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
Mid Town Joe
March 28th, 2011
9:54 am
Atlanta does not support its sports, especially basketball. the Hawks are terrible, and should not have signed the JJ contract. Tech has a rich hoops history, and we’ll have to give Dayton man at least 3 years before you grade him.
The downing of Tech
March 28th, 2011
9:56 am
“what a let down DRAD blew this one”
DRAD blew this one when he got rid of Hewitt. He does not have what it takes to be an AD of Ga Tech… What does it take then to be an AD of Ga Tech? It takes an AD who does not listen to the whiney complainy Tech fans because if you do then you’ll never keep good coaches.
3 Years?...
March 28th, 2011
9:57 am
Seriously Mid Town Joe…
You want to give him 3 years? Are you crazy?
Jackets 2011
March 28th, 2011
9:58 am
What does it say about our fanbase when the comments from Dawgs are more sensible than most of them supposedly coming from jackets?
FullMetalJacket
March 28th, 2011
9:59 am
Go Jackets!!! Welcome to Coach Gregory and his family. Pardon us if we don’t much about you yet, but despite some of the ignorant blogs (redundant, eh?) here, you have the chance to win a lot of us over. We’re hungry for a well-disciplined, hard-playing team that can win big games and doesn’t lose too many of the little ones. In other words, beat UGA every year and don’t lose to Kennesaw State ever, ever again. And then every other year or so make a run in the ACC tournament and beat UNC and Duke. We’re not as disappointed as we make out to be, we’re basically just surprised and stupid as hoops fans. Really, we are. But we love the Jackets and hope you take us far.
Ron
March 28th, 2011
9:59 am
Fans only care about one thing. Winning. Hope this works out. Otherwise D-Rad is gone!
?
March 28th, 2011
9:59 am
Just don’t give him, or anyone else for that matter, a $7.5M buyout!
2HLLWGA
March 28th, 2011
9:59 am
When you interview people for a job, there are many things that you must consider and none of us were there. When I look at his history, I am quite happy. He has done well in his conference and the A10 is a good conference. He has done well against ranked teams, including us. He has a history of promoting education, which is very important to a school that brings education up every time we lose to sports club (not school or academic institution) to the northeast. I am also impressed that he went to a service academy for two years – that shows discipline which our teams have been missing for a few years.
I am the one person who is happy with this hire…
GT FAN
March 28th, 2011
9:59 am
@midtown: They say that jj had the same production numbers as Koby and others of that caliber.
whatever
March 28th, 2011
9:59 am
not energized, not impressed, could he at least beat C of C? Should have called Bobby Cremins, the winner and not the loser.
When Dayton fans are on their blogs celebrating this guy leaving, it tells you everything.
Could he at least try and hire some former GT players for his assistants? Of course not. A bunch of nobodys coming to take over the program.
I will say this however, he beats Marshall who has yet to make an NCAA appearance while at Wichita State even though 68 teams are invited
Bargain Shopping
March 28th, 2011
10:00 am
Hey, if we are bargain shopping, why not hire a high school coach who has a decent record?
Jackets 2011
March 28th, 2011
10:00 am
I just renewed for football and I’ll also renew for basketball.
With all the wieners we have as fans, no wonder we don’t win more.
Buzz Me
March 28th, 2011
10:00 am
YAWN. Wonder if Royal’s daddy will approve! Alumni doesn’t.
Realist
March 28th, 2011
10:02 am
The Tech job is a good, but not great one. Yes, this appears to be a safe choice, but I’m willing to cut drad some slack here. Don’t kid yourself that academic progress rate isn’t important. What you never here is that for many athletes (not just at Tech) the decision to turn pro early is being made for them because they will to lose their eligibility to play the following year.
Jackets 2011
March 28th, 2011
10:02 am
The next to last year of Cremins, some woman yelled “Bobby” at the top of her lungs the whole game.
After that humiliation (and no Jackets fans telling her to STFU), I doubt he wants to come back.
Reality Check
March 28th, 2011
10:02 am
This coach has had 3 winning seasons in 7 or 8 years in the A-10? That means about 60% of the time he had losing conference records. What is that going to translate to in the ACC? This is a horrible hire and lets call a spade a spade. D-Rad hit a homerun with CPJ but this is not any better than CPH.
DRad Fan 2
March 28th, 2011
10:03 am
I’m always going to give DRad the benefit of the doubt until one of his hires blows-up. He knows what he is doing. He is a great AD, and GT will be lucky if we can keep him. I’m a die-hard Tech fan and a big Alexander Tharpe Fund contributor. I’ve certainly got an open mind about the new coach. Gosh let’s see what he can to before we castigate him. I’m embarassed as a fan to see all of these very negative posts this early.
Dayton Fan
March 28th, 2011
10:04 am
I know it is not a sexy pick, but you are getting a class act. He turned out 20 win seasons year after year, at a school that is only 8,000 undergrad. I am curious what he can do with some bigger name recruits and better ball players. He had close to a 98% graduation rate and UD averaged 12,800 fans a game. What did tech get last year? Half that? Best of luck BG!
gdawginkalamazoo
March 28th, 2011
10:04 am
See Jackets 2011 and FullMetalJacket have the proper attitude. Wait and and see.
Gary
March 28th, 2011
10:04 am
I think this might be a good hire…not the exciting hire of Mooney, but he wasn’t available. I would like to see him hire Craig Neil and Mark Price as assistant coachs. one or both on the bench would energize the base, and prepare them for head coaching jobs (at GT or elsewhere).
Gregory will be able to recruit better players to the ACC than the A-10. I am hopefull, as long as we can keep our recruits and players (lawal is probably already gone before Hewitt was fired).
I had emailed Rad several months ago to say I wouldn’t renew my 10th row season tickets (holder for over 14 years) if Hewitt was still coach next year. I am going to renew with this hire. I hope all you “real fans” will do the same to support the program. I beleive in Rad and will look forward to basketball season again (first in a long time).
Welcome to Georgia Tech Coach Gregory!
Go Jackets.
Lesson to High School Seniors
March 28th, 2011
10:05 am
If you are looking for a school that has strong academics, come to Tech. If you are looking for life long disappointment in their athletic program, for sure come to Tech!
GT Chicago
March 28th, 2011
10:05 am
I have never read so many stupid comments in my life – this guy has been a very good coach at Dayton. Let’s get behind him and support the efforts.
n
March 28th, 2011
10:05 am
Jackets 2011 and Full Metal, are blogger bullies. GT fans and alum have a right to voice their opinions.
You two think you are so smart. YOu sicken me.
For either of you to say a negative word about Mark Price. YOu are probably fat losers who don’t even hold jobs. You definitely would not be fit to carry Mark Price’s shoes. It is people like you two that has kept him away. No wonder his daughter plays tennis for UNC.
Thank goodness he is at Golden State as a COACH. That is right he is a coach and not a consultant. You have demonized him in these blogs like many other GT people and you all make me sick
Dollar Bill
March 28th, 2011
10:06 am
Hold on now. You want to know more about him? YouTube is full of videos about him.
bring back glory days
March 28th, 2011
10:07 am
I’m not impressed with this choice. Obviously it has not energized the fan base. Winning will…so I guess we have to wait and see. But this choice for HC does not have me eagerly awaiting next season’s action. Bet Shump goes now leaving us to bottom feed. Say it isn’t so DRad. Neal and Price offer a much brighter future than this guy.
Jackets 2011
March 28th, 2011
10:08 am
And the GT Phenom too, gdawginkalamazoo.
I can’t believe the way either “fanbase” reacts.
And live blogs during a losing game, it’s worse as you well know.
I think you ought to have to put up your real name but that will never happen.
Welcome to Tech, Gregory
March 28th, 2011
10:08 am
Your world of haters just multiplied by a factor of 2…
mountain_jim
March 28th, 2011
10:08 am
Well the folks posting here from Dayton, who should know, are glad to see him go, and saying he does not coach offense.
So now we have a football coach that can’t coach a passing offense and a bball coach that can’t coach any offense. Go Tech…….
Robert Barron
March 28th, 2011
10:11 am
A lot of you are already curlied up in the fetal position.
If you stay home next year too, it might be addition by substraction.
GeorgeP67
March 28th, 2011
10:12 am
Hmmm – record of 172-94 (66%) and 2 NCAA appearances, based on the negative comments I’ve seen I guess we probably wouldn’t have hired someone with a 87-56 (60%) record and only 1 NCAA appearance…
.in 1981 that was.Bobby Cremins???
OK
March 28th, 2011
10:12 am
if he can bring us .500 in ACC, I’ll be happy. It’s better than the cellar. He’ll be working with elite talent at GT and recruiting from an elite core w/in the SE. Let’s see how he does given better talent at bigger school.
Look folks, we are in a financial bind and we have to make due until we can dig our way out. Use common sense. If you had a 47 million dollar mortgage, paying $2M child support on two kids, would you go out and buy another 5 million dollar beach house?
Virginian
March 28th, 2011
10:13 am
Surprised as well by the decision, as I think GT could have waited another week to talk with Marshall, Smart and any others as Gregory would have still been there, and Neal was a nice fallback. Seems like a bit of a panic hire since other schools were starting to fill their vacancies.
That said, Gregory’s teams play hard and are always well-coached. Style of play isn’t flashy, but he’s had some really nice teams over the past five years. Good luck coach. Let’s go Jackets.
Crappy fans
March 28th, 2011
10:13 am
As a Tech fan I’m embarrassed reading these posts. You clowns act like you’re from the SEC. Give the guy a chance. It won’t happen in a year. It took Hewitt a decade to destroy the program. Give this guy at least 2 or 3 to try to make it great again. And PLEASE Tech…..don’t give the guy a huge contract if he has a decent year. I hope a solid business plan is in place with this coaching decision. Go Tech!
George
March 28th, 2011
10:13 am
Wow he has not done anything ,What a waste a true loser.
Jack Daniels Terrier
March 28th, 2011
10:13 am
Honestly, most of the persons who post here are not season ticket holders. Most season ticket holders have jobs where they actually have to do something rather than play on the computer all day. And most of them have lives. Go Jackets. Welcome, Coach Gregory. Thanks, AD Radakovich. Now, I do want to know why things got so sloppy and bush league on Friday with the botched announcement/leak/denial.
Jackets 2011
March 28th, 2011
10:14 am
Some of the negative folks are Price and Neal backers who were going to blast anyone but their inexperienced heroes.
Aardvark Base
March 28th, 2011
10:16 am
Doug, any inside info on why 2 top-ranked players left Dayton last week? They were highly-recruited freshman, and one of them was a PG who led the conference in assists this year. They did reference coaching style as part of their reason for leaving.
1980 Flyer
March 28th, 2011
10:17 am
Brian Gregory has run a clean and consistently winning program at an academically demanding school. He should do well at Tech, and I wish him all the best, and hope that Dayton can find a coach to fill his shoes.
MS. Bully
March 28th, 2011
10:17 am
WOW! He beat Ole Miss. Did you notice that Ole Miss sucked this year. GT could have done better.
Jack Daniels Terrier
March 28th, 2011
10:17 am
Upon reflection, I have no problem with Gregory and with DRad’s decision-making during the search process, apart from the Friday fiasco. I do think we need to closely re-examine why we need a $50M renovation/rebuild of AMC, when we are still deeply in debt for football stadium work and fired coaches’ salaries. I hope DRad isn’t trying to do too much too soon. We know he loves putting up new buildings.
Dayton Resident
March 28th, 2011
10:18 am
“In 15 years, he has coached 20 players who have made it to the NBA”, but none during the eight year run at Dayton.
Jack P
March 28th, 2011
10:18 am
Hey experts! Give this guy a chance. You people do not know what you are talking about nor do you have a clue. Try being an intelligent fan instead of a bozo.
n
March 28th, 2011
10:18 am
WHEN THE DAYTON FANS ARE ON THEIR BLOGS CELEBRATING IT TELLS YOU EVERYTHING. AT LEAST HE HAS TAKEN DAYTON TO AN NCAA APPEARANCE, ONE WOULD THINK WHEN YOU HIRE A NEW COACH THAT SHOULD BE ON THEIR RESUME AFTER ALL 68 TEAMS ARE INVITED. HE AT LEAST BEATS OUT MARSHALL WHO ALL THE BULLIES ON HERE LAST NIGHT WERE GUNNING FOR WHO HAS NOT TAKEN WICHITA STATE TO THE DANCE IN 4 YRS.
THIS GUY HAS A 64 % PERCENT WINNING AVERAGE AT DAYTON. BOBBY CREMINS HAS A 66% WINNING AVERAGE AT C OF C AND BEAT DAYTON IN THE NIT.
COULD DRAD AT LEAST ASK CREMINS WOULD HE LIKE TO COME BACK?
sorry NOT IMPRESSED.
Hell Yeah!!!!
March 28th, 2011
10:19 am
At least he’s white!!! All of Tech’s success has come from white coaches with the exception of Morrison. Bitch if you want but facts are facts!!
Flowery Branch Yellow Jacket
March 28th, 2011
10:19 am
I like this hire, and I think it will work out fine for the Jackets. It’s almost certain that it will be better than we’ve seen over the last few years from CPH. DRad has made a number of good hires since his arrival, and I’m willing to trust his judgment on this one too. Welcome to Georgia Tech, CBG.
OK
March 28th, 2011
10:19 am
Look folks….if you think it would have been good to speak to Shaka Kan -Smart, you’re just as dumb as the rest of the couch coaches in America. Shaka has done well w/ this VCU team but he’s doing it w/ talent from a previous coach and this is clearly a miracle run. And I mean a miracle run. I’ve never seen a team play so poor as Kansas did yesterday and I’ve never seen a team as hot from 3 point land as VCU.
Shaka is very very young and to be fair, they shouldn’t have been in the tourney anyhow. The barley had a .500 record in a small conference. Dayton hire was much better than Shaka Smart and NC State is about to find out just how risky that hire will be.
Rick
March 28th, 2011
10:21 am
Are any of you clowns actually Georgia Tech alumni? If so, what did you get your degree in?
This guy, on paper, looks fantastic. He went 12-5 against BCS conferences and he was 7-11 against ranked opponents. Oh, and he actually graduates his players which should be a top priority for us. To me, coming from a small school like this, that’s a great record. Personally, I am extremely excited about seeing what he can do for us next year. And if nothing else, we don’t have
to look at Hewitt and his look of defeat any longer.
Jack Daniels Terrier
March 28th, 2011
10:21 am
It does seem like NC State, Tech, and even Tennessee are all settling at this stage of the game.
n
March 28th, 2011
10:21 am
JACKETS2011 thinks he knows it all. Why hasn’t DRAD inquired your services since you are such a genius?
I mean I realize you are probably another unemployed fat hog demonizing Mark Price. Thank goodness Price is far away from jerks like you.
Ron
March 28th, 2011
10:23 am
I’m sure Hewitt is laughing his way to the bank…