Neal, Price as package deal at Tech?
Craig Neal and Mark Price have interviewed for the men’s basketball coaching job at Georgia Tech.
Neal, a guard at Tech in the mid-1980s, has served as an assistant coach for the past seven seasons at Iowa and New Mexico. Neal hasn’t campaigned for the job, but he did express an interest. He told colleague Mark Bradley, “That’s my dream job. That’s my school.” Jeff Goodman at Fox Sports first reported Neal and Price’s interview.
Price, an All-American point guard at Tech in the mid-80s, expressed an interest last weekend, according to former Tech player Dennis Scott. Price, a Yellow Jackets legend, led the team to its first ACC championship and regular-season title as a junior in 1985. His jersey was retired by the school.
According to Goodman, if Neal were hired, he and Price would come as a package deal, with his former teammate as his associate head coach.
Georgia Tech is declining to comment on the search.
Reports yesterday had Tulsa’s Doug Wojcik also interviewing for the job as well. He denied the reports, saying he hadn’t been contacted. That doesn’t mean, of course, that his agent or attorney weren’t contacted.
After Paul Hewitt was let go almost two weeks ago, Cuonzo Martin’s name was floated as a possible replacement. Martin, the coach at Missouri State, is 61-40 with the Bears. With Mike Anderson’s decision to leave Missouri for Arkansas, I’ll be curious to see if Martin becomes the front-runner for the Tigers.
– Doug Roberson, AJC
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144 comments Add your comment
GT45
March 24th, 2011
8:10 am
That is our man!
GT Letterman
March 24th, 2011
8:25 am
Really? Craig Neal? He used to hang around the locker room, cutting up with the coaches, but I’d never see him come back as the Head Coach. Really?
GT in CT
March 24th, 2011
8:35 am
Shouldn’t the headline match the text?
Hewitt fan
March 24th, 2011
8:36 am
I thought so!…GT is not crazy..Either restore the relationship with the CELTICS or lose..If Neal gets the job, Cullen would also come…Neal would be a great hire for the Jackets..
5150 UOAD
March 24th, 2011
8:37 am
Neal has a resume in coaching. Would like to see maybe an older coach with Neal being the assistant for maybe 3 years before becoming the HC. Price can be an assistant and Shooting coach but not a HC.
5150 UOAD
March 24th, 2011
8:44 am
Hewitt Fan
Please name the Atl Celtics that have degrees, the college they graduated from, and the degree if you know.
GT hulk
March 24th, 2011
8:58 am
I’d love Noodles, but my choices always are bummers–I wanted Bill Lewis and Didn’t want O’Leary–glad its not up to me.
Techman78
March 24th, 2011
9:11 am
Man I would love to see the combination of Neal and Price on that bench. I truly believe that would be a great situation for the Jackets. I also believe that would energize the fan base. Nothing against any of the other candidates but…I think DRAD should give it a chance. Go Jackets!!
Bernadette
March 24th, 2011
9:13 am
Price and Scott were never teammates…
Jack Daniels Terrier
March 24th, 2011
9:15 am
Don’t know Goodman but the package deal idea sounds unlikely at best. It might be a good idea, but while we don’t even have clear info on who is being considered, Goodman is suggesting two of the interviewees are working collectively to both get hired together?
DawginLex
March 24th, 2011
9:16 am
Be careful hiring alumni.
Ray Goff said “it’s bad to know that you are no longer welcome at your own school”
Not saying it wouldn’t work and for me, as a college basketball fan, I like then idea.
If it blows up though, watch out.
Jack Daniels Terrier
March 24th, 2011
9:18 am
Hewitt Fan, I actually appreciate some of your insights and contrarian perspectives on this site, but you overstate the case for your youth league. No one alliance of that nature will make or break the next coach. It didn’t seem to serve Hewitt very well.
Doug Roberson
March 24th, 2011
9:20 am
Sorry about the Price/Scott teammate. I was using teammate loosely, as in they both played at Tech.
GT65
March 24th, 2011
9:24 am
I hope not. Please no x-players. Still believe its Mooney are someone still playing.
5150 UOAD
March 24th, 2011
9:30 am
Doug no problem the Men understood what you were saying. I am sure Price and Scott have talked many times in the NBA and at Tech basketball functions.
Hewitt fan
March 24th, 2011
9:32 am
@5150 UOAD Why does it matter, when i can name 20 who have went on to make millions playing Basketball and are model citizens!.Other than Crittenton, and Mike Mercer, Atlanta Celtic Alumni never get into trouble….Do you consider playing PRO basketball a career?. Two Celtics got DEGREES from GT….
BJ Elder Management GT dean’s list, Ismail Muhammahad..Management GT..
Paul in RDU
March 24th, 2011
9:32 am
POAD
To be fair to Hewitt Fan, there are definitely 2 ex-Celtics who have degrees – BJ Elder and Ishmael Mohammed both graduated from GT.
5150 UOAD
March 24th, 2011
9:37 am
Hewitt Fan I read the Celtics Alumni page and I didn’t see 20 that are NBA players. I do know the 2 GT grads that isn’t very many for how you seem to think these players will make or break TECH. Kenny Anderson went on to make millions in the NBA and is now BROKE. Nobody can take your DEGREE from you, but those kids sure can blow through money fast.
john
March 24th, 2011
9:45 am
Agg, stop with the past player rumors. NOT GONNA HAPPEN. Assistants, maybe, but GT is too good a job to give to someone who has so little experience the head coaching gig. If Mark Price and Craig Neal are really serios about being GTs coach then they need to get the experience so they can seriously interview next time. Craig Neal is doing it the right way, I just don’t think he has the resume yet.
SCDee
March 24th, 2011
9:50 am
I’d take Neal, a man who would “crawl to Atlanta on bloody knees” for the job, any day. Nix to one-shot wonders like Bill Lewis (remember him?).
Jackette
March 24th, 2011
9:52 am
when I graduated from school I wanted to be a flight attendant and travel and so therefore that is what I did initially and was based in Pittsburgh. The Cavaliers were going to play a preseason game in Pittsburgh one night and I bought tickets so that I could see Mark Price play. That morning I was coming off a flight at the Pittsburgh airport and ran into the Cavaliers team who also just arrived in Pittsburgh. I saw Lenny Wilkens and then Mark Price and called out to him. I told him I was a GT fan and he talked to me a good while. Price then pointed out Craig Neal who also was there. It seemed Neal was given a tryout by the Cavs and I am sure Price helped arranged that. Both were talkative and very kind. I loved watching them play at GT. Those two are close and would make a good team.
GTJACKETS
March 24th, 2011
9:53 am
I think a move like this would energize the fan base. And I would be behind it. Price has High School HC exp, so he knows what it takes to coach. And Neal’s 7 years as Assoc HC are good enough for me. Plus they would have a passion to bring back the magic to GT bball.
Buzz Me
March 24th, 2011
9:56 am
Neal. Price, D Ccott and Kenny A now that’s a staff and man would they recruit. The new arena would be packed!
Buzz Me
March 24th, 2011
9:56 am
D Scott, sorry computer went nuts
rob
March 24th, 2011
10:04 am
Boy this is a tough one. Price? Neal? The old memories. Energized fan base. Sounds good! BUT neither has head coaching experience. The AD is making a decision the impact of which will be felt for years to come and and will involve millions of dollars and the middle to long-term fortunes of an ACC beasketball program. Do you roll the dice on a guy who has been a college head coach?
It didn’t work with Jeff Jones at Uva. ,Brad Daughtery at NC, Sidney Lowe at NC State. And I could go on and on. Man, glad I don’t have to make this decision.
5150 UOAD
March 24th, 2011
10:04 am
GTJACKETS
So being a Private High School basketball coach is somehow equivalent to being a Head Basketball Coach in the ACC? Man I guess a High School Math Teacher could be the Head Engineer at NASA too.
rob
March 24th, 2011
10:05 am
I meant NEVER been a head coach
rob
March 24th, 2011
10:05 am
I meant NEVER been a head coach
rob
March 24th, 2011
10:05 am
I meant NEVER been a head coach
Hewitt fan
March 24th, 2011
10:07 am
@5150 UOAD I not going there with you, all i am going to say is Neal and Price would be great for GT basketball..don’t know a lot about Price, but i was a fan,Craig, is a guy that i do know personally, and is a great guy who cares about the community..Cullen, will be an all American in 3 years…Me and my wife have watched the kid grow up…he puts a smile on my face every time i see him..and the kid can ball…GT should keep it in the family..Neal will repair the damage done by GT fans in the AAU circuit.
rob
March 24th, 2011
10:10 am
Sorry about the multiple posts. I am an old man. Keep it in the family? I love my family but if I need a pro to do a pros job I don’t default to family.
Rochester Jacket
March 24th, 2011
10:12 am
As an AD, Rad can not go wrong with hiring Noodles and Price. They could lose for 3-4 years and they would still have full GT support. This is a no brainer to me. The real question is who will we hire after Noodles and Price don’t work out? At least we would have money to hire an experienced coach by then.
what about...
March 24th, 2011
10:12 am
what about roy williams and gary williams, two guys coaching at their alma maters? i think it worked out ok for each of them. id rather have someone who wants to stay and coach than someone we have to lockdown with an airtight contract only to have it blow up.
Tech Forever
March 24th, 2011
10:15 am
Hewitt fan
I’ll tell you why one-and-dones are a big deal. Because at a school like Tech it is almost impossible to recruit the same calibre of athlete year after year after year in order to fill that void that’s created. At Kentucky it’s ridiculously easy.
Plus, those programs never…..NEVER….win championships. Calipari once said (last year actually) he’d take talent over experience every time. Big words…..from a historical one-and-done recruiter who’s never won a championship.
The Anti-BuzzDraft
March 24th, 2011
10:16 am
Darryl LaBarrie played and coached for the Atlanta Celtics. He graduated from Tech.
5150 UOAD
March 24th, 2011
10:16 am
@what about
Roy Williams was an assistant for years. Went to Kansas as a HC and proved how good he was before he returned to UNC.
Rodney Kent
March 24th, 2011
10:17 am
It does not matter whom is selected, it is always a throw of the dice. The administration thought Hewitt would be the savior and put GT in an economical hole with his contract.
There is no way GT can go wrong with offering Price or Neal the job, as long as it is not a high paying contract and it is a short term contract of two years with renewable contents after the second year depending on the record and the attendance.
Nobody could bring in any more enthusiasm than these two except possibly coach K, Roy Williams, etal, and those coaches would cost more than Tech could ever pay. The first two years of attendance would fill the arena because of Price and Neal. Since any coach is going to be a gamble, a good CEO should jump at the chance of getting any one of these two on low cost, short term contracts.
Neither Price, nor Neal need the money at this time of their lives, so they would be completing a dream by coaching at Tech and taking their chances at the job. If I was Price, Neal, and/or the AD, it would be a no-brainer.
Father Time
K
March 24th, 2011
10:18 am
Bring it on, DRAD!!!!!!!!
Just what GT needs!
RamblinRed
March 24th, 2011
10:27 am
Nice that they got these interviews out of the way before their main cnadidates are interviewed. This hire is very unlikely. The top candidates are still coaching so DRad has to wait until they are finished (which is all but what he said in his Good Word column this morning)
5150 UOAD
March 24th, 2011
10:32 am
From what DRad said in The Good Word I don’t think Price will be the choice. The PROVEN track record think kinds drops Price’s name from much consideration.
ormewood
March 24th, 2011
10:34 am
Roy and Gary Willams were highly successful college coaches before they returned to their alma maters. Not a valid comparison. More apt comparisons would be Sidney Lowe, Jeff Jones, and Matt Doherty(not Brad Daugherty).
Hiring Neal and Price could work, but it probably would not. The ACC is not a league for on-the-job training. It would be a cheap hire, though.
collegeballfan
March 24th, 2011
10:34 am
From the New Mexico website:
“Craig Neal is entering his third season on Steve Alford’s staff at New Mexico. He was named the Lobos’ Associate Head Coach on March 27, 2007. Neal, 45, spent the previous three seasons working for Alford at the University of Iowa. Prior to Iowa, Neal spent eight seasons with the NBA’s Toronto Raptors from 1996-2004. He joined the Iowa staff in August of 2004.”
OK so he has NBA and college coaching experience.
But he has never been a head coach.
Same with Price, never been a head coach at the college or pro level.
This move would energize the fan base. But that is not the question. The question is would it energize the recruiting base?
Who will coach the big men? They gonna bring in John Salley or Yvon Joseph to coach the front line?
Maybe the package should include the entire staff?
Tech Man
March 24th, 2011
10:37 am
Didn’t Mark Price coach a professional team in Australia a couple years ago? May not compare favorably with US college teams but, if accurate, would give him ’some’ head coaching experience above the high school level. Another issue, however, is whether Price and Neal could be successful recruiters for the GT program against the likes of their potential peers in the ACC …. and other conferences.
Phil mcgroin
March 24th, 2011
10:37 am
If anyone really thinks GT will hire these two, you are simply delusional! It’s not going to happen and price will never get a HC gig in the ACC or any big conference until he takes an assistant job first and he turned that down to hewitt. Being a consultant for a short time is not being an assistant either. He has shown no desire to be an assistant and thinks he can just run out and land a HC job because of his name? I can run down many names that were NBA players or great college players who have failed at being a HC!! Price has 0 HC ability as he has never done it people!
Hewitt ran us into the gutter and we need a proven HC not a fart in the wind that we HOPE doesn’t reach its destination. The HOPE factor is in play when you gamble on a guy who has not won 1 game as a HC! This seems like common sense to me but some of you have a low basketball IQ in my opinion. Price and neal to GT? Not as a HC!!!
We don’t need that and DRAD is smart enough to realize this. He gave this interview out of respect. I can promise you, that is all that this was. Neither will be the HC at GT. Bank on it
ga tech 92
March 24th, 2011
10:38 am
Personally, I absolutely love the idea of having either or both of these guys back on the flats. I would rather see them as assistant coaches, at least at first, though. Get a super x’s and o’s guy, let the famous guys help recruit and learn x’s and o’s and head coaching along the way…then one day in the future who knows.
PureEvil
March 24th, 2011
10:48 am
Neal. Price, D Ccott and Kenny A now that’s a staff and man would they recruit. The new arena would be packed!
Until we realized what a huge mistake DRad has made! This is not a good idea at all. GT should be a top 25 job and were hiring Craig freakin Neal / Mark Price as the head coach. If it happens I really hope it works I would never pull against GT just because I don’t agree. I just think were capable of hiring someone who’s had success at a smaller school as a head coach.
GTBob
March 24th, 2011
10:48 am
Hiring these two guys really seems like a project and thats not what we need at this point. We need a proven head coach, not a couple of guys who have been assistants and think they can do the job.
Tech Forever
March 24th, 2011
10:49 am
I know one option, albeit a long shot, is now off the table as Anderson has agreed to terms with Arkansas; http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/news?slug=ap-arkansas-anderson
PureEvil
March 24th, 2011
10:51 am
DRad ignore the allumi they’ll get over not having Neal or Price when the man you hire wins.
PureEvil
March 24th, 2011
10:55 am
Arkansas did what GT should do hire a proven coach.
If the goal is pack the house next year then hire Neal/Price.
If the goal is to WIN next year and the next and the next…….hire a proven head coach.
Tech Forever
March 24th, 2011
10:56 am
Doug
Can we at least ask drad if there are some concrete names we can eliminate who aren’t interested in the job? Turgeon, Drew, and others?
Doug Roberson
March 24th, 2011
10:59 am
Tried, no dice on that one Tech Forever.
Tech Forever
March 24th, 2011
11:01 am
From a buddy of mine in Columbia this morning, Cuonzo Martin will be interviewed this weekend for the newly opened position at Missou.
thretrone
March 24th, 2011
11:07 am
hiring Tech grads is what’s needed now at my alma mater of ‘73; don’t hire a stranger for a program that’s been affected by stanger coaches for the past two coaches and that’s building a new coliseum; Danny Hall would be an exception to that rule; CPJ is on the verge of proving he prefers the color black, thus is a stranger to Tech; if the football team ever wears a black GT on their helmets under CPJ’s coaching, would you be surprised, after getting prepared for this by the black knee socks year after year and the wide, 95% black stripes down the sides of the pants last year? that’s the type of coaching that gets a coach fired because of low fan appeal; remember, the head of the Alumni Associaton said in the alum newspaper that “Black is out”; black is out, and stranger coaches are out; Neal and Price as associate head coaches are not only one, but two Tech grads, and Price has experience in NBA arenas for the next two years of building construction on the new coliseum
threetrone
March 24th, 2011
11:08 am
my screen/pen name is threetrone; sorry for typo
threetrone
March 24th, 2011
11:10 am
tes=t, tos=t, te=t, rone=rone
Paul in RDU
March 24th, 2011
11:13 am
Comparing Price and Neal to ACC coaches at their alma maters:
Roy Williams had been HC for 15 years at one of the top basketball schools in the country (Kansas) before being hired at UNC
Gary Williams spent 11 years as HC at 3 different schools (with the last 3 in the Big 10 at Ohio State) before being hired at Maryland
Matt Doherty had 1 year as HC at Notre Dame before being hired at UNC
Sidney Lowe had 0 years as HC in college (although he had several years in the NBA) before being hired at NCSU
Jeff Jones had 0 years as HC (9 years as an assistant at UVA) before being hired as HC at UVA
Craig Neal has 0 years as HC (7 years as an assistant to Steve Alford)
Mark Price has 0 years as HC (1 year as an assistant to Bobby Cremins)
Judging from the successful coaches (Roy and Gary) compared to the outright failures (Doherty, Lowe) and partial failures (Jones), HC in the ACC is not an entry level position.
ScoutDawg
March 24th, 2011
11:28 am
Damn, and I quote ” he has high school experience as a coach”. Really, really, I hate you nerds but damn you can do better. High school < ACC.
Okeefe/Bob
March 24th, 2011
11:31 am
I hope this is a joke. I love GT also and would crawl to Texas for GT but i sure as hell couldn’t coach them.We don’t need an alumni cheer leader. We need a coach who is proven. I like Neal but let’s face it,assisting Alford is not what I would call the best of experience.Alford was hated at Iowa.From Ia to NM is not exactly what i would call an upward move.
Okeefe/Bob
March 24th, 2011
11:39 am
The last package deal I am familiar with is Lowe and Towe at N C State, my daughters school.What a waste of 5 years for the Wolfpack.We can’t afford a 5 more years of marginal performance or it will take us as long to recover as it has taken N C State—over 20 years now and they are nobetter off than they were in 1990.
Paul in RDU
March 24th, 2011
11:58 am
Talking of Ish Muhammed
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OoUNS_Sgbxs&feature=related
Gordon
March 24th, 2011
12:12 pm
It’s got to be between Mooney and Marshall. The only question is if Radakovich will wait until Marshall’s season is over. That could be as late as March 31st. Maybe he will interview Marshall in the next few days. Of course I am assuming Mooney doesn’t make the final four. If he does, we might not be able to afford him any longer.
5150 UOAD
March 24th, 2011
12:18 pm
How about hiring Ken Whisenhunt as the new TECH Head Coach? Now that is a HUGE hire and I could get behind that choice. I don’t think we can afford him but maybe a few more years and he will leave the NFL on his own.
Cremins
March 24th, 2011
12:30 pm
Why not Cremins to coach for three to five years as he rides into the sunset and let Neal or PRice take over after they have served under Cremins as an assistant?
GT45
March 24th, 2011
12:37 pm
Tech needs new life breathed into the program, and Neal and Price would do just that. There is not a point guard in the nation who would not want to learn from two of the best, ever, in the ACC. You would never have to question either’s commitment to the program! And one more thing, I’m sure that if they didn’t succeed, they would both step aside, and not take the money with them!
john
March 24th, 2011
12:45 pm
There is a significant amount of alumni who would cry bloddy murder if we hire Price or Neal. Not because we don’t like them, but becasue it is an emotional decision that anyone could make. There are a hundred examples of bad ADs doing this, it backfiring, and killing the program for 10+ years. There are very very few sucess stories with this type of hire. period. DRAD is not going to make this mistake, he is too smart. This is the mentality that is killing the Michigan football program.
WJ
March 24th, 2011
12:46 pm
We don’t need x players that have never been a HC @ GT. Period. We need someone thats been there and done that. x players have played but a big differance in playing and coaching.
Drads will get the right man………..bet on it.
Augustafan
March 24th, 2011
12:59 pm
We should hire the Neal/Price combo. I think if Price is the Head Coach and Neal as the assistant that would be a tremendous duo. I do believe that we would get them at a fairly inexpensive dollar amount but they would definitely fill the seats. They both know what it means to be a GT fan. They know what the fans want and expect as they have both played bball there.
Jackets 2011
March 24th, 2011
12:59 pm
C’mon Paul.
Do we need to have this discussion every day until we get a new coach?
VC
March 24th, 2011
1:01 pm
Would you take Stevens from Butler? Where was he 5 years ago? How much experience did he have coming into Butler? Experience doesn’t necessarily equate to “good coach”. Many factors to think about with the Tech job and the damage that has been done by Hewitt.
Jackets 2011
March 24th, 2011
1:01 pm
I want to encourage fans to support whoever DRAD hires regardless whether the choice is the one you would make.
Jackets 2011
March 24th, 2011
1:04 pm
BTW how much is the parking at Gwinnett?
Jackets 2011
March 24th, 2011
1:07 pm
Second chance Yahoo league for Big Dance.
#11391. No PW needed.
League name – Yellow Jackets
League motto – DRAD will pick the right guy.
Um, ah I thought that .............
March 24th, 2011
1:13 pm
GT being “a basketball school” and “playing in the ACC” must not be THE DRAW that GT fans thought that it would be.
Let us face it: GT is small ball now and it is very difficult spot to recruit and play big boy ball consistently and win. These two no names being even remotely considered, proves it.
GT cannot even get some ESTABLISHED low to mid level coach to come. Wow!
Ethel St blues continue.
Here is a thought
March 24th, 2011
1:15 pm
Cremmins? I say get Wack Hyder. AAAAAAAAAAHAHHAHA
Rodger The Doger Kaiser would also work.
Mighty Georgie mutt
March 24th, 2011
1:41 pm
Neal and Price – a great duo, but not now, not at Tech, please!!! Ask NCSt how did the “take the ex-player who played for the iconic coach, who won the championship, and whose jersey is up in the rafters, and bring him back to coach” experiment worked out. THANK GOD it is DRad doing the hiring, and not some of our fans!!!
5150 UOAD
March 24th, 2011
1:45 pm
Mark Price will need too much free time to go to Chapel Hill to be the TECH HEAD COACH. His daughter is playing Tennis for the Tarheels.
Dadgum......
March 24th, 2011
1:45 pm
Told you guys that some big boosters were clamoring for Price to be interviewed. Makes perfect sense for a package deal. Neither would get the job on their own. Still don’t think they are the top options as a combo but it is interesting. By the way, those of you who think Marshall is a possibility well I have been told he is definitely not in the mix at GT. That is one name you can scratch off the list.
Still looks like Mooney and sports talk radio here in Richmond as of 12:30 confirms that Mooney has been contacted by several schools. Not sure which ones but I know GT contacted him weeks ago.
Dadgum......
March 24th, 2011
1:54 pm
Um…..What? No names? Yeah, ok whatever.
GT is small ball is a joke. Name me one other ACC school other than Puke, MD or Unc that is a better job than GT given all parameters year in and year out. GT hard to recruit for, please. Do some freakin homework. Get a solid coach, new arena, assistants that can recruit and coach then GT will be back again.
TechFan
March 24th, 2011
2:13 pm
5150 UOAD Why does it matter to you what Atlanta Celtics players have degrees? Finishing Tech or not, they may go on somewhere else and get a degree. So what Kenny Anderson is broke, so are most people of this nation. What difference does that make? I playing for Team Georgia Trojans and I have a degree, you want whatever coach to only recruit guys from my AAU team?
bring back glory days
March 24th, 2011
2:22 pm
Thank you DRad for at least giving these legends a shot. I will support the decision made though I like the way Rodney Kent stated it in his 10 17 am post.
Many seem opposed to this duo but the fan base would instantly be energized. I am not sure a Mooney does that. DRad’s Good Word comments allude to that aspect of the fan base but he also counters it with a requirement for a proven track record. If that means years of HC experience then no chance for Price. I’m hoping many years of point experince in the NBA count for something.
BTW DRad thanks for bringing an ACC football championship to Tech withCPJ. Like him or not that championship is in the books. Go Jackets!
NYJacket
March 24th, 2011
2:28 pm
With all due respect to others, Mark Price has probably forgotten more about basketball than Hewitt has ever learned. His father was a high school coach. So, he learned the fundamentals very early in life. And, he has played and excelled at the highest levels of the game.
Would his hire bring risks? Yes, but if it works, look out!
Tech Forever
March 24th, 2011
2:33 pm
VC
Brad Stevens didn’t have any head coaching experience 5 years ago…..which is exactly why he started at Butler and not an ACC school.
William Satterwhite
March 24th, 2011
2:35 pm
“Would you take Stevens from Butler? Where was he 5 years ago? How much experience did he have coming into Butler?”
Brad Stevens had been an assistant at Butler since 2001 under the two previous coaches when he was given the job.
Techy466
March 24th, 2011
2:41 pm
Mark Price has spent most days of his life in the basketball gym. How else do you think he could be voted 1st team All NBA and a 4 time NBA All Star not to mention ACC Most Valuable Player with his size and stature? It is because he knows the game and because of his work ethic and determination. He had to beat people by being smarter than them and working harder than them in the gym. Some of you act like it would have been better for him to be a grad assistant or assistant coach in a small school than to be leading his teams from the floor as a point guard at the highest level in the world – taking his team to the Eastern Conference Finals! Give me a break! Of course, Mark Price, can coach. He did it his entire career from the floor! I would think that being an assistant coach in the NBA for the last 4 years would also give him so credentials and working with NBA All Stars on their game. If you want to see someone that is passionate about winning basketball games – just watch Mark Price on You Tube!! What high school athlete wouldn’t want to learn from him? If I had a son that played, I would want him with someone who has been there and done it. Mark Price would be great for Georgia Tech. It is my understanding that he asked Hewitt for a job as an assistant several times in these last few years when there were openings at GT. He helped build GT Basketball – his blood, sweat, and tears are there! Price would be a great hire!
GTPhenom
March 24th, 2011
2:42 pm
I don’t really get the draw in this. Bring them on as assistants, heck yeah, I would love it. But right now, they are not what we need as a head coach. If it were to flame out because of their lack of experience, there would be hell to pay for the basketball program. We would be set back for even longer than we are right now. Right now, I want to see Mooney or Marshall. I expect Richmond to probably lose tomorrow anyways, and if that is the case as soon as he is out of the tourney, we get our asses in gear and contact him immediately. And if not him, then I am extremely impressed with the action Marshall has done. Look at what he did with a similar point gaurd who became the active leader (unitl Jimmer plays tonight) in points right now. I was thoroughly impressed last night. Honestly though, just do something. Whatever it is will be a risk, so go with what you expect to be the smallest risk, take the leap of faith, and for God’s sake, don’t give them a never ending freaking contract. Just my two cents.
GTPhenom
March 24th, 2011
2:44 pm
And again, I’d be fine with Price as an assitant, and Neal also; both are huge in the history of GT Basketball and clearly have their own enticing allure. I just don’t think we can afford the risk of not having an established coach in place, particularly in the ACC, although while it is down like it is, now is the time to strike the hot iron so to speak and do what needs to be done.
ormewood
March 24th, 2011
2:48 pm
GTPhenom, saying the ACC is down is entirely subjective. They have five NC’s in last 10 years, and currently have three of the Sweet 16, more than any other conference. All three of those teams are favorites to win their next games. Doesn’t mean they will win of course, but the supposedly-down ACC could have three of the Elite Eight. All leagues should wish to be that down.
William Satterwhite
March 24th, 2011
2:49 pm
Techy466, I don’t think anyone doubts that Mark Price can’t be a great coach when it comes to simply teaching the game and motivating players but unfortunately that’s a very small part of what a college basketball head coach has to actually do. If anything, those teaching aspects of coaching are left more to assistants anyway.
William Satterwhite
March 24th, 2011
2:51 pm
I’ll say one thing though, if Mark Price really did try to become an assistant under Hewitt and Hewitt said no, then Hewitt did this school a tremendous disservice there.
Stinger 2
March 24th, 2011
2:52 pm
All of this speculation is out of hand. Why not just wait for the announcement whenever it happens. This issue of hiring a GT BB coach has been the most over hyped sports
issue of the year.Yesterday three different AJC writers
posted articles at about the same time.
GTPhenom
March 24th, 2011
2:54 pm
Oh trust me, I didn’t mean down in that idea. Let’s be honest, when are Duke and UNC ever going to be consistently down? I simply meant it as an analogy and a reference, lol. I get annoyed at that reference as well, because well, it can be untrue, but in general, looking at the number of teams in and all was all I meant to be referencing. Sorry if I went a little far with my analogy, lo
GTPhenom
March 24th, 2011
2:56 pm
Lol, and on top of that I’ll be honest I said Duke or UNC would win it all, so trust me, I understand completely the power of the ACC. Could very well be three straight this year.
Jack LaBia
March 24th, 2011
3:06 pm
Ga Tech, like any school determined to reenter the basketball limelight, needs someone with HEAD coaching experience at a decent school. Not a career assistant tackling his first head coaching job. Neal would be a big mistake AT THIS POINT. Let him get head coaching experience at one or two lesser schools over the next 7 years, and if he proves himself, he could be a strong candidate for GT then. The skills involved in being a head coach are very different from what an assistant has already mastered.
Tech Forever
March 24th, 2011
3:08 pm
Sammy Baugh, Eddie Mathews, Bart Starr, Forrest Gregg, Mel Ott, Mike Singletary, Magic Johnson, Kevin McHale, Ted Williams, Bryan Trottier, Isiah Thomas, Wayne Gretzky
When someone can post 12 superstar athletes who’ve become great coaches in spite of their lack of head coaching experience I’ll put more weight into Mark Price being the next HC at Georgia Tech. And believe me….I stopped at 12 when i could have listed 50.
Stinger 2
March 24th, 2011
3:09 pm
Doug: Why have my comments been deleted/ I said nothing
wrong about anyone.
Doug Roberson
March 24th, 2011
3:27 pm
i haven’t deleted them.
Techy466
March 24th, 2011
3:38 pm
Most coaches in all sports are former players! Doc Rivers, Nate McMillan, Scott Skiles, Lorenzo Romar, Steve Alford, Bobby Cremins. Most professional and college coaching staffs are full of former players and yes, some succeed and some fail. Every situation is different.
gomabman2
March 24th, 2011
3:44 pm
Wow! I was an avid fan of Neal and Price baaaaaack in the day, but as head coach/assistant to lead Tech into their next era…No way! This would be a big mistake. Neither has the HC or recruiting exp. needed for a competitive basketball team in the ACC. Seriously. I can understand all of the sentiments and emotions pouring out from past and present fans, administration, alumni, and the athletic association, but these guys are not even candidates for any serious basketball program, let alone Tech. Come on man! Now that Anderson is gone to UA (watch out for the Razorbacks), the list has dwindled down to only a couple good, good choices: Brad Stevens and Anthony Grant, and throw in Shaka Smart for good measure. Consideration should even be made for Chris Mooney and Rod Strickland. Outside of these guys, it is scary to think that we will be successful on this one.
gomabman2
March 24th, 2011
3:49 pm
Tech Forever…let me add Matt Doherty to your list! LOL
Tech Forever
March 24th, 2011
4:03 pm
Techy466
No….those clamoring so strongly for Price continuous post all of his player credentials and then somehow conclude that would make him a great coach. Not one of the 6 former players you listed comes close to Price in stature as a player. Of course the vast majority of coaches were former players, but the vast majority of players who excelled at the highest level do not make great, or even good, head coaches. It’s a completely different mentality. As a great head coach you have to check the negative personality attributes that being excessively competitive brings out (like ego, arrogance, and snap judgements). As a great head coach you must be able to teach and show without actually doing. As a great coach, at the college level, you have to be humbly extroverted while most great athletes are obnoxiously extroverted. I could go on and on but the bottom line is ultra success as an athlete almost never leads to the same as a coach.
Now I’m not saying Mark Price couldn’t be a great head coach. I’m saying he should get some practice at being one before he steps into the ACC.
Tech Forever
March 24th, 2011
4:04 pm
gomabman2
Nice, but I was only listing great former players
Jupiter
March 24th, 2011
4:05 pm
Waiting on Pearl’s lawyer/agent to finish reviewing the contract offer. We should know something by Monday.
gomabman2
March 24th, 2011
4:11 pm
Tech 466, there is a difference coaching in the NBA and college. First of all, rarely are coaches without playing experience. In the NBA, coaches basically manage talent, while implementing some sort of game plan. In college ball, recruiting expertise is of the utmost importance. This talent must fit into the coaches game style. After all, there are far more rules and regulations from the schools and the NCAA to take into consideration. Tech 4ever makes the correct point for those who understand the two entities. Shucks, these to Tech candidates arent even nowhere close to being household names in coaching, and they want to coach? Take a HC job at a lower level job first. Their emotions are getting the best of them and some of these fans! LOL
gomabman2
March 24th, 2011
4:13 pm
Tech4ever…thanks, just giving him the benefit of the doubt for his championship ring! LOL
Todd - Dacula
March 24th, 2011
4:40 pm
PLEASE!!! Stop with the ‘lack of head coaching experience. Many of you never worked as a garbage man, excpet when your mama or daddy made you take the trash out; and you always forgot to take teh can to the curb on garbage day. Now, look at you, a real garbage man!!!
Dennis Scott, Kenny Anderson, Craig Neal and Marl Price; I say hire Neal as the HC, Price as an assistant with either dennis Scott or Kenny Anderson as an Assistant and Recruiter… I prefer Scott as the recruiter and hire Anderson as a Special Assistant to mentor the area of the game. That should work.
gomabman2
March 24th, 2011
4:52 pm
Todd, wishful thinking. No offense, but bad analogy. Major programs need experienced coaches. Meaning, you must have shown the ability to lead and recruit effectively. Even Sidney Lowe, has felt the brunt of having been a heralded player at his alma mater, but failed. This conversation is also lacking experience.
Todd - Dacula
March 24th, 2011
4:54 pm
gomabman2,
What sport did you play and at what level?
Jo Bling
March 24th, 2011
4:59 pm
Come on people. Don’t you know a PR move when you see one? There is a certain segment of the alumni base clamoring for Price and/or Neal, including, I’m sure, a few heavy hitters. So DRad gave Noodles and Mark a call and said, “Here’s how it’s going to work. You guys don’t have a shot at this job, but since you are great supporters of GT, I’m sure you will agree with this strategy. I will invite you in and you are going to sit for this interview, then we’ll leak it to the press – same source who got the Hewitt firing, BTW – and it will energize the fan base. When we hire Mooney, all the alumni and fans will know we gave you both a good look, and who can argue with that? And then both of you can add ‘GT head coach interview’ to your resumes. Deal?” Trust me. That’s what this is all about. Anyone who thinks we’re hiring either one of these guys as head coach is insane.
gomabman2
March 24th, 2011
5:00 pm
Even at the D2 level, the search for a coach is scrutinized. This is nothing new or even requiring so much input. It actually has all of the looks of desperation on the part of fans and the administration if all can be considered is a couple of mediocre basketball alum. Really?
gomabman2
March 24th, 2011
5:03 pm
Jo Bling…you are so right. If DRad is going to go as far as hiring a consultant, surely he wouldnt waste the schools money on a successor that would be Neal, Price, Salley, or Buzz for that matter. LOL…come on!
Paul in RDU
March 24th, 2011
5:03 pm
Tech Forever,
You posted superstar athletes who were terrible HCs. If you really wanted to have some fun you could have posted superstar basketball players who have been terrible GMs
Michael Jordan, Isiah Thomas, Kevin McHale, Elgin Baylor – 4 guys on the list of top 50 NBA players of all time.
Paul in RDU
March 24th, 2011
5:05 pm
Great basketball players as great coaches?
There are only 2 people who are in the HOF as both player and coach – Lenny Wilkins and some guy named Wooden.
gomabman2
March 24th, 2011
5:12 pm
Paul, that is true, but Lenny’s fame came in the pros, and Wooden, an extraordinary man, was one of a kind. No one can compare to Wooden.
Tech Forever
March 24th, 2011
5:12 pm
Todd – Dacula
If you’re going to make an analogy between the HC position and a position at a garbage company then I really think the owner of the garbage company would be a better one. I doubt very seriously there are any owners of garbage companies who don’t know exactly how to do the collectors jobs however there are probably 1000s of collectors that would have no clue as to how to do the owners job.
Paul in RDU
March 24th, 2011
5:13 pm
gomabman2
My point, exactly!
Tech Forever
March 24th, 2011
5:13 pm
Paul in RDU
You know it. Which is also a great illustration fo why they generally make horrible businessmen after their playing days as well.
gomabman2
March 24th, 2011
5:15 pm
Ummm…Todd, I played basketball, tennis, baseball, and football in high school with letters. After high school, I played tennis and football.
Tech Forever
March 24th, 2011
5:17 pm
gomabman2
Well then apparently you’re qualified to be the next HC at Georgia Tech!!!! Congratulations man!!!
WJ
March 24th, 2011
5:24 pm
Doug you need more facts in story instead of question marks after BS.
Paul in RDU
March 24th, 2011
5:24 pm
Tech Forever,
Jordan is an especially egregious example of someone who has made terrible mistakes off the court. Kwame Brown at #1? Adam Morrison at #3?
gomabman2
March 24th, 2011
5:29 pm
Thanks Tech4ever…lol…I cant accept though. It would not be fair to the fans and alumni. I need to have some solid coaching and recruiting experience. I recommend Stevens, Grant, or even Rod Strickland for that matter. Next time. LOL
QB/DB
March 24th, 2011
5:33 pm
Would be a great fit for Kennesaw State and one of these guys. They could win at KSU and then move on to a high major. That job is just sitting there, it has high potential for the right guy!
gomabman2
March 24th, 2011
5:41 pm
Exactly QB/DB. I would hate for these guys to end up at GT and then realize how hot the seat really is. Everything sounds good on the ESPN, and in the papers. But these HC jobs are no joke when you are expected to win, and win immediately. Win on the court and in and around your recruiting base. Not a task for a couple of rooks or ex players who are loved (for the moment) by the GT faithful.
Tech Forever
March 24th, 2011
6:13 pm
O.k. a friend just asked me what my true expectations are regarding Georgia Tech basketball. i’ve thought about it and here it is.
Other than my expectation for the team to be significantly better in March than it was in November (those of you who have read my stuff for long enough know that is my ONLY expectation for the football program….seriously), my only other expectation is for this team to make the NCAA Tournament each and every season. I don’t care how it’s done, but to me I don’t think it’s too much to ask for a coach to get this program into the top 37 every single season. And if the tourney expands again next year to 72 teams as has been alluded to I REALLY REALLY expect it.
Having said that, I don’t care who our next coach is and I trust Drad. But if we don’t make the tourney next year then I’m not sure how long it will take for me to be a believer in him.
Tech Forever
March 24th, 2011
6:19 pm
At 13-18 Tech ranked 39th in defensive efficiency. If we can find a coach who can maintain that (and that’s not a super great ranking) and match it on the offensive end we’d be ranked between Belmont and UNC in this year’s rankings.
Paul in RDU
March 24th, 2011
6:22 pm
Tech Forever,
My expectations are a little different than yours. As far as measurables are concerned, I expect GT to average 0.500 in the ACC over a 5 year period, make an occasional run towards the top of the conference (in either the regular season or the tourney), make the NCAA 60% of the time and the post season (NCAA + NIT) 85% of the time. GT should be thought of with MD as top of the 2nd tier in the ACC – after the boys in blue in the Triangle
OldSchoolTechFanatic
March 24th, 2011
7:06 pm
I would like to see Mark Price as coach and think he is the man for the job. But if noodles got the job I would not be disipointed. I don’t think WE could ever be as bad as WE were the last 11 years. I want to see some team ball and free throws made. No more street ball at GT please !!!
gomabman2
March 24th, 2011
7:17 pm
Streetball?
OldSchoolTechFanatic
March 24th, 2011
7:20 pm
Yes Hewits teams.
gomabman2
March 24th, 2011
7:31 pm
Actually, Hewitt has a pretty decent X and O game. And no one said anything when he went to the national championship game. Anyway, the problem is not how they play. Hewitt just ran his course at Tech without making serious adjustments. Nothing more, nothing less. Besides, many teams in the NCAA tourney play a similar game to Tech.
Tech Forever
March 24th, 2011
8:49 pm
Paul in RDU
Just keep in mind that if a program averages .500 in conference play over a 5 year period and only makes the NCAA Tournament 65% of the time you’re really looking at a very inconsistent program with a lot of ups and downs…..roller coaster ride. Consider this, at 9-7 there is no guarantee Tech would make the tourney without winning the ACC tourney (even 10-6). so you’re looking at 5 year swings of 6-10 to 10-6 at worst. That’s not good. Remember college basketball is as much about perception as results when it comes to making The Dance (see Michigan State this year). Coming out of what we’ve been and into that scenario I’m afraid would doom us to middle of the pack or worse in the ACC and hoping for NIT berths.
gomabman2
March 24th, 2011
9:20 pm
Very true 4ever…shucks…Alabama was 12 – 4 in the SEC, and 22-11 overall. Didnt even draw a nod for the NCAA.
brent cunningham
March 24th, 2011
9:55 pm
mark price is a class act, and would be a great mentor and teacher, and coach. He has lived and breathed bb all his life. He would make a great presence at a kids home. If a kid has any ability, his stock in the nba would sky rocket under price teaching. I have been preaching mp all year. price and noodles great hire
brent cunningham
March 24th, 2011
10:07 pm
Enter your comments here
Tech Forever
March 24th, 2011
10:15 pm
brent cunningham
Based on what we know of Price as a coach his teams would be good shooters and make their free throws. Beyond that there’s no way to tell because there’s no historical evidence. But I appreciate your opinions of the kind of coach he might be.
gomabman2
March 24th, 2011
10:21 pm
To add to that…how many athletes credit their game or livelihood to that of Mark Price or Neal?
Tech Fan
March 24th, 2011
10:49 pm
Good lord Doug, this is regurgitated information that isn’t even confirmed…why are you constently spitting this stuff out. You are supposed to have some what of an inside track on this…..what did you just now decide to buy the wonderful “espn insider” subscription?
Tech Fan
March 24th, 2011
10:58 pm
The fact remains that mooney was 1st choice when we all, including DRAD, thought that Hewitt was going to St Johns…So, while that was going on, Drad, doing what a AD should, started his search and contacted some HC’s. No one knows who he’s going to hire because we don’t what he concluded with last year before Hewitt decided to come back. The only thing we know is that Mooney was his target.
Tech Fan
March 24th, 2011
11:01 pm
Even DRAD said in his newletter today, that he is looking for someone with a track record of success, is that Neal or Price, I think not.
reebok
March 24th, 2011
11:15 pm
reality check, jacket fans. neither of these guys has been a head coach. no way.
FullMetalJacket
March 25th, 2011
1:02 am
Who was DRAD interviewing today?
GT
March 25th, 2011
8:00 am
If you can’t fire Hewitt until he is a shipwreck how you going to fire Price or anybody that has ever been associated with Tech. We almost hired Curry as an athletic director which still gives me the shivers. On Price I will say one thing, I think he or Wesleyan may have single handily brought basketball to single A high school, which is not a bad thing. The kids actually get a one on one education and have the Christian ethic presented to them. Trey Thompkins is every coach’s dream as a person first and a player second though he is superb at both. Watch Brandon Reed on the Tech team next year. One of the greatest freshman year’s ever in the Sun Conference and begged his way on the Tech team as a transfer with very little fanfare from Hewitt or this paper. Tanner Smith had to settle for Clemson when no offer came from Tech. These kind of high character players would and will play for a guy like Price. He will know they exist though some gym rat street dealer has not promoted them. He has actually shown an interest in these kids long before anyone mentioned him as a college coach. Price, like Fox may bring a better smell to college basketball, win or lose that is not a bad thing.
Tech's search: Craig Neal, Doug Wojcik and D-Rad's timetable | Mark Bradley
March 25th, 2011
10:42 am
[...] said, I’m beginning to think there could be a way for Craig Neal — who was interviewed Wednesday and whose candidacy I advocated – to become the next Tech coach. I’m not sure Noodles [...]