” Tech athletics director Dan Radakovich said in a statement. “Paul’s credentials as a human being, a family man, a leader and a builder of character are impeccable. All of us at Georgia Tech are committed to assist him in providing an outstanding men’s basketball program.”
Hewitt is from the New York City area and is known as an outstanding recruiter. The Red Storm hoped that he could tap into the high school talent in the five boroughs that St. John’s in recent years hasn’t been able to keep from leaving to programs such as Connecticut and Cincinnati.
However, Hewitt has repeatedly said that he and his family are happy in Atlanta and that he was not looking to leave. His parents and younger brother recently moved to Atlanta. In addition, Tech opened a new practice facility last year, and is reviewing plans for a renovation of Alexander Memorial Coliseum that will cost at least $45 million.
“I would say it’s highly unlikely I’d go anywhere,” Hewitt said Tuesday afternoon.
He has been criticized by fans and boosters for not being able to lead Tech to better than a seventh-place finish in the ACC this season, despite having two potential NBA lottery picks on the roster in Gani Lawal and Derrick Favors. The Jackets advanced to the finals of the ACC tournament before being eliminated in the second round of the NCAA tournament by Ohio State. The finished the year 23-13, 7-9 in the ACC.
Hewitt is 177-144 at Tech, including 67-93 in the ACC in 10 seasons as the Jackets’ coach. He has led the Jackets to the NCAA tournament five times.
The Red Storm fired coach Norm Roberts last week after six seasons. They reportedly offered the job to Florida’s Billy Donovan last week, but were rebuffed.
—
Colleague Mark Bradley wants to know how Tech fans feel about the news:
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371 comments Add your comment
KEEP your WHCPH picket signs
March 25th, 2010
4:34 pm
Do not throw away your We Hate Coach Paul Hewitt picket signs. You can sppray paint them in two more years and replace Hewitt with Johnson.
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHAHAHHAHAAHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHAHAHA
UGA 2 losses already, vs. LSU blown out of the Peach,and vs MEDIOCRE IOWA BLOWN OUT of the Urange with the smallest Urange crowd in maybe 4o years and the WORST TV viewership in the 09 bowl season.
Do not pitch your WHCPH signs ……………you are gonna need em soon.
come on
March 25th, 2010
4:39 pm
maybe we can loan those signs to the dawg fans you can change them to please mark fox don’t leave for a real basketball program
Glenn
March 25th, 2010
4:40 pm
Good riddens ! Go Jackets ! 42 percent over tens years is just not good enough in the ACC !
Tony
March 25th, 2010
4:40 pm
Coach Blewitt, you were dead on with Kadosh, LOL…kidding. But I believe you are just as a devout GT fan as I am. I feel ya…Read my comment on page 2. Hewitt, to his credit has brought in some unbelievable talent. He has coached a team to the Final Four and a championship game. The problem again is getting enought talent into the program to last a few years. The college game has changed since Cremins days. I know. I watched it unfold. No one has mentioned the lack of aggressiveness by the university to bring in more than one player a year. Next year there is another stud coming, from the East Coast no doubt. Hmmm…we can only hope that along with coach, the university can assist with keeping one or two of our potential 1st-rounders to stay. Give coach a little bit of credit here. Go Jackets!
Iceman
March 25th, 2010
4:41 pm
67-93 in the ACC in 10 seasons….yowza.
dawgma
March 25th, 2010
4:42 pm
Whew – for a moment I was afraid Hewitt was going to do the right thing.
Voice of Reason
March 25th, 2010
4:50 pm
Now, all the good HS players will be coming to Mark Fox and the DAWGS instead of having to choose.
Hey D. Favors, wish you had come to Athens. You might have headed to the pros this year if you had. You will still have a great future in the NBA, but your development will take just a little longer. Good luck to you, but while I don’t want to see you against the DAWGS again, there will probably be more money for you next year. Just my opinion.
Tony
March 25th, 2010
4:51 pm
…does freedom of the press include dawgs fans(cant even spell dogs…lol) commenting on GT issues? Why? These are Jackets fans (in the closet). Listen to the comments closely…(wink)
And the winner is.........
March 25th, 2010
4:54 pm
So tech out recruited st. john’s? Just what did they win?
Tony
March 25th, 2010
4:56 pm
Mark Fox will not have crap. When have the Dogs done anything in the NCAA’s (basketball)? Dont be fooled or afraid. Unless you are talking about the Prop 48 superstars that may commit…oops
And the winner is.........
March 25th, 2010
5:04 pm
Tony, and just which program, georgia or tech, was slapped with a NCAA probation because of failing to meet the minimum APR?? As you said, oops!
Bill
March 25th, 2010
5:06 pm
It did take GA a bit of time to hire a DC – but it will take forever for the nerds to get a new basketball coach -
Tony
March 25th, 2010
5:12 pm
Which is a more difficult academic environment?…Be honest! GT wasnt caught giving players free passes…oh, that’s old stuff. But it’s not. The ruling stands today. But on to a better topic. Should Favors really go…he can play in the NBA sure, but the media has prompted projections and speculation as they always do that he should leave. Really, he should get another year under his belt because PF will be tough on him in the NBA, just as it is for a less talented 2million dollar Thaddeus Young who avg’s 12ppg after 3 years. Hmmm
And the winner is.........
March 25th, 2010
5:18 pm
Tony – “Which is a more difficult academic environment?”
I guess it depends on your major. Just how many tech basketball players are majoring in engineering?
67-93 acc record
March 25th, 2010
5:19 pm
Hewitt is a loser………
Northern Iowa and Cornell have some good coaches.
And the winner is.........
March 25th, 2010
5:20 pm
Tony – I guess Favors should stay at tech so he can get closer to his engineering degree. He IS an engineering major, right?
Tony
March 25th, 2010
5:29 pm
It’s not the engineering degree that matters. It is the overall environment. Tech consists of several schools in which an athlete can pursue a degree. Tech is ranked among the top ten schools every year. And these Tech athletes are hardly there long enough to even take 2 years of classes.
I Pay Engineers
March 25th, 2010
5:38 pm
I first want to say that Tech grads really are fantastic at using CAD to design buildings for me. Whether it is an EE or PE or Civil Engineer, I know a Tech guy is going to be able to handle that chore for me…. and that is nice. Just knowing that they will spend hour upon soul crushing hour punching numbers into their computers on friction loss and loads and other exciting stuff like that really is helpful when building. Paying them for that task really makes me happy. It seems none of the ones I pay played basketball or any ball at Tech, but that is to be expected. I was actually on the Tech campus recently to look at a jobsite and was able to see both good looking gals on campus and I was not robbed, so I feel like I am living right.
Speaking of smart, I am pretty sure that contract you smarty smarts gave to Hewitt was not very..uhhhhh…smart. At least he can recruit good players. Of course, if the Cheetah burned down with all hands on deck, they still would have less wasted talent in the charred remains than Techs hoop teams of late…
So, in summation:
Tech guys are great for tasks and work pretty cheap…
The area surrounding the Tech campus is unsafe…
We run this state….literally
Tony
March 25th, 2010
5:39 pm
Barring injury, Favors does not have to worry about an engineering degree. He is a million dollar baby! LOL More than any engineer will make in their first year of work and retire in less time. The issue is that when most athletes come to Tech, it is a special choice they make, either by being recruited well, or for academics. Right? Players going to GA, for example are for different reasons, especially in basketball.
And the winner is.........
March 25th, 2010
5:41 pm
Tony – “…the overall environment”?
What kind of environment does the following engineering majors offer at tech:
History, Technology, & Society
International Affairs
Literature, Communication, & Culture
Modern Languages
Public Policy
Department of Music
Tony
March 25th, 2010
5:46 pm
The comments have gone a bit off center here. The issue at hand is Hewitt and those GA fans who think that he should be gone…hmmm…interesting. As for Tech fans, we need to encourage Hewitt and the Athletic Department and boosters to enhance their recruiting efforts to put together a BB team that can stay in place for more than season or two. In a sense, Hewitt is in a peculiar situation. He has to try to win in one year spurts. Let’s be honest.
Tony
March 25th, 2010
5:49 pm
And the winner is…here is a link for you: http://www.gatech.edu/degrees...
And the winner is.........
March 25th, 2010
5:58 pm
Tony – your link didn’t work. Here, try this one: http://www.gatech.edu/degrees/
Now, care to try again about what environment the above mentioned “engineering” majors offer at tech?
Lastly, I believe more TECH fans want Hewitt gone rather than Dog fans. Heck, I want him to stay. UGA has done well against his teams.
WeHadHopeNowWeDon't
March 25th, 2010
6:01 pm
@#*%@#(%^)$^%$ – Hewitt stays? I thought we might have a chance at getting rid of this albatross hanging around our necks. Looks like we will be stuck with being mediocre except for an occasional year, continued signing of players that leave early, .500 or under in the ACC, early exit from the ACC tourney, and a trip to the NCAAs every few years. Now, we are stuck with a $7million+ buyout.
Dave Braine strikes again – that man may haunt us forever.
Why not stay? If they don’t like you, they will can you and pay you $7million+. Where can I get one of these deals?
67-93 acc record
March 25th, 2010
6:04 pm
deep ties to a LOSING RECORD on the court and Graduating students.
hokie pokie millions
March 25th, 2010
6:07 pm
Braine played Beamer Ball with skinny Pauls’ multi-million contract !
freshd
March 25th, 2010
6:12 pm
Be careful for what you wish for, because you just might not get it. GT just got PUNKED by Paul Hewitt. 7 MIL, 7 MIL , who wants to help pay the buyout,
Tech Hoops
March 25th, 2010
6:12 pm
ITs funny UGA fans talking smack about our program. We were 11-11 in the ACC with the tourney run. I hoped we would win Ohio State. We were just too young to take advantage of the bad starte by them. But we were not blown out excpet for 1 game against Duke.
The teams compete and 4th best FG %age Defense in the Nation is not a small feat. just relax. We had some good wins. Next year they will be better than you think.
And the UGA fan who said FAvors would do better for his NBA prospects if he went to UGA? Are you kidding me? He made it to the ACC Championship. HE played in 2 NCAA tourney games. Tech has much more Basketball exposure than UGA. How many UGA alum are active in the NBA? –That was pretty funny.
Bill
March 25th, 2010
6:14 pm
Uh, Doug…don’t WE have the worst record in the ACC the last 5 years? Surely have the worst ROAD record at 6-34. Besides, programs usually make changes when facts say your team isn’t that good. Don’t know if the record comparison is valid since Tech has had ONE winning ACC season in TEN under Hewitt. Don’t you think THAT is why so many schools have made changes? If not for the contract, Tech may have already.
Tony
March 25th, 2010
6:16 pm
And the winner is…thanks…lol. But we both know the academic rankings of both schools overall, seriously. Tech fans are buying into the media hype. I have even pondered Hewitt’s job performance, just as I have Cremins, or any other coach at Tech. The issue is what no one seems to understand is that I have been a fan for years, and it is a more difficult a decision for players who want to play BBall at Tech given the school and playing time, etc. Even Favors considered that while looking at UNC and others.
Whack Hyder
March 25th, 2010
6:21 pm
Tech officials have to be pulling their hair out. They were praying Hewitt would bolt for the Big Apple so they could get rid of his whiney butt and underachieving resume.
Ghost of Whack Hyder
March 25th, 2010
6:27 pm
When will this douchebag, Hewitt, leave Tech? Please go.
Tony
March 25th, 2010
6:31 pm
Coach Hewitt’s contract is not the issue. Any coach who coaches a program of Tech’s magnitude is paid well. And Hewitt made what, a cool mill this year, plus NCAA appearance bonuses? Nothing unusual. Stop listening to the media. Again, all of the weight is being placed on Hewitt when boosters should share some blame as well. I will give Ga credit for that in football. If Hewitt had made the Final Four or Championship game with this team, everyone would be jumping up and down! Right? Come on…some fairness here. When has Tech won a championship in basketball? Hmmm…So why jump on Hewitt’s back. Actually, with the exception of one team, Cremins may have had a better chance of winning more championships with his teams than Hewitt’s one year and out players…
NoCoach Blewitt
March 25th, 2010
6:40 pm
Tony …. if you honestly think that you are in the majority group of Tech fans by still liking Hewitt you have to be smoking the best strand with some paint chips
I would say about a week ago it was near 50-50 ….. now after this fiasco it is closer to 35-65 … you being in the minority
If Blewey continues to blab his gums off to the fans and media the number on the right will only continue to grow .. and lets not forget the most important person DOES NOT WANT HIM HERE, that being DRAD … So all Paul has managed to accomplish here is prolong the majority’s agony for one more year and will now seep every dollar out of the athletic fund (I believe THIS is the reason he is coming back just to stick it to us) Can not wait to enjoy watching your career go down the toilet Paul.
NoCoach Blewitt
March 25th, 2010
6:43 pm
Tony again you FAIL … it is not about the yearly compensation …. Did you even go to high school??? My neice knows the reason why the contract is terrible for Tech and she is 8. It is because of the automatic rollover clause that has no stipulations (such as record and/or graduation rates -both of which he has failed at miserably) which cause GT to pay this bum over 7 million just to get rid of him. No one, I repeat no one ever has or ever again will receive a contract like this.
NoCoach Blewitt
March 25th, 2010
6:44 pm
My neice can also draw up a successful inbounds play and make a free throw. Can you believe it???
Tony
March 25th, 2010
6:58 pm
No Coach Blewitt…who cares if the majority wants him gone? I have read the contract. But some are getting a little too sensitive about the contract. When Hewitt leaves, guaranteed a deal will be made. Tech fans here are acting as though Tech has been an NCAA championship contender since the beginning of time. What? They have one final four appearance under Cremins, and one years later under Hewitt. Other than that you will notice the same ol guys…let’s be serious here. I am just being realistic. People are not taking into consideration that these guys that are coming here are the results of Hewitt’s ability to recruit. Have you talked to a blue-chipper lately? Ask one where he wants to attend school, if at all. Let’s be realistic here. I once talked to Nolan Richardson in LR about his prospect of keeping Joe H
Tony
March 25th, 2010
6:59 pm
…Johnson. He told me that sometimes it is these guys one time shot at providing for their families. So give Coach a little credit here.
NoCoach Blewitt
March 25th, 2010
7:13 pm
1 winning season in 10 years … ALL you need to know (please tell me where else this would be tolerated)
NoCoach Blewitt
March 25th, 2010
7:16 pm
I was gonna say Paul must have big balls but since learning this afternoon that he is sans sack:
Blewey must have, http://failblog.org/2010/03/24/wheel-of-fortune-fail-2/ , to think he can just come waltzing back like nothing ever happened. Think he got a little scared of the thought of having to deal with a media that is ACTUALLY exactly like what he accuses MB of being like.
Paul Hewitt turns down St. Johns « MrSEC.com
March 25th, 2010
7:21 pm
[...] Hewitt is staying in Atlanta. If Gani Lawal joins Derrick Favors in declaring to go pro as expected, you have to love our [...]
Tony
March 25th, 2010
7:28 pm
Obviously, you dont care to look at the players Tech has lost to the NBA. This breaks down chemistry. You are left trying to piece together a team unless you are Duke or UNC, Kansas, or Kentucky. Everyone except the elite programs will experience such a stretch of mediocrity. Once in a while programs will get a break and retain decent players for 3 or 4 years, enough to make a run for the title. It is just how the game has evolved. Again, there is no mention of the dynamics of the game today. And I would be the first to say enough is enough. (I feel that way about the Braves; another story) But I had to stop and look at the dymamics of the game and those involved along with Hewitt. Just maybe he hasnt been getting the booster support he needs…hmmm. Let’s look at all angles and stop talking about a coach whose has to be the savior of a program that has never, never won an NCAA title in BBall.
AlabamaRamblinwreck
March 25th, 2010
7:28 pm
Doug: I read your “maybe we should be happy that Paul didn’t leave” article. WOW!!
Can you guys see that nothing ever changes with his teams’ style of play? It is very painful and difficult to enjoy. His teams’ have so much lack of discipline that they never can put inferior teams away, and they very seldom, if ever, win games they are not suppose to win, talentwise. If his teams played good, fundamental basketball and lost, all of us could still enjoy watching, even with the losses. But watching his teams play, even when they win, is not entertaining, it is exascerbating!!!
Tony
March 25th, 2010
7:38 pm
I’m sorry AR, but it is not about entertainment. Even though when we stuck it to UNC and Duke this year was quite entertaining to me. LOL. But again, it is easy for us to be couch coaches as I have been, but in sports sometimes some teams just have your number. This year, for example, in football, I dread playing Miami and Virginia. We just cant seem to beat them. So alot has to do with matchups. What would be an acceptable season to you?
millions down the drain
March 25th, 2010
7:58 pm
He says no to leaving a job that pays millions for being a coach with a 10 year ACC losing record.
Tony
March 25th, 2010
8:31 pm
Honestly, I dont think that anyone would be saying the same thing if coach had the same players for more than 2 years…
R
March 25th, 2010
8:52 pm
Well, Hewitt decides to stay in the “MECCA”.—I hope every Tech fan lets their feelings be known by not attending or donating as long as he is our coach. He has got us by both of them and intends to hold on!
NoCoach Blewitt
March 25th, 2010
9:04 pm
Tony … again are you drinking the punch??? Man you are gullible …. Who in the he!! do you think recruits these players??? Are you telling me that you think Blewitt is so dumb he didn’t realize that Thad Young, Bosh, and Favors were gone after their first year ……… you must think the world is full of candy canes and cotton candy too…. do you leave you door unlocked at night, let people borrow your ATM card???
NoCoach Blewitt
March 25th, 2010
9:05 pm
R … don’t need to worry about me I stopped going to the games 4 years ago …. was so close to being able to return …. ugh the humanity!!!!!
NoCoach Blewitt
March 25th, 2010
9:10 pm
Brad Stevens could have been here in a week interviewing for a job, now he is busy beating #1 seeds in the tourney ….. and this day started so so so so promising