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
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
576 comments Add your comment
Captain
March 28th, 2011
11:53 am
DRad got his man. yipeeeee. I warned you GT supporters not to get your hopes too high, I told you your opinion of GT basketball was overly inflated vs reality. After turn downs by three or four coaches Gregory accepts. This hire is not sexy, not eye opening, not earth shattering, however it may be solid and it is the BEST DRad could do. The simple fact is GT had a job and unlike what so many of you “assumed” would be the case, there was no beating the door down chasing the job by highly regarded, high profile candidates. Brad Stevens refused overtures, Buzz said he was staying at Marquette, Marshall is holding onto the Wichita job, and Martin felt the Tenn job was a better fit. Last man standing? In reality, given all the circumstances with conference, facilities, tradition, Georgia State made a much bigger hire than Georgia Tech.
sk
March 28th, 2011
11:53 am
01hawk – yeah, player who disagreed with his role is a great source as to why Gregory is a bad coach. It’s not like they are accusing the guy of being a scumbag or exploiting them. Players get into bad systems for them – hey it happens.
GT65
March 28th, 2011
11:53 am
right on $$$$$ @11:52
yellow snow
March 28th, 2011
11:54 am
This is a “Shaka” to say the least.
VJTucker
March 28th, 2011
11:55 am
Leaving Atlanta and moving back to Dayton in 2008 got a chance to watch both teams under both coaches. BG’s teams play harder, play with passion. Can’t always say that about Tech teams
GT65
March 28th, 2011
11:57 am
Captain who ? go back to your dawg camp.
Carolina Jacket
March 28th, 2011
11:59 am
DRAD has always made good decisions. I trust him on this one. Rather have experience, long term success and staying power over a hot one-hit-wonder that won’t be successful in a major conference. Plenty of those around !!!
Tech FTW
March 28th, 2011
12:06 pm
Dave Braine was the reason this decision was made more so than anything other than Gregory being a good candidate. He cash strapped us more than we thought with Gailey and Hewitt.
NYJacket
March 28th, 2011
12:12 pm
Nice to see that we have a coach who will insist the players play the game his way. If he gets a prima donna who wants to ” showcase” their skills for selfish reasons, let him take his ball and go somewhere else.
Welcome aboard Coach Gregory.
Best&Worst 5 years of My Life
March 28th, 2011
12:13 pm
His Dayton/A-10 team beat Paul Hewitt’s GT/ACC team.
If GT wins the NIT next year, I’ll be a happy bumblebee.
Would Mark Price have been better? I don’t know; his head coaching expereince is part of a season in Australia, and one year of high school.
DollarBill
March 28th, 2011
12:17 pm
Some quotes from other coaches about Coach Brian Gregory from last year:
Roy Williams: “And watching Brian’s team — that’s a bad time too ‘cause you get a little scared,” he said in reference to Coach Brian Gregory and the 24-12 Dayton Flyers who face 20-16 North Carolina — last year’s NCAA champs — for the NIT Championship Thursday night at Madison Square Garden. “And that’s not coach speak. I was (scared) and I still am.”
Andy Kennedy: “They play extremely hard, they play selfless and they have a lot of interchangeable parts. I think they have a terrific team.”
Gregory preaches the concept of “team first” and his players buy into it, which is why a dozen of them are willing to share minutes and, subsequently, the spotlight.
Supersize that order, mutt
March 28th, 2011
12:20 pm
Captain, what proof do you have that 3 or 4 coaches turned Tech down? You are only assuming that they did because they didn’t sign with Tech. There has been no indication whatsoever that Tech made offers or even concrete overtures to any of them. Even Mooney is only said to have interviewed, and we don’t know for a fact, that he actually did that. Also if you remember the report (now seemingly correct) that came out about Gregory being hired, that was on Friday which was before Mooney even supposedly interviewed. So who knows that Mooney turned Tech down, or that anybody else did either for that matter? Don’t make claims unless you have the facts to back them up, which OBVIOUSLY you do not.
Techrelikt
March 28th, 2011
12:20 pm
If Smart leaves this year, he would only go to a BCS with a 90% chance to make the NCAAs, like Clemson or Maryland (if we must talk ACC) or a Big East Team with tradition…GT would be too risky for his career.
Neal would have been an intersting choice…but let’s give this guy a chance, and stop all the garbage talk. Fan base has to be behind Gregory as of now. We want to show our reruits coming in that we’re positive… they’re reading all this too.
The Truth
March 28th, 2011
12:21 pm
I hope this coach knows how to Lie & Cheat. If not, he will not fit in at GA Tech. LOL! Great hire Tech. LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Supersize that order, mutt
March 28th, 2011
12:23 pm
The Truth is that only in the SEC is lying and cheating a way of life.
J.J.
March 28th, 2011
12:26 pm
OK, here’s a great little video on Mr. Gregory.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g2ihZk1PvQw&feature=related
how2fish
March 28th, 2011
12:28 pm
As a Bull Dog fan I can only say that this fan reaction is on par with the hiring of Coach Fox. Give the man a little time he might just be a good fit. Deep Breathes folks deep breathes.. and as the comments section was closed I’d like to extend my sympathies to the Tech family and the family of Drew Hill terrible news, he was a good man.
@DRad Fan 2
March 28th, 2011
12:28 pm
“Gosh let’s see what he can to before we castigate him. I’m embarrassed as a fan to see all of these very negative posts this early.”
-You should have been embarrassed as a fan all the time. We do not support our players and coaches. We boo young players and coaches all the time while recruits are in the stands like dumb tech kids. We never support our team when they don’t win and in some cases have to win by a lot against bad teams… So you know, the football and basketball players know. They have known for years we are not supportive. I have known Tech Football players for a LONG LONG time. Basically it’s embarrassing.
Carolina Jacket
March 28th, 2011
12:28 pm
After 20 consecutive years dropped my 4 season tickets following the ‘03 season – the year before Hewitt’s fluke run to the title game. Could see that Hewitt was not going to make it. Looking forward to season tickets with a new coach and new coliseum.
wrc
March 28th, 2011
12:30 pm
THANK YOU! To give you a few tips on BG.As a person he is great but as a coach he is lacking.A X & O guy he is not.Half court offense there is none.Players blossoming an developing under his coaching style forget it.They’ll leave with about the same talent as they came in with.After a year or so the other coaches will figured him out that is why his A10 record is just barely over 500 and the ACC is way harder than the A10.So unless something happens to changed him don’t get your hopes up.Yes he was a IZZO assistant at MSU but he was never his #1 assistant,as his coaching will show.Also his first NCAA team was mainly made up of leftovers of Oliver Purnell whom is now DePaul coach.AGAIN THANK YOU AND I WISH YOU LUCK CAUSE UNLESS HE CHANGES I’LL SAY YOUR FURTURE LOOKS BLEAK AND WELCOME TO EVEN FEWER PEOPLE SHOWING UP WHEN YOU OPEN THE NEW ARENA.As UD used to sell out its arena until the fans got tire of seeing no improvement.Caused until he can developed players the chances of your program moving towards the top in the ACC is doom.His style doesn’t mesh into building a program into a contender in any league.
huck finn
March 28th, 2011
12:31 pm
LOOKS LIKE TO ME tech HAS DONE THEIR USUAL JOB OF RECRUITING AN UNKNOWN WHO WILL STAY AN UNKNOWN AS tech CONTINUES TO BE AN UNKNOWN IN THE acc. WHO IS NEXT THE UNKNOWN paul johnson.
dumb UGA kid without a HS education
March 28th, 2011
12:34 pm
hey huck finn, looks like you got your CAPS backwards.
Tech Forever
March 28th, 2011
12:37 pm
Well all I can say is I’m extremely excited my two new Butler Bulldogs t-shirts will be arriving in the mail this week.
Supersize that order, mutt
March 28th, 2011
12:46 pm
wrc, your grammar is on a par with that of most of the mutts who post here. you lost any credibility you might have thought you had
311GTFan
March 28th, 2011
12:52 pm
Let’s not look like Auburn people!! I know its not the same sport but do you remember when Chizik got off the plane and was immediately booed by the fans at Auburn! Wait a minute, didn’t they win a National Championship! Why would a high profile coach come to GT with fans like us. We dont’ support the teams here (bask, foot, or baseball). You have to earn respect as a University! Let’s do our part and let the new coach do his.
gomabman2
March 28th, 2011
12:54 pm
Uhmm…”getting the fomer players back”?
E Rock
March 28th, 2011
12:54 pm
GT, Very incompetent hire. He took over Dayton from Purnell and his teams didnt perform as well(with his recruits). Why will GT not excite the base by hiring M Price. I am so glad I am a Heels fan !! I guess the failure of Lowe at NC State made this decision for them……
Jacketlover
March 28th, 2011
12:56 pm
Headley Lamar obviously has no life. Or no job…….go gymdawgs!
Tim
March 28th, 2011
12:58 pm
Rad had no money to get a big time coach because Braneless Dave had robbed the program with Hewitt’s contract. Best he could do. Good luck.
gomabman2
March 28th, 2011
12:59 pm
Well E Rock, by the sounds of BG’s comments, you might get your wish with Price…and maybe even Anderson, Salley, Ferrell, Neal, Josef, Hammonds, Dalrymple, Oliver…LOL…insurance in case the team falls on its face. (expected)
Vinings
March 28th, 2011
1:01 pm
Tech Presidents have no performance stds for the AD job. That is why you get pathetic hires.
Tech Forever
March 28th, 2011
1:05 pm
311GTFan
These two situations are apples and oranges. Auburn fans booed Chizik out of sheer ignorance because who knew what the man was going to do….he literally had no track recod. Gregory has years of hostroy as a head coach and a track record. The best indication of future performance is past performance. He’s made the NCAAs twice and he’s been a t a mid-major for 8 years……you don’t stay at a mid-major for 8 years unlees you’re making some serious coin (which he wasn’t) or you’re just good enough to keep your job which means bigger programs aren’t knocking on your door.
This is most definitely as Chan Gailey type hire; amazing man of character and integrity with questionable head coaching abilities. I personally think we just rehired Paul Hewitt. some are saying he wasn’t at the top of their list, well good Lord….he wasn’t even on my list at all!!! I can’t even fathom hiring a coach who has nearly the same track record as the one we just fired….and yes, barely over .500 in the A-10 = Paul Hewitt’s losing ACC record. Dayton hasn’t been relevant in the A-10…..why would anyone think he could be relevant in the ACC.
Want to know whay this hire was made….same reason the 5 who were interviewed were interviewed. It’s because The Hill stepped in and said “the fans will get excited simply because we have a new coach, so go and find the guy who is the best we can get who is familiar with our academic requirements and lets get this graduation rate up. Hopefully we’ll improve on the court too.” That’s why. Mark my words, Turgeon, Stevens, Smart, Marshall, and all others were NEVER contacted nor thought of given the goal….which isn’t to re-establish GT basketball.
vchandler
March 28th, 2011
1:06 pm
I think you snooty Jacket fans need to wake up and realize your program never has been as highly regarded as you think. You had some good runs under Cremins but are not the nationally regarded program you think you are. Any guy who has coached under Izzo is a good hire. Don’t jump on the band wagon when he turns the program around.
Buzz82
March 28th, 2011
1:10 pm
I think Noodles was the way to go to get the fans back quick. He better not have that same contract!
gomabman2
March 28th, 2011
1:13 pm
Vchandler…dont you jump on the bandwagon when the program turns around. GT has a highly recognizable program, turning out pro athlete after pro athlete. Jacket fans are not snooty. They are just like any other fan expressing heart felt sentiment to have a successful program and continue a great tradition.
GTGreg
March 28th, 2011
1:14 pm
Wha?
vchandler
March 28th, 2011
1:15 pm
Unless you hired Coach K, or that caliber do you REALLY think a “sexy” hire is gonna fill seats?? Seriously?? What world do you live in? If you win (Mark Fox) they will come.
311GTFan
March 28th, 2011
1:16 pm
Tech Forever – Sorry but I have to disagree with you. GT is not a place where any big name coaches WANT to coach. Why would anyone want to come to GT and risk ending up like Hewitt? GT is not a powerhouse in basketball anymore. You just have to move on with your dreamlike state of GT hoops and realize this is a solid hire. All I want as a fan is to see GT be competitive. BG will get this done. If you don’t like it then throw on a Duke/UNC jersey. Richmond coach better? I think GT beat them this year! Shaka at VCU? Didn’t Hewitt get us to a National Championship game?
gomabman2
March 28th, 2011
1:21 pm
VC, I personally think the hire is terrible, but who “in the world” knows how this is going to turn out? Really? And that still does not make for snooty fans. Nor are the fans bandwagon fans, for no one has denounced being a Jacket fan.
Ramblin Recluse Road
March 28th, 2011
1:23 pm
I am Tech grad of 1973. New coach is 15 years younger than me. Makes me feel kinda old. I’m glad new coach is white. I wanted a Tech grad such as Noodles or Price, but sometimes you don’t get what you want. I don’t like black GTs, only white, original ones, or gold ones worn on helmets from ‘73. I belive black is definitely out at Tech, and forever should be. I don’t like Buzz, only the yj Tech used in ‘73 on T club jackets. I can’t stand the smile on Buzz, trying to make friends with such an expression. I don’t like players leaving Tech for the NBA. At 59 years old, not getting my way with Tech is the norm. That’s why I came up with my name of Ramblin Recluse Road, which is the road I live on. I’m reclusive toward MANY Tech decisions. Look for a sweatshirt in 3X that says just “TECH” on it and see if you can find one. Look for old gold on any clothing item at ramblinwreck.com and see if you can find any. We’ll see how coach from the North does in capital of South, if he can generate fan base. Siena was also private school in North. To me it was stunning that Price and/or Noodles didn’t get the job. Probably if a former coach like BD was the AD, he would have hired Price or Noodles. I’m not so sure about this Radikovich guy for AD. When you have a couple of Tech players looking for a job at Tech, and one had his jersey retired, you hire them, even if they had very little coaching experience. Maxie Baughn was hired by Coach Carson as linebaker’s coach with no coaching experience, and he had very good linebakers playing for Tech. Tech is supposed to look out for their own well being and prevent rambling reclusively like I do. Radikovich didn’t go to Tech. Nether did BD, but he was employed as friend of Tech prior to becoming AD. I completely fail to understand why Price or Noodles didn’t get the job. Maybe the Tech Alum Mag can run a story on them and interview them and ask them in interview why Radikovich turned down his thumb at them.
Taco
March 28th, 2011
1:26 pm
Everyone just chill out. Ever heard of the name Gene Chizik. I was first to throw that clown under the bus and laugh at Auburn. So did every lame UGA fan. I think he turned out ok. He can’t be worse than what we had right? I love my boys Price and Neal but let the professionals do their job. D Rad does not come down there and knock the license plate out of your hand when you working at the Pen does he?
Taco
March 28th, 2011
1:28 pm
Ramblin Recluse? Is that Robert Byrd or Lester Maddox. You can think the “white” comment, but please don’t type it.
gomabman2
March 28th, 2011
1:28 pm
Ramblin…do you like black players keeping the school competitive, representing the school in the professional ranks?
Brock
March 28th, 2011
1:28 pm
Some of you guys would complain if you got your balls squeezed in a new vise.
fromdaytonintheatl
March 28th, 2011
1:29 pm
First off, GA Tech hasn’t been a “powerhouse,” since 2004. The program needs work. Gregory can and will engergize the base of this god awful GA Tech basketball program. Yes, he did come from a mid major but let’s face it, GA Tech isn’t exactly what it used to be. He will win, bring fans back, and everyone on this board will be eating there words. He was able to sell out just about every home game at UD. The man took that program from GARBAGE to 172-94 in eight years and for being a mid major two times in the tourney in eight years isn’t horrible, it could be worse. You “fans,” need to wake up and realize GA Tech isnt the center of the ACC basketball world, hasn’t been for some time now….
T3
March 28th, 2011
1:32 pm
Ramblin Recluse Road = WnE
Just another poser/hater.
vchandler
March 28th, 2011
1:33 pm
Hey Gomabman2, I only want to see good basketball at Tech. I am neither a Tech or UGA fan but I just find it laughable for people to trash the hire.( unless you have a crystal ball). Remember, Coach K, Williams, Izzo,et al… weren’t “sexy” hires either. This man was a top assistant under Heathcoate and Izzo and has won at Dayton. Again, Tech is not the job people think it is. Not hating, just facting.
Are you KIDDING!!!!!
March 28th, 2011
1:38 pm
I am totally at a loss how Tech can consider this guy without at least talking with Brad Stevens (Butler) or Shaka Smart (VCU).
Both are impressive young coachs with very discipilined and well prepared teams and who seem to have a track record of being very astute game coachs. Tech would have been a great move up for either and this is what we get….
This hire leaves me wondering about the effectiveness of our athletic administration.
Consider me re-energized… NOT!!!!
Mark Garrison
March 28th, 2011
1:38 pm
Devildawg….. Georgia got rejected 4 or 5 times before Fox agreed to the job
Carolina Jacket
March 28th, 2011
1:41 pm
For ALL of you that think Gregory is a good hire: I AGREE WITH YOU !!! For all that think he is not a good hire: DO SOME RESEARCH BEFORE BLOVIATING !!!!