Radakovich: No question Gregory will succeed
Georgia Tech athletic director Dan Radakovich said there’s “no question” that new men’s basketball coach Brian Gregory will succeed.
“Brian Gregory is not only an outstanding basketball coach, but he is a tireless worker and recruiter who cares deeply about his players,”
Radakovich said in a statement. “There is no question that he will succeed as basketball coach at Georgia Tech, and he will win by doing things the right way.”
Tech released a statement at 3:42 p.m. to confirm the hiring, which has dominated the Atlanta news throughout the day. A press conference is scheduled at 5 p.m.
Gregory said leaving Dayton for The Flats was a tough decision.
“It’s the toughest decision I’ve ever made in my life,” he told the Dayton Daily News. “It’s been eight great years. I love this place. People have been great to us. I can’t express how much I appreciate all the support and all the great times we had.
“We’ve built up a lot of relationships. As my wife (Yvette) said, it’s not a job or an occupation. It’s our life. It’s been our basketball life for eight years, and it’s tough to say good-bye to that.”
Gregory’s contract terms haven’t been announced. His pay package was at Dayton was near $1 million annually. Paul Hewitt, Tech’s former coach, made approximately $1.3 million annually. He’s also due $7.2 million per the buyout terms of the contract. That total will be paid out monthly over the next five years.
Gregory, 44 and a native of Mount Prospect, Ill., had coached the Flyers since 2003, amassing a record of 172-94 overall and 70-58 in the Atlantic 10 conference. He led the Flyers to the NCAA tournament twice, once during his inaugural season in 2003-04 and again in 2008-09. Dayton won the NIT championship in 2010.
The Flyers have had three winning conference records, including marks of 12-4 (2004) and 11-5 (2009). They went 22-14, 7-9 this year, losing in the first round of the NIT. They have won at least 20 games each of the last four seasons. Before taking over in Dayton, Gregory served as an assistant coach to Tom Izzo at Michigan State from 1999-2003.
“I know what this guy can do,” Izzo told Wes Durham on 790AM this morning. “He can have discipline yet still be a player’s coach. The hours he is going to work, that’s the only area I can say for sure that he’s No. 1. No one can outwork him. At the end of the day that’s the most important thing. Do you work your way through the good times, the bad times, the in-between times? ”
Tech has been looking for a coach since Radakovich let go of Hewitt more than two weeks ago. Hewitt led the Jackets to a 190-162 record in 11 seasons. Tech did reach the 2004 national championship game as part of five NCAA tournament appearances. However, Tech didn’t win the ACC’s regular-season or tournament titles under Hewitt.
Eventually, attendance at Alexander Memorial Coliseum began to decline. Paid attendance dropped to a few more than 6,000 this season, its lowest figure in more than a decade. However, that many rarely attended games. Tech will likely play its home games at Philips Arena and Gwinnett Arena next season while the $45 million McCamish Pavilion is constructed. It will replace AMC.
Multiple websites reported on Friday that Tech had offered the job to Gregory. However, the school issued a statement later in the day saying that the search was still ongoing.
Tech was supposed to talk to Richmond’s Chris Mooney on Sunday, but he signed a 10-year contract extension to stay with the Spiders.
Gregory was one of five candidates interviewed. The others were Tulsa’s Doug Wojcik, Missouri State’s Cuonzo Martin (who accepted the job at Tennessee on Sunday) and former alums Mark Price and Craig Neal, who is an assistant at New Mexico.
Gregory doesn’t have any previous ties to the ACC or the South. His coaching experience has been exclusively in the Midwest, starting as an assistant at Michigan State in 1990. He then moved to Toledo in 1996, Northwestern in 1997, and Michigan State again in 1999.
He played at Navy before transferring to Oakland.
In 15 years, he has coached 20 players who have made it to the NBA. He has a reputation for winning big games, going 12-5 against teams from the big-six basketball conferences in the last four years. They were also 7-11 against ranked teams during Gregory’s time as coach, including a win against Georgia Tech in 2009.
The team has done well in the classroom as well. Its Academic Progress Rate, a measurement used by the NCAA to ensure that students are moving toward graduation at an acceptable pace, has never fallen below 974 since the 2004-05 season. The NCAA considers 925 to be the minimum score before penalties are considered. He’s a perfect 23-for-23 on seniors graduating.
“The academic part of the school really fits the type of school I want to be associated with,” he said. “That’s really important. At Georgia Tech, you can recruit the highest quality player without compromising the important character components necessary for success. They have great tradition there. I’m excited about re-establishing that tradition and re-energizing the program — and getting the former players back, like we did here, and becoming engaged in the community, like we did here.”
– Doug Roberson, AJC
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576 comments Add your comment
Red Journalism
March 28th, 2011
8:46 am
“”"Somebody wake up Schultz and Bradley, there sleeping right through their news story they been waiting on”"”
Be patient, Bradley can’t try to run him out of town, until he formally accepts the job.
Dadgum......
March 28th, 2011
8:48 am
GT phenom….Drad may have contacted Stevens no doubt but I know for a fact he didn’t contact Smart personally. If a guy making $400k at VCU is out of GT’s price range now that tells me Drad has been lying to us. No matter how you spin the hire it doesn’t look good for GT. I will always pull for GT and will give him a shot. Exciting or sexy pick? I think not.
GT81Lawyer
March 28th, 2011
8:48 am
Phenom, here’s my thought. First I too hope this guy can get us to a championship level. But RIGHT NOW, I won’t drive 2 hours each way to see this team. If he proves he is a winner, then I will. But that doesn’t fill up seats (2 years from now, but I assume we get revenue even from the Georgia Dome, rights?) A winning program cures all ills. I hope he’s the guy. But at the start, I’m not impressed. Hiring CPJ, everyone knew he was a coach. Didn’t know if his system would work here, but the whole nation knew he could coach. Can you say the same about our new hire?
Wreckmaniac
March 28th, 2011
8:49 am
At least he’s as sexy as Mark Fox. He also may be the equivalent of Brad Brownell of Clemson who just finished a good first season and no one had heard of him either.
Jackets 2011
March 28th, 2011
8:50 am
If we had had the internet when Cremins was hired, most of you would have said the same thing.
GEORGIA97
March 28th, 2011
8:50 am
It would’ve been a better move to hire Leeeeeeeroooy Jenkins!
Jacket Man
March 28th, 2011
8:50 am
It all came back to the Benjamen’s – $1.5M for the Head Coach and his entire staff. Not a lot to pay when we’re still paying off Chan Gailey, now Paul Hewitt, as well as the large renovations. But I think everyone agreed something had to change in the basketball program and based on what we had to work with, looking at past proven experience versus some top teams, someone who “got” GA Tech and what we’re all about, and actually has a coaching and a pedigree, Brian was our best fit.
Not a Hewitt Fan
March 28th, 2011
8:50 am
The horror…..the horror…
Brian Gregory will have to create own excitement for Tech | Jeff Schultz
March 28th, 2011
8:51 am
[...] Georgia Tech has hired Brian Gregory of Dayton as its next basketball coach, and we’ll find out soon enough if it was the right decision. [...]
Jackets 2011
March 28th, 2011
8:51 am
Clemson deserved better in both the ACC tourney and the Big Dance.
Their nobody coach turned out to be a good hire.
Milledgeville Dawg
March 28th, 2011
8:51 am
Tech blew this one and I love it. Where are you St. Simons?
UGASlobberknocker
March 28th, 2011
8:52 am
Im surprised by the overall negative reaction by Tech fans. He isn’t that bad of a hire. There are a lot of similarities to the UGA Fox hire..a/coming off less than wonderful seasons b/not from the area, never recruited the area c/overall fan reaction was cool.
But Fox has turned out fine.. So, Techies, give the man a chance.
Starrman
March 28th, 2011
8:52 am
Most of you guys never played on an organized team in your life.He has trained under Tom Izzo twice enough said
Buckeye
March 28th, 2011
8:52 am
And who knew Coach Smart/VCU before the Tourney??
Dayton Flyers Fan
March 28th, 2011
8:53 am
Give the man a chance before trashing him.
Who knows ? He could be just what you need to turn it around.
http://ramblinwreck.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/111909aaa.html
Ashley
March 28th, 2011
8:54 am
DRAD- You blew it.
Way to go.
DRAD LIED
March 28th, 2011
8:54 am
Drad said emphatically that money wouldn’t be a factor in this hire. That is total BS because this hire screams that money was the issue. If they were truly willing to spend they would have gotten a better coach, period. Why spend 45 million on a new arena and then skimp on the coach? Now Tech will have an awesome basketball facility with a mediocre team.
Jackets 2011
March 28th, 2011
8:56 am
To spend more, we needed to wait another year and have Gailey off the payroll.
Braine had to be someone out to lock us into his choices and make us pay for questioning him.
Can we get over Braine and give DRad a chance?
You negative folks remind me of divorcees I’ve dated.
The next guy is going to pay for what the first one did.
Jamaaliver
March 28th, 2011
8:57 am
Long time GT fan stationed here in Dayton, OH. I’ve seen a dozen or so University of Dayton games the last few seasons. He’s a solid coach. he didn’t have elite talent here at UD. So as a recruiter, he might be limited.
FYI, he did win the NIT last season by beating UNC in madison Square Garden. So at least he can compete with the Roy Williamses of the world.
Chase
March 28th, 2011
8:58 am
sign that man to a rollover 7 mil contract rigth now!
lovetravel
March 28th, 2011
8:58 am
I am not sure if the AD knew or thinking what he have in his mind. He shouldn’t be too hard on TECH, I am very disappointment. He should have pick someone who from TECH to help out. I don’t think he really want someone that is good and know the school around. I can’t say anything more further because it will hurt the school and the team. One thing I do know that he won’t have a good boys to play TECH. I am very disappointment to pick the wrong coach and why didn’t he have to listen to FAN and Student that want Mark Price and Craig Neal and or Kenny Anderson. I won’t watch the game no longer!!! AD please remember that that going to hunt you for a long time
Dadgum......
March 28th, 2011
9:00 am
To clarify, I repeatedly indicated my source confirming that Mooney was the main choice early on. That did not change. It was Mooney’s offer to turn down which he did. He was all but hired. Until the “but” surfaced.
FullMetalJacket
March 28th, 2011
9:00 am
As many have said before, while I don’t understand this hire, DRad has made good decisions in the past and he knows more about Gregory and more about Tech’s situation than anyone else here. I am surprised, and a little disappointed, but that will disappear when Gregory shows us why DRad chose him next year and starts winning.
Brad
March 28th, 2011
9:00 am
Dayton Fan
I know. Such premature idiots. I remember the game last year when dayton beat us. This with 2 nba players. Isnt that WHY we wanted to get rid of hewitt. I am excited to get him. I wanted a coach who would teach fundamentals and to play hard. I think we will be a very good team with him. Gonna go see them at Gwinn arena next season.
Red Journalism
March 28th, 2011
9:01 am
Let’s see, won the NIT in 2010 by beating in succession
Illinois State – MVC
Cincinatti – Big East
Illinois -Big Ten
Mississippi – SEC
North Carolina – ACC
Not a bad accomplishment by knocking off these major b-ball conference schools.
Even Mark Fox would envy this
Heck Dayton even beat GT that year.
Pull My Finger
March 28th, 2011
9:01 am
I agree with Buzz…………..
Ben
March 28th, 2011
9:01 am
I can’t say he’s my favorite choice, but I for one will support him and hope for the best. I’m excited to see what he can do.
Go Jackets!
IBAR
March 28th, 2011
9:01 am
Hey everybody that is complaining..who did you think Tech was going to get????! John Calipari??? Seems like a solid hire to me given his background as an Izzo assistant. Let’s see how he does. Why would you hire someone without head coaching experience as several of you are clamoring for in Mark Price and Craig Neal?
Not Now
March 28th, 2011
9:02 am
dam
JB
March 28th, 2011
9:03 am
You guys needed a new coach for a reason….You have been bad for a few years now. This was not a job that the elite was going to line up for. The money is average and the program, although not a mess, needs work. The ACC and Atlanta and Tech are all positives. Give the guy a chance from a Dawg fan.
Dadgum......
March 28th, 2011
9:03 am
Also nowhere did I say Mooney was my choice. Grant was. I said Mooney would be a solid hire. Hopefully, Smart via his agent indicated he wasn’t interested in the GT job.
ATL Sports Fan
March 28th, 2011
9:04 am
And to think you all were ripping Doug Roberson the other day for taking something from a UGA Alums (sports by brown) website about Gregory being offered the Tech job. A few days later it comes out to be true. I think you all owe Mr. Roberson an appology. Funny to see a alumni base divided now. Cause you all were ripping Roberson and Gregory. Have fun!!!
Jackets 2011
March 28th, 2011
9:04 am
Money was not a factor for the NY Mets GM’s decisions.
So he went out and won a bunch of bidding wars.
Have they come close to making a WS, forget winning it?
No.
He could afford, so he thought, to pay Oliver Perez 12 million dollars a year for three years.
Now he’ll get 12 mil to do nothing this year.
If we got into a bidding war with the football factories, we would have only served to drive up prices.
And probably lost out anyway.
This was a prudent choice.
If he can win at Dayton, he can win here.
NYJacket
March 28th, 2011
9:04 am
Why don’t you guys check this guys background. He is a lot stonger than Hewitt. And, he has beaten Hewitt with a team with less talent than Hewitt had on the floor.
He also was mentored by Izzo at Michigan State and that guy is a hell of a coach.
We have definitely made a step improvement over what we had.
Jackets 2011
March 28th, 2011
9:05 am
Winning the NIT shows he is a good motivator because lots of teams don’t try when they miss the Dance.
Dan
March 28th, 2011
9:06 am
Meh. Obviously not an inspiring choice for most of us fans — but most of us aren’t NCAA ADs, either. Nothing to do now but kick back, give him the benefit of the doubt next season, and hope for the best. (My preferences would have been Mooney, or Gregg Marshall, or Neal. C’est la vie. Best of luck to new coach Gregory.)
Winger
March 28th, 2011
9:09 am
Wasn’t Cremins the coach at Appalachian State before Tech? Give the guy a chance. His options and support SHOULD be greater here than at Dayton.
FullMetalJacket
March 28th, 2011
9:10 am
Most disappointing is that we apparently never seriously considered Marshall, or for that matter, Smart, since Gregory would have been there next week, too. We’ll see pretty quickly what he can do with an abbreviated recruiting season, and see how he holds his own in the conference. Dayton doesn’t seem too disappointed in losing him, which is seldom a good sign.
Toccoa Bug Zapper
March 28th, 2011
9:10 am
This is so funny I can’t stop laughing.
GT...let's wait and see
March 28th, 2011
9:10 am
Although this hire is certainly not “exciting,” I will definitely wait to judge Gregory. I know he did not have a stellar record at Dayton, but if he can take them to the NCAA a couple times and win the NIT that says something. Hopefully he will recruit smart, high bball IQ guys that want to stay more than 1 year…and if he can do that and maybe talk to Price. That would be a win in my book.
ATL Fan
March 28th, 2011
9:10 am
@ oldejacket
oh I guess they don’t have those things at Georgetown, North Carolina, Syracuse or Kansas!!!
WnE
March 28th, 2011
9:11 am
DRad LIED to the GT Fanbase, money was very much a factor in who GT hired!
To not hire Shaka Smart is a serious embarrassment to all GT Fans.
DRad mislead us by saying that money was no option, so instead of feeding us Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse, he fed us Waffle House instead.
Not only was money a factor, it was the MOST IMPORTANT FACTOR!
DRad lied!
OU 22
March 28th, 2011
9:12 am
Good hire Brian can coach and he will bring life back into the program!!!
Daytonflyer
March 28th, 2011
9:12 am
Thank you Georgia Tech…we just had our two best freshman Juan Staten( A-10 all rookie team) And Brandon Spearman wingman decide to transfer..now with Gregory gone we hope they stay..prepare to run and rebound with no offensive plan at all..Good Luck
Dayton Flyers Fan
March 28th, 2011
9:15 am
Yellow Jackets, relax and take a deep breath.
You’re getting a very good basketball coach in Brian Gregory.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian_Gregory
http://www.daytonflyers.com/mens/basketball/news/?article_id=6570
DAYTON WINS THE 2010 NIT CHAMPIONSHIP
NEW YORK – The University of Dayton Flyers are the 2010 National Invitation Tournament champions after a 79-68 victory over the North Carolina Tar Heels.
The Flyers led 45-32 after the first half of play thanks to 58 percent shooting from the field. Wright led the UD attack with 13 points, while Marcus Johnson and Williams each had 11. UD also had seven steals and six dunks, showcasing once again their transition game.
Dayton turned up its defense and held the cold-shooting Tar Heels to a pair of field goals over the final 8:09 in the first half, closing with a 17-4 run that gave the Flyers a 45-32 lead going into the break.
ACC Fan
March 28th, 2011
9:15 am
Many of the comments are to the tune of “I don’t know much about him but I don’t like him”. Some of the comments are probably from Dawg fans. He seemed to have a lot of success with the players he was able to recruit.
Beesball
March 28th, 2011
9:16 am
I’ve become a Tech baseball fan. Hall has a winning record at least. Come to the park and enjoy a nationally ranked team. We have a fantastic group of freshman who will only get better over the next couple of years. Screw basketball – I’m done.
Tim
March 28th, 2011
9:16 am
As a Flyer fan, I would like to say Thank You. I was dying for this to happen. He is good when the teams don’t know what’s coming and may excite you for a year or two but he didn’t grow and the league caught on how to beat him. He was a .500 coach in conference for 6 years despite being picked in the top 3-4 of the league every year. Enjoy!
Jackets 2011
March 28th, 2011
9:17 am
@Daytonflyer
Maybe they transfered because Dayton as a city sucks.
Cosmopolitan
March 28th, 2011
9:17 am
A very sexy hire for GT.