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Paul Hewitt has withdrawn from consideration to be St. John’s next basketball coach.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.
—
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371 comments Add your comment
thunderbull56
March 25th, 2010
9:29 pm
Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo! Knash………teeth……………………………………………………………………………………………!
Tony
March 25th, 2010
9:38 pm
Gullible? I think it says a lot just to get the blue chippers to come to Tech. And how in the world do you know how long a player is going to be in school? And do you know how that effects the next year’s recruiting class when they see a guy in their position? You seem to know better, so how would you do any better? Again, I follow these blue chip players and many times their minds hinge upon one or two things: 1) they already want to play for a certain team or coach, 2) playing time. This is same situation that Nolan faced at Arkansas. Fans and media calling for the coach to be fired and such. And Arkansas will never compete again for a title. Be careful what you ask for. And the notion of not supporting the Jackets is a rather harsh action against not only the players who have nothing to do with this, but the great spirit of GaTech.
e
March 25th, 2010
9:40 pm
Enter your comments here
NoCoach Blewitt
March 25th, 2010
10:39 pm
You didn’t know Bosh, Favors and Young were one in done …. if you follow recruiting you were the only person left in the dark
NoCoach Blewitt
March 25th, 2010
10:40 pm
* and
Tony
March 25th, 2010
10:51 pm
Your point? Obviously, you think that basketball games are coached by waving a magic wand. I do know that Coach would have had this year Crittendon (forgot him, huh?) and Young, Lawal and Favors had they stayed. Imagine that! But give him some credit. He is left between a rock and a hard place. He has high school players and coaches respect and either he recruits these blue chips or settle for mediocre players. The thing about it is he can only recruit and coach, he definitely cant play also. What do you really expect? Give some feedback on that. What would you do different and who would you recruit? Besides that, who would come to play for you? Again, before the Razorbacks threw in the towel on the coach the took them to 2 championship games, he had a committment from a guy named…hmmm…Emeka Okafor! Oh yeah, he then led UConn to a title against who? GT
GT GRAD
March 25th, 2010
10:53 pm
I did not even read the negative nonsense above.
I would like to see more success on the basketball court, but I am very glad Coach Hewitt decided to stay at GT. We should all support him and the entire team! He is a class act who represents GT well. He also has players who respect him and many/most players claim they are better people as a direct result of playing for Coach Hewitt.
Support the team and hope for significant improvement soon.
NoCoach Blewitt
March 25th, 2010
11:35 pm
Here is what I would do differently …. If my team continued to make the same mistakes and played the same sloppy mess he declares basketball, I might address those issues. Anyone in the country can figure out how to run a successful inbounds play…. well almost everyone. Anyone that has been around basketball for a few months at least can figure out how to beat a press …. well almost everyone.
As far as recruiting if you want to go after the one and dones then lets try to use them while they are here. I think Bosh averaged something like 8 shots a game and Favors 7 ….. that is horrible. Of course both are inside players which brings up another issue. I have never seen a coach neglect his inside men more in my life. Anyway I probably could write a book, but you see things your way and I see them mine ( and my way leans a lot closer to the majority now than yours)
Just one more point. When it hits rock bottom that is when EVERYONE starts to see your ineptitude …. I would imagine you could not disagree with that …. which is why it was funny to listen to non biased commentators this year completely run Hewitt through the ringer all year … During the Maryland tournament game I think the commentators must have gone off for at least 5 straight minutes on how disorganized and horribly uncoached we looked. Pat Forde all but mocked Hewitt on one of his ESPN articles …. these people get paid for their opinions so if you think I am way off based then I guess you think all these people are nuts
GT Fan
March 25th, 2010
11:39 pm
If Rads is happy that Hewitt is staying then both need to be fired. I for one will not support the -O-.
Tony
March 25th, 2010
11:55 pm
Wow… that’s sounds like a perfect coach. Only thing is, there is basketball to be played and there are other teams that figure to beat your inbounds play as well as everything else you try to do. That is why you havent seen any unbeatens and why you’ve seen many upsets. If you dont get blue chippers then someone else will get them and beat the heck out of you. Why in the heck do you think that players come to Tech? Guess what? Coach Hewitt. I dont care about the majority because it is all negative nonsense from supposedly GT fans…Again, I note the Arkansas situation when Nolan said that players come there because of him…could not have been more true. Because Arkansas has not been in contention for anything since. Great example of an understanding of the dynamics of the game and where the game has been going for years. You may disagree but if you dont understand that, you are just as lost as Bo Peep!
Pete
March 26th, 2010
12:17 am
Count me in the camp of glad we’ve got Hewitt still
In all sports Tech isn’t consistently the best… but we’re got enough to have some great “up” years thrown in the mix and I’ll take it. Way better than a school that is always mediocre….and no – I’m not referring to UGA.
Tony
March 26th, 2010
12:20 am
I am glad that you understand the reality of things Pete. Some of these critics act as though Tech has been championship contenders for 100 years. Do you hear the same cries from FSU, Clemson, Miami, VTech, etc? NO
MESSENGER
March 26th, 2010
5:52 am
$3.4 million dollars Paul Hewitt would have had to have paid to Georgia tek. This is great for UGA that he is staying. Paul Hewitt LOSING RECORD by several games now and counting, only to get worse, to UGA. Paul Hewitt Academic Progress Report APR of 914 currently, lowest of all NCAA teams and has Georgia tek on PROBATION in men’s basketball as we speak LIMITED TO ONLY 11 SCHOLARSHIPS.
NCAA Tournament Action :
SEC 15-4
ACC 9-9
SEC Men 5-2
ACC Men 5-5
SEC Women 10-2
ACC Women 4-4
ACC has neither a winning record in NCAA Tourney Men
ACC has neither a winning record in NCAA Tourney Women
SEC has winning record in BOTH NCAA Tourney Men & Women.
SEC is kicking the butts of ACC in basketball, again.
Big East had 8 bids to the Men’s Tournament. Butler beat # 1 seed Syracuse last night. Big East have 1 left, tomorrow night West Virginia vs. SEC # 1 Kentucky. Big East also does not have a Winning Record in Men’s NCAA Tournament, just like the ACC. Neither the Big East nor the ACC are better than The SEC in Basketball. Big East is NOT the best basketball conference and NEITHER obviously is the ACC.
$45 million dollars you should be able to blow that little place up and build a real gym.
Ozzy
March 26th, 2010
7:26 am
Well Well Well
buLLDawg or whatever the little homo calls himself today has showed back up.
Got your tickets to Shreveport for this year? How was the NIT? Oh, nevermind, my bad.
Oh and Calipari is a scum bag. How long before Kentucky is on probation with victories forfeited? Not long. He leaves a slime trail like a slug. And nobody cares about womens basketball, good Lord. It’s UConn and everybody else in the country. How’s your baseball team doing?
I love Georgia fans who have to hang their hat on the conference. Were you at the SEC Championship game waving a SEC flag around for Game Day?
2 and done!!!!
March 26th, 2010
7:54 am
bawahahahahahaha!!!!!! Yech has the two most overrated coaches in their respected sports and I love it!!! CPJ and his gimmicky offense has been exposed. He can’t win the big game unless it’s against an equally pathetic ACC team and his own recruits sucks since he’s forced to hang on to Gailey’s. Hewitt is the master of one and doners and he manages to do less with more than even Yech’s annually overrated baseball team!!! I LOVE IT!!!!
Cbah52
March 26th, 2010
8:30 am
Really disappointing article by Doug about Tech fans should be glad Hewitt stayed. What’s frustrating is that he proposed the idea that Tech fans expect to be UNC and Duke. Granted, there are some that expect that, but I don’t think that’s the issue. Also, he quoted someone as saying we may just be getting the “10 year itch”, or something.
As a writer who is familiar with the team and situation, he knows that’s bogus. Fans are frustrated with the way the team plays, the losing record in the conference, and the inability to win on the road among other things. The fact CPH has been here for 10 years and has not changed or addressed areas of struggle just frustrates fans. Either Doug isn’t paying attention or is just ignoring what is really bothering fans not to address the real issues that are bothering fans.
Tom Cain
March 26th, 2010
8:56 am
Within two years, Hewitt will regret not having gone to St. Johns, and Dr. Dan will be putting on a “game face” on getting rid of this guy. This regime is going the way of John Brady at LSU after he went to the Final Four in 2006. The only difference will be LSU got rid of their coach in mid-season and Dr. Dan will wait until the end of the 2012 season. With no front line next year, we will descend to North Carolina’s regular season standing of this past year. I am very dismayed. How much will it take to get Brad Stevens at Butler?
Tony
March 26th, 2010
12:19 pm
It seems as though there are some couch coaches that do not have a clue about basketball. Again, I can understand the frustration, but a lot of Tech’s problems are a result of more parity in college basketball. Negative comments and non-support for the Jackets will not help anything. Never mind the GA fans. I can’t help but think of what happened to Nolan Richardson in Arkansas. This is the mirror image, except for the fact that this time, the AD and President haven’t fallen for the negativity…yet.
wesleywhatwhat
March 26th, 2010
12:23 pm
i’m still laughing at roberson’s article about a “ten year itch”. WTH are you talking about?
the reason fans are unhappy with coach hewitt retaining his job is his record.
who would be happy with a conference record of 67-93?
GT Fan
March 26th, 2010
1:30 pm
DAMN !!
One More Thing for Hewitt
March 26th, 2010
2:40 pm
Show some damn emotion, don’t be all “irie mon” and “nonchalant”, get pissed, get upset, put the pressure on and show your fans that you wont stand for crappy ball games
Do It!