Georgia Tech’s whiff at Chris Mooney doesn’t look good
Georgia Tech apparently couldnt show Mooney the money.
This doesn’t mean Georgia Tech is not going to get a good basketball coach when this is all over, and it certainly doesn’t mean the program is doomed for all eternity.
But what happened Sunday doesn’t look good.
Georgia Tech couldn’t hire away the Richmond coach. A program that should be top five annually in the ACC couldn’t hire away a coach from the Atlantic 10. The biggest reason most likely is financial. What does that bode for the future?
Richmond coach Chris Mooney, believed to be the Jackets’ top choice to replace Paul Hewitt, decided to remain at Richmond for a 10-year contract extension. This comes after Buzz Williams, another potential Tech
Dan Radakovich shouldn't have problems selling Tech.
candidate, decided to stay at Marquette for a new contract. Missouri State’s Cuonzo Martin, who was interviewed by the Jackets, was hired at Tennessee (although it’s not known if he would have received an offer from Tech).
That leaves Dayton’s Brian Gregory (who has one NCAA tournament win in eight years) and Tulsa’s Doug Wojcik (who never has coached in the NCAA tournament) as the known candidates.
This should not have been a difficult hire for athletic director Dan Radakovich. Atlanta is a desirable city, the ACC is a conference steeped in basketball tradition and the Tech campus sits in the heart of one of the top basketball recruiting bases in the nation. Getting a basketball coach to come here should be a lot easier than getting a football coach to come here.
But the tight economic situation in the athletic department and the $7.2 million payoff given to Hewitt clearly is hindering the process. That’s not going to leave a good impression with fans, alumni or possibly recruits.
It should be noted that Mark Fox was not Georgia’s first choice, and he certainly turned out OK. Former athletic director Damon Evans wanted Jeff Capel (who took the Oklahoma job), and Anthony Grant (who went to Alabama) and Mike Anderson (Missouri) also were both considered ahead of Fox in the pecking order.
But it was easier to understand the doubt at Georgia because basketball so many viewed basketball as the ugly step sister on campus and the school never had fully committed to the program before.
That’s the case at Tech. The Jackets have a resume. But right now Radakovich seems to be having trouble selling the program.
By Jeff Schultz
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142 comments Add your comment
Outside Observer
March 27th, 2011
8:23 pm
Good year to be a mid-major coach, bad year to be looking to hire one of them
CW
March 27th, 2011
8:23 pm
1st
CW
March 27th, 2011
8:24 pm
dang, 2nd and 3rd.
GT81Lawyer
March 27th, 2011
8:28 pm
It’s not a bad thing to wait this out. Patience.
Rafe Hollister
March 27th, 2011
8:29 pm
Hire Kenny Anderson. He made 700 on the SAT on his third try.
cattle dawg
March 27th, 2011
8:31 pm
Radako has got some thick eyebrows.
John
March 27th, 2011
8:32 pm
There are so many rumors going around about who was interviewed/offered that nobody has a clue what’s going on. That includes this newspaper.
DRad is doing this in a low profile way and the person he hires will be a pleasant suprise.
And….waiting on ignorant trailer-trash UGAg fans to chime in with their stupid comments in 6 5 4 3 2 1
GT Letterman
March 27th, 2011
8:32 pm
Concerning Mooney, let’s consider the facts. While he did get a better contract, he signed on to stay in Richmond for 10 more years. Who does that? Richmond? Nice town, but 10 years?
Maybe Tech dodged a bullet if that is his logic.
GT81Lawyer
March 27th, 2011
8:32 pm
I’m not a big believer in taking the “hot” coach, but that Smart fellow seems like a coach the players really believe in. His defense looked like Tech’s in the mid-80s. Guys flying all over the place. Kansas could not get a decent look most of the game. He certainly has some bombers, which bodes well for VCU in the Final Four. He’s energetic. He’s funny. Now, can VCU hold him? On the other side, our recently departed coach had a spectacular run 7 years ago too. But he was always kind of staid. IMHO.
cattle dawg
March 27th, 2011
8:33 pm
Is it just me or does radako look like mike dukakis?
cattle dawg
March 27th, 2011
8:40 pm
Jeff, who do you like for the tech job?
BigdaddyJ
March 27th, 2011
8:41 pm
Great to be a Georgia Bullldog!
Tech86
March 27th, 2011
8:41 pm
I keep saying it, the best choice is Donnie Tyndall, he has all the requirments we need. Built a program up from rock bottom, (beat Louisville with the nuts to go for the win and not the tie) his players believe in him. He has always increased academics at each school he has been, he recruits Atlanta, so he is known by the locals. He could be the next Bobby Cremins. If not him, then go with Craig Neal, as an Alum I would take either one.
Woody Bass
March 27th, 2011
8:44 pm
Wow… Brad Stevens isnt even being considered? BADDDDDD move if not. Tech should back a bank vault up to his door and beg him to come to Tech.
Vain Jangling
March 27th, 2011
8:44 pm
Face it, Tech basketball is going to be a hard sell, even with any supposed ACC clout. Everyone knows by now that good young coaches can win big at smaller schools. Tech is cash strapped, and moneyed alumni simply do not belly up to help pay off a fired coach, which is where the scratch is needed most. Plus, as everyone knows, Tech doesn’t have they academic majors in which to stash marginal qualifiers. Finally, the “one and done” history of Tech’s hot shot recruits has ended up killing any hope of continuity and team development. And yeah, the state of Georgia is a recruiter’s dream, but Tech, one of the in-state, flagship institutions, has to take a back seat to everyone else coming in and cherry picking the prize recruits. In short, the bloom is off Tech’s rose. Winning big would cure many of these ills, but to do that we’re right back looking at the ACC thing again, and any year-in-and-year-out ACC schedule is a mighty tough row to hoe.
Who would have ever believed that UGA was be a better basketball job than Tech.
William Satterwhite
March 27th, 2011
8:46 pm
I’m not sure I understand why a coach decided to stay at his current school and getting a 10-year extension in the process makes Tech look bad. It would be one thing if Mooney “spurned” Tech to go to some other school with an opening like NC St or Mizzou but staying at a place where he was already comfortable and has built a successful program already and is getting an amazing bit of job security? I don’t see anything there as a knock against Tech.
William Satterwhite
March 27th, 2011
8:46 pm
I’m not sure I understand why a coach decided to stay at his current school and getting a 10-year extension in the process makes Tech look bad. It would be one thing if Mooney “spurned” Tech to go to some other school with an opening like NC St or Mizzou but staying at a place where he was already comfortable and has built a successful program already and is getting an amazing bit of job security? I don’t see anything there as a knock against Tech.
Dawgfan0711
March 27th, 2011
8:47 pm
You would think money wouldn’t be a problem. A coach that wins, pays for himself and then some.
Loran, Whatayagot?
March 27th, 2011
8:48 pm
Since Tech’s gonna be turned down by a series of coaches who recognize that the basketball program is in a downward spiral, the only name left is George P. Burdell. (Techmites know who that is).
Rafe Hollister
March 27th, 2011
8:50 pm
William, press submit just once.
Outside Observer
March 27th, 2011
8:52 pm
Can we go ahead and abandon the excuse that Tech has been ruined by one-and-dones? Ohio State has been a title contender every year with one-and-dones like Oden, Conley Jr, Koufos, and Mullins. Whatever team Calipari is coaching seems to do well with the freshman competing for a year then reloading. I admit teams like Kansas and Duke have benefitted from never having freshman leave after a year (Kansas losing its first last year in Xavier Henry, who originally committed to Calipari and Memphis, and Duke likely losing it’s first this year with Irving), but they are bringing in other top talent and it is sticking around. Guys who aren’t rated as top ten players but are in the elite recruiting rankings upper echelon. Let’s face it. Tech hasn’t had to deal with things other top teams haven’t dealt with already. We just didn’t use the talent to the best of its abilities.
@DanWeiner
March 27th, 2011
8:53 pm
Georgia Tech should follow the Butler model. Find a young, hungry coach who stresses defense and basketball IQ. Clearly, going out and recruiting freak athletes got Hewitt nowhere. It’s evident you can win in the game today with smart basketball players who aren’t the super athletes.
William Satterwhite
March 27th, 2011
8:54 pm
Rafe, I did, don’t know why it posted twice. Usually a little warning will come up if a comment is about to be double-posted somehow.
Jeff Schultz
March 27th, 2011
8:54 pm
GT81Lawyer — Shaka Smart would get people excited, but it’s only his second season. Definitely a risk, but maybe worth it.
Hoopster
March 27th, 2011
8:55 pm
Jeff, how did Tech whiff if he was never offered the job? Just curious. Get your facts straight.
Jeff Schultz
March 27th, 2011
8:55 pm
Cattle Dawg — The guy I liked just said no.
5150 UOAD
March 27th, 2011
8:55 pm
Better to be told “No I Want Marry You” than to go through the Hewitt Divorce again.
Jeff Schultz
March 27th, 2011
8:56 pm
Woody Bass — You kidding? I’m sure Tech would jump at Brad Stevens. But if Chris Mooney won’t come here, why would arguably the most sought-after head coach in America come here?
5150 UOAD
March 27th, 2011
8:56 pm
Neal over Shaka Smart. Neal Loves TECH. Shaka is on 2 yrs in as a HC.
Bad Journalism
March 27th, 2011
8:57 pm
I’m a Georgia fan, and think this is bad journalism, no offer was made, and he was only a candidate that had agreed to an interview. We have no idea that he was a lead candidate, and there are a lot of great candidates that are remaining. How do you know that there are not candidates still in the dance or just now out of it? VCU’s coach would be great! The AD is smart to not publicly talk about the top candidates. Several of the ones mentioned in the media are obligatory interviews because they are part of the Tech family. Mark Price has to be interviewed if he is interested, even if he has no shot. UGA would give Domonique Wilkins an interview for the same reason.
Bad Journalism
March 27th, 2011
8:57 pm
I’m a Georgia fan, and think this is bad journalism, no offer was made, and he was only a candidate that had agreed to an interview. We have no idea that he was a lead candidate, and there are a lot of great candidates that are remaining. How do you know that there are not candidates still in the dance or just now out of it? VCU’s coach would be great! The AD is smart to not publicly talk about the top candidates. Several of the ones mentioned in the media are obligatory interviews because they are part of the Tech family. Mark Price has to be interviewed if he is interested, even if he has no shot. UGA would give Domonique Wilkins an interview for the same reason.
Jeff Schultz
March 27th, 2011
8:57 pm
William Satterwhite — If Mooney was going to stay at Richmond, you knew he’d get a raise and long extension. But the initial decision to say no Georgia Tech was his.
Atl Resident for Athlete
March 27th, 2011
8:58 pm
For a 7.2 million buyout, Tech AD needs to hire Hewitt back, should have never bought him out to soon anyway, just keeping it real cause that’s exactly what they are now finding out.
Jeff Schultz
March 27th, 2011
8:58 pm
Hoopster — Oh right. The he-never-got-offered-the-job argument.
Rodney Dangerfield
March 27th, 2011
8:59 pm
I have a feeling this isn’t going to turn out so well.
Huh?
March 27th, 2011
8:59 pm
Jeff, please explain how you can factually categorize this as a “whiff” for GT? Isn’t it quite possible that GT did not offer Mooney following the interview? Or that Mooney was not the right fit? It would be the fair and responsible reporting for you to say that this could have equally been a whiff for Mooney, but oh wait, I forgot this is not the place for fair & balanced
DS
March 27th, 2011
9:00 pm
Wait.. did you say they gave hewitt a 7.2 million dollar payoff?? 7.2 MEEELION???? Dear Lord, i will coach it for 25% of that when I get fired…. really.
Who Cares
March 27th, 2011
9:01 pm
Schltz is such a loser. Why he is still writing blogs for this pathetic paper is a mystery to everyone. Tech strikes out three times and this nerd of a so called writer brings up UGA and it’s attempt to hire a coach 3 years ago. If it makes the loser shultz and the loser tech fan base to compare the Fox hire with whoever the losers from north ave hires, so be it. UGA has a decent coach, and Tech has nobody, but tech can always count on this loser Schutz to try and make Tech look good at UGA’s expense. Bottomline is UGA has beaten the nerds 2 years in a row, and who cares who the losers hire, and who cares what this joke of a writer thinks. This guy has been wrong on everything he has predicted the past two years, and the only thing he can get right is his desire to trash UGA’s program, but he want be around when UGA gets back to the top of the SEC, and he certainly want be around when Tech wins another ACC title in anything
Hoopster
March 27th, 2011
9:02 pm
Ummm Jeff……if he never got offered, then yeah it’s that arguement. He never got offered. Kinda simple isn’t it?
Rodney Dangerfield
March 27th, 2011
9:02 pm
I mean with those two remaining names being leaked. Yuck, that does not energize me. Go for Wojcik, sounds more compelling than Gregory. Both don’t “energize” me. Both almost make me feel that keeping Hewitt may have been a better idea.
Rodney Dangerfield
March 27th, 2011
9:04 pm
Who Cares you are an idiot. He is making the comparison saying don’t run around like the sky is falling when UGA didn’t land it’s first choice either, but turned out OK. And UGA basketball is a joke.
Buzzzed
March 27th, 2011
9:04 pm
Don’t think this guy was offered. Just went interviewing for a raise apparently.
Jeff Schultz
March 27th, 2011
9:05 pm
DS — They had to pay balance of contract. Not sure that qualifies as a “buyout” in my view. More a payoff.
Rodney Dangerfield
March 27th, 2011
9:06 pm
I wonder how many more coaches are going to take this opportunity to get a raise on Tech’s account.
GT in CT
March 27th, 2011
9:06 pm
St. John’s didn’t get its first choice for coach either. How did that work out?
5150 UOAD
March 27th, 2011
9:08 pm
I think you interview a few candidates before you offer a job to any of them. I don’t know if he was offered or not, but I am thinking he was not. Tech had others they wished to talk with before any offer was made. I am sure some general details as to the Time and Compensation was going to be offered. That is all.
Jeff Schultz
March 27th, 2011
9:10 pm
Huh (and others) — Let me tell you how it works. Sought-after coaches don’t officially get offers unless the team/school offering know that coach is going to say yes. Why? Because they don’t want to be publicly rejected. Many Georgia fans made the case that UGA never made an offer to Alabama defensive coordinator Kirby Smart last year, even though logic screamed the job was his if he wanted it. If you would like to believe that Tech did not want Chris Mooney as its basketball coach, that’s fine. I’m sure he had no leverage whatsoever, which is why Richmond gave him a raise and 10-year extension and Tech is still looking for a basketball coach.
William Satterwhite
March 27th, 2011
9:13 pm
Jeff, do we know for sure that he was offered the job after the Sunday interview? And on top of that, do we know for sure that he didn’t already have the Richmond extension in his pocket when he interviewed with Tech? Unless the answer to the first question is yes and the answer to the second is no, then I don’t think it’s fair to spin this as a defeat for Tech. For all intents and purposes, Mooney just got what amounts to a Hewitt-like extension- that kind of job security at a place that’s not too far below a non-Duke/UNC ACC job is pretty tough to beat no matter how much money you have to play with.
Hoopster
March 27th, 2011
9:14 pm
I’ll let GT’s AD tell me how it works. Not Schultz. Trust the decision makers, not the journalists.
Gah Lee Moses
March 27th, 2011
9:16 pm
It sucks to be a Georgia Bulldog
terpfan
March 27th, 2011
9:21 pm
Any truth that Jay Wright from Villanova might be interested? Heard he might be interested in getting out of the Big East.
Huh?
March 27th, 2011
9:21 pm
Yes, Jeff, you may be right in theory, but then why even have an interview with a perspective coach if you are already going to hire him? Have you ever interviewed for a job that you did not then get an offer for? Well, hello!.. It happens every day, even in the world of coaching! How could GT or any other school really hand over the keys to an entire program without interviewing their candidates. What you are saying makes good print material, but it is ludicrous.
Shot at the Buzzer
March 27th, 2011
9:22 pm
While, as a Tech alum, Mooney was my first choice, I cannot say I am sad to see he decided to stay at Richmond. I think it is good that a coach is loyal to his current team. He got the security he needed and stayed where he is comfortable and loved. I admire a coach who is not always out looking for the next stepping stone.. So, while sorry for Tech, glad for Richmond and Mooney.
AlabamaRamblinwreck
March 27th, 2011
9:23 pm
“But the tight economic situation in the athletic department and the $7.2 million payoff given to Hewitt clearly is hindering the process.”
Just SAD…He is still killing us, and he isn’t even our coach anymore….
Phil
March 27th, 2011
9:24 pm
Obama’s brother-in-law is still out there!
StraightJacket
March 27th, 2011
9:24 pm
Jeff, be serious. Just once.
After the relentless criticism of Hewitt’s “EVERGreen Contract”, do you REALLY think GT would offer anybody short of a re-born John Wooden a TEN YEAR DEAL?
Mooney would have been a great fit, but is still a bright, promising, young coach from a mid-major. He is NOT John Wooden, reborn. How often does a 38 year-old coach at a mid-major get a 7 figure salary contract for TEN YEARS? My guess is that the list is short. Richmond has a higher risk tolerance, but to say they “outbid” Tech? Nonsense. Good for Mooney, and this was meant to be, but most Tech fans would out looking for DRAD’s head tonight if he’d offered ANYBody a TEN YEAR CONTRACT.
The process continues, but to say Tech has “money problems” because it wouldn’t match a TEN YEAR DEAL is more than disingenuous … it’s downright misleading.
private plane watching
March 27th, 2011
9:26 pm
dream team! Wait till next year
eight57
March 27th, 2011
9:27 pm
Mooney wouldn’t have been my 1st, 2nd or 3rd choice honestly so big whoop he’s not available.
AlabamaRamblinwreck
March 27th, 2011
9:29 pm
Trust me, eight57, I agree Mooney was a risk, but we are going to be stepping down from there, not up!! I wished it was different, but we just don’t have the $$ right now.
Gordon
March 27th, 2011
9:29 pm
This is the first I’ve heard that Martin was interviewed by Tech. When did that happen? Also, how does this leave just Gregory and Wojcik? What about Gregg Marshall?
5150 UOAD
March 27th, 2011
9:30 pm
I don’t see any school offering a 10 yr deal for a new coach. Offer 10 yrs to keep the coach you have only.
Lethal Weapon
March 27th, 2011
9:31 pm
if Shaka is leaving, GT will be the place if DRAD can wait another week. GT and company need to find a way to get to Shakas people(agent, wife, relative, best friend just to see if he would talk after the tournament. otherwise why waste this time. Surely, Shaka is aware of the deadline that is becoming an issue.
Now all the Mooney lovers are jumping on the Marshall bandwagon, why Marshall? Even if he wins the NIT, so what? I lived in SC and none in that state is as impressed with him as much as you people on this blog seem to be. (just 22 yr olds that went to Winthrop when he was coach there) Why did not SC or Clemson hire the former Winthrop darling? Both passed on him and now GT is stuck with him?
GT should call Bobby Cremins and offer him the job before going after Marshall. NOT IMPRESSED.
PRICE AND NEAL should be the choice. There are plenty who want that so do not think you Marshall people have the overwhelming majority because you do not.
BTW, when some of the reports said that Dayton coach was coming to GT, the Dayton fans on their blogs were celebrating and hoping to get rid of him.
Roark
March 27th, 2011
9:37 pm
hey jeff…it was reported today on the Braves telecast that you were now writing fiction for the ajc.
William Satterwhite
March 27th, 2011
9:38 pm
Lethal Weapon, I’ve made this point before regarding Marshall not getting a shot at Clemson or South Carolina but quite simply, Big South coaches generally don’t jump directly up to the SEC or ACC. That’s a huge leap.
Jeff Schultz
March 27th, 2011
9:41 pm
StraightJacket — Your comment suggests Mooney would only come to Tech for a 10-year deal (or more). I doubt that’s true.
Jeff Schultz
March 27th, 2011
9:42 pm
Lethal Weapon — Said it earlier (and in past): Shaka Smart would get people excited. He might be the last possible candidate who would get people excited.
UGA REALLY STANDS FOR JOE DIRT
March 27th, 2011
9:47 pm
If we can’t afford mooney, there is no way we can afford shaka smart! Vcu will surely back up the brinks truck to sign him or some other program will pay more than GT!! What a fraud of DRAD to come out in public and state that “WE HAVE MONEY TO LAND AN ELITE COACH” and say that hewitt’s contract “WILL NOT EFFECT OUR SEARCH” when in fact it has! We can compete with richmond in terms of money???? Mooney made 700k and i can’t believe we can’t land this guy for financial reasons given what DRAD has said in public. If the tulsa coach and this dayton clown are our top two choices…i will take forrest gump for 500k and lets just go cheap and call it a day!!! DRAD, this is pathetic! Take your butt to miami if this is the best we can do!! Don’t say things in public if they are not true! Your credibility is 0 right now! Pitiful
5150 UOAD
March 27th, 2011
9:54 pm
What does HEWITT FAN think?
HEWITT FAN needs to tell us what the ATLANTA CELTICS want us to do.
Ron Jirsa
March 27th, 2011
9:54 pm
Jeff, your Kirby Smart analogy is right on. However, Damon pursued both Capel and Anderson but not Grant. For all those out there that mock using an executive search firm like Parker, this is why you do it. Enhanced confidentiality so you don’t look as foolish in public.
Jeff Schultz
March 27th, 2011
9:58 pm
Ron Jirsa (not really you) — I soft-pedaled the Anderson/Grant pursuits. But I know that — publicly — both were considered higher profile than Fox. Personally, I didn’t have a problem with the Fox hire. I actually liked it. You can go back and check. But we all know Caple was first choice.
HSV Jacket
March 27th, 2011
10:02 pm
Disagree that Smart is the only candidate left who would create excitement. Neal/Price would definitely create excitement, but at huge risk. I think it’s likely that Smart winning today put him beyond what Tech seems willing to spend.
TomB
March 27th, 2011
10:07 pm
Jeff, do you know for a fact that Mooney was offered the job? The reason I ask is because of the rumored interest that Tech has in Marshall. If Tech was interested in Marshall why would they offer first to Mooney without interviewing Marshall.So, either you inside sources regarding Drad’s intentions or you have first hand knowledge that Mooney was offered the job. Which is it?
Ron Jirsa
March 27th, 2011
10:07 pm
Fair enough. Sometimes the hires that don’t happen are the most intriguing. Remember Glen Mason’s flip-flop that landed Donnan the job. The fact that Ray Goff was about the fourth choice. And how fortunate we were that Parcells flirted w/ AB to leverage the Miami deal and we wound up w/ Dimitroff.
5150 UOAD
March 27th, 2011
10:11 pm
many coaches use this to get more money from the Devil they know than move to a DEVIL they don’t know.
Lethal Weapon
March 27th, 2011
10:15 pm
let’s take a look and compare….
Brad Stevens/Butler 4 yrs 116-24 w/l 82% winning average
Shaka Smart/VCU 2 yrs 55/20 w/l 73% winning average
Bobby Cremins/C of C 5 yrs 109/56 w.l 66% winning average
Gregg Marshall /Wichita St 4 yrs 80/55 w/l 59% winning average
so, if we cannot hire Stevens or Smart, then attempt to re-hire the SOCON coach of the year, Bobby Cremins. If you people didn’t know him, you would want him. And for those that say he is too old, why? Because he doesn’t dye his hair black like Coach K? Then hire PRICE/NEAL. Is anyone going to say they cannot win 59% of their games in 4 years?
for the blogger who said he was impressed with the crowd at the Wichita State game vs. COFC, what else do those people have to do in that hick town? Bobby had the same crowd when he hosted the defending NIT champs, Dayton. Too funny
Charlie D
March 27th, 2011
10:16 pm
Anybody ever considered talking to that young man at Butler ????????
TomB
March 27th, 2011
10:20 pm
Lethal Weapon; Bobby Cremins hair was gray when Tech hired him in 1980. Lol.
TomB
March 27th, 2011
10:22 pm
Jeff, If you don’t have sources confirming that Mooney was offered the job, then this is some sloppy reporting.
StingerSplash
March 27th, 2011
10:22 pm
That a small school like Richmond would throw a 10-year deal at Mooney, with unknown incentives and parameters, says to me that they were truly worried he’d get a good package from Tech. I wouldn’t say this doesn’t make Tech look good; quite the contrary. Other schools are worried their rising stars are going to a bigger, much bigger, fish that they are putting a lot more bait on the hook for the catch they already have.
There are still some very viable and good candidates out there. Sure, Brad Stevens would be a terrific hire but there really isn’t anything else to compete for resources at Butler, so he can pretty much name his price there and it’s almost certain it will get met.
D-Rad may have to adjust his timetable. Or, he can just set up a desk in the concourse at the Final Four and hail passing coaches for a sitdown, since just about every coach goes to the Final Four to watch, politic or look for another job, if they are not coaching in it.
Lethal Weapon
March 27th, 2011
10:28 pm
Satterwhite, Marshall was at Wichita for 3 yrs when Clemson had an opening last yr. His winning percentage was 53 percent. Didn’t see Clemson or Wake give him a call.
Marshall didn’t even win his conference yet. So his claim to fame in the last four years is that he made the NIT quarterfinals at a bigger school than Winthrop and GT fans are suppose to be all giddy about him?
I don’t get it. I know the GT guys can recruit for Tech. That’s what I know. And chances are they know how to coach too. You want a .500 coach that you don’t know but none of you believe a former NBA superstar and Neal could do that well? What a joke
You know, it is like Drew Barry and Dennis Scott said, Price and Neal can handle it. And I would take their word over any of your anytime.
All I see on this blog is Ray Goof’s name thrown out as if Mark Price is Ray Goof. Mark Price has more character than any of these people.
Tech people ought to be ashamed.
willie
March 27th, 2011
10:28 pm
Mooney was no sure thing at all. I’m glad we didn’t overpay for a guy just because he won a couple of games in the tourney. Shaka and Stevens won’t come either unless we back up the Brink’s truck, which we won’t. Let’s just take our time and find a solid guy that we don’t have to overpay for.
Bill
March 27th, 2011
10:40 pm
I don’t blame Rads for not giving Mooney 10 years..we just had that BS contract with Hewitt and we don’t need another. Richmond has known for weeks GT was interest in Mooney and they didn’t want to lose him so they gave him 10 years…Thats to long for any coach in my opinion so let them keep him. When you miss one deal usually there’s a better one waiting. have faith in Rads. Go Jackets!
Summerteeth
March 27th, 2011
10:44 pm
I don’t think anyone is going to lose any sleep because we didn’t get Mooney. He may not have been D-Rad’s choice. That is fine with me.
green jacket
March 27th, 2011
10:50 pm
Jeff, i disagree with your statement that “Smart might be the last possible candidate that would get people excited”. You underestimate how ready GT nation was for Hewitt to go. We have a lot of faith in DRAD. And like other alums, I’ve put my money where my mouth is to help him get his choice.
PMC
March 27th, 2011
10:52 pm
Perhaps it shows more about the weakened state of affairs in college basketball.
The guy is winning at Richmond. Smaller town, (less pressure, if you can call one legit paper and 2 radio stations pressure in Atlanta) probably almost the same money.
Why uproot your family for a program that is seriously in the dumps unless it’s serious money?
No ACC program and certainly not Tech’s is beyond fixing in a year with the right coach. They’ll get a good one I’m sure, but the fact that no one is busting the door down for this job just proves that they made the right decision on Hewitt if it wasn’t a year or two late.
You don’t have to be at a big school to win championships now with Butler and VCU in the finals.
If college basketball is going to be full of young not ready freshmen who think they are awesome at big schools and heady intelligent seniors who stay 4 or 5 years at small schools it would seem that the middling college jobs are going to have to start over paying or at least substantially paying guys to leave especially if they like where they are.
Tech, unfortunately due to an awful decision with Hewitt’s contract….cannot afford that luxury without some manna from heaven so to speak from a donor.
5150 UOAD
March 27th, 2011
10:54 pm
I am FAR FAR FAR from excited about Shaka unless he comes for $800K for 4 yrs. It can go as high as $1.2 mil but only if some lofty goals are met quickly.
Mike H
March 27th, 2011
10:55 pm
Jeff, this is just the beginning of the search. Did DRad want Mooney? Of course. Does that mean all of the things that you’ve speculated? Of course not. The truth is that we really don’t know the details of the offer or what was said. I understand it’s your job to report what we know and speculate on the rest, but I think it’s a little early to be playing the ‘gloom and doom’ card.
5150 UOAD
March 27th, 2011
10:59 pm
I also don’t think you offer more than 5 yrs. More like 4 yrs. The coach coming in will have a pretty good core group of players and a good recruit. The NO HOME COURT sucks. So a 1st yr is ifybut winable. That is 3 yrs in a new home with the ACC and ATL recruiting market for the new coach to prove himself. Don’t pay a ton with little expectations.
Hairy Dawg
March 27th, 2011
11:00 pm
Haha! The joke by coke is broke. This just proves Dawgs is dominants state in basketball as owners to. The more the pestky bugs try the more exposing as loosers. Yech got no coaches that any goods in big sports. That why although nothing but chumps. Dawgs is playing basketball in good conference and got NCAAT in only second year of Coach Fox. Now we unloading whooping can to bury bugs in all sports. Goooo DAWGS!
Jeff Schultz
March 27th, 2011
11:01 pm
Mike H – Go back and read the very beginning of this blog. I think you’ll find we’re closer to being on the same page than you think.
Jerry
March 27th, 2011
11:02 pm
Just because Tech is in the ACC does not make Tech a basketball school. The program is in shambles and it will take a miracle worker to rebuild it into something worth following. I think it will take a very special person to take on that task. Mooney probably wasn’t up to it.
Georgia Tech is and always has been a football school.
Go Jackets!
when you say budweiser..
March 27th, 2011
11:03 pm
Hairy, maybe you should focus on fixing your baseball team. that’s 4 out of 5 now….
supersize that order, mutt
March 27th, 2011
11:04 pm
Hairy should also focus on his grammar and spelling (or lack thereof). Boy, talk about a stupid man!!!
GTBob
March 27th, 2011
11:07 pm
It’s really not that big of a deal. We probably offered him somewhere around 1.3 million for 5 years, and then Richmond came back with less money but a 10 year contract. He weighed both options and decided to stay where he was comfortable. It happens. He isn’t the only good coach out there, we will be fine.
Johnny FuPa
March 27th, 2011
11:07 pm
I know this sounds crazy because he was just fired, but we should look at Jeff Capel. He’s the one that built the VCU program and took Oklahoma to the Elite 8. He also was a point guard that learned under Coach K at Duke.
Tech Forever
March 27th, 2011
11:09 pm
Hairy Dawg
There is not one complete sentence or coherent thought in your entire post….and I am now dumber for having tried to read it.
Tech Forever
March 27th, 2011
11:10 pm
Hiring a Duke assistant or former player is akin to hiring Vince Dooley as AD after Drad leaves as far as I’m concerned.
realist
March 27th, 2011
11:23 pm
Show how far the program has dropped.
DRad waited 2 years too long to make a switch and we are going to pay for it.
No desirable name is coming here to take a chance on cleaning up this mess.
Dadgum....
March 27th, 2011
11:23 pm
Look Smart doesn’t have to be paid all salary anyway guys. Go check out Greenberg’s deal at VT. He makes about a million but salary is only around 300k but with reachable incentives etc. GT will have to be creative financially but should be doable. If I was Drad I would be calling Shaka’s agent tomorrow to gauge interest. Shaka makes about 400k at VCU. No way he will be overpriced for Tech.
AD Schultz
March 27th, 2011
11:23 pm
Way to paint a very bleak picture of a situation that certainly is not a “big whiff”. While I liked Mooney, the end of the world is not approaching because Mooney was offered a 10 year contract to stay at his current school. I feel confident that there is another talented coach out there… believe it or not Schultz, there are other coaches out there besides Mooney and Stevens. There actually can be a good hire even if it is not the “hot” coach of the moment. I know that does not satisfy shallow sports writer personalities, but it actually can happen.
trey
March 27th, 2011
11:25 pm
LMAO!
Dadgum....
March 27th, 2011
11:26 pm
I think it safe to say that no Duke assistants need apply to GT. Ain’t happening…….ever!
Mike H
March 27th, 2011
11:40 pm
Jeff, it was the ‘gloom and doom’ orientation of your comments that I found premature. I do agree with many of your observations, just not some of the speculation.
Hoophead
March 27th, 2011
11:44 pm
Mooney is gone. Gregory and Wojcik are carbon copies of each other, and the former is not dealing straight. Take Wojcik, deal with a few weeks of the fanboys crying for Mark Price, and let the guy bring this program back to prominence.
gte
March 27th, 2011
11:50 pm
hire Mark Price, make Neal the associate and Kenny Anderson an assistant. Price and Neal handle the recruits in Atlanta and Anderson gets the All Americans in NY. Honestly, would not a NY kid want Kenny Anderson to walk in their door?
If you cannot hire Shaka, then why not? In 3 weeks, you all who oppose the former players will get over as well and shup up on here too, works both ways
pat
March 27th, 2011
11:51 pm
our #1 recruit is threatening to leave now, i hope our hire will make him stay
Hairy Dawg
March 27th, 2011
11:52 pm
You techie bugs is the dum dums from Hewitt payed way to much. Now you broke and a joke. That why Dawgs is place for players with talents to play.
Mike H
March 27th, 2011
11:56 pm
Hairy Dawg, go sleep it off son. You’re not getting any brighter as your bulb gets dimmer.
5150 UOAD
March 28th, 2011
12:07 am
Hairy Dawg you need a new nom de plume. I hear that Write with pen between butt cheeks is still available.
5150 UOAD
March 28th, 2011
12:08 am
What that didn’t pass?
hey jeff it doent take a genius to figure out
March 28th, 2011
12:09 am
why tech would back off of mooney all things considered.
did we just get out from under a sad sack of a coach with a 7 year buy out? i dare say that gt/drad would not want to compete with a lengthy contrast,. can you imagine how many times over the last 3-4 years that drad was silently cursing 7.2 million buyout every bit as much as most fans???
and please get your fact straingt. mark bradly said he didnt know for sure that mooney was ever even offered yet he put ’spurned[ in his blog headner.
isnt that somewhat classless on your part and on mark’s part to imply that we were uncerimoniously turned down?
you pitched a fit when there was a blog written about possible new coaches when the old coach was still in place! well i call your comment and blot equally as ‘classless’.
Tech Forever
March 28th, 2011
12:24 am
gte
Why should Neal work under Price?
ncjacket
March 28th, 2011
12:52 am
Jeff, if 10 years is what it would take to get Mooney to leave Richmond then I’m glad he’s staying. That’s a stupid contract for any coach and the Spiders are welcome to it.
5150 UOAD
March 28th, 2011
12:55 am
ncjacket no NEW hire is going to get 10yrs that was a package to get the money right. New coaches know they are looking at 4 or 5 yrs MAX to prove themselves.
Hire Mark Price
March 28th, 2011
3:50 am
Im gonna tell ya if you brought Prica and Anderson here, GT would win and be able to recruit. But people are wanting a coach that is not proven (and I know Price is not either, but he is a winner) or a young coach who has no ties to Tech. C yall in three years, talking about who we need to hire after GT has lost even more of its fan base !!!
dcStan
March 28th, 2011
3:58 am
Jeff Capel is avialable now, this guy can recruit ATL and Georgia players. It would be a great hire
Buzz me
March 28th, 2011
4:38 am
Shaka…Shaka….Shaka… if he says no go to Neal with Price, Anderson and D SCott as assistants and you will get excitement. The guy from Dayton, Tulsa and Cuonzo don’t excite anybody
Larry
March 28th, 2011
4:49 am
Bottom line is no one, including Mr. Schultz, but GT knows if indeed Mooney was offered the job. This is assumed because of an interview?
Mooney just may have left the interview not convinced he wanted GT or GT wanted him! Perhaps Dan Radakovich informed him that he wanted to also interview the VCU and Butler coaches before a final decision and needed him to wait one more week? This certainly could have spooked Mooney!
Re-read the first three paragraphs and you can clearly determine that Mr. Schultz assumes this but is very careful with his diction and syntax to specifically avoid saying “Mooned was offered and rejected the job!”
Translated, he THINKS this happened! Maybe…maybe not!
Stinger2
March 28th, 2011
4:57 am
All of this speculation by the fans and media is amusing and fun to read. Fact is that when I finish reading all this, I know nothing more than I did before I read it.
Larry
March 28th, 2011
4:58 am
“Mooned” LOL! Maybe this is what he did in response to the financially strained offer.
Replace with Mooney.
On that thought, wouldn’t it be nice to have that 7.5 million to help generate about a 5 year, 2 mil offer to Butler’s coach? Think about it…you would need less than 1/2 of the 7.5 mil to add 700K to the current 1.3 mil to offer a 5 year, 2 mil per season contract (3.5 mil)! Sorry to ruin your Monday, Tech fans!
WnE
March 28th, 2011
5:27 am
re:
Larry
March 28th, 2011
4:58 am
_______________________
When DRad took the Job he already knew what kind of deal CPH had in place and he should have made PRUDENT financial decisions to work around that Hewitt contract WRT to the otehr HCs at GT.
DRad “Blewitt” when he re-upped Coach Kung Fu Panda too early in his tenure at GT when there were no serious Schools looking to take him away from GT; basically GT & DRad were bidding against themselves when they re-upped Coach Fish Fry from $1.6MM per/yr. to $2.3MM per/yr., there’s your wasted $700K per/yr. that would get us Coach Stevens or Coach Shaka.
The CPJ-deal came after DRad was aware of what CPH’s contract would do to GT, WHEN, not IF he had to be fired, and yet DRad still upped his pay $700K per/yr. when there were no other colleges seriously pursuing Coach Kung Fu Panda.
To give any GT HC in any Sport a $700K per/yr. increase AFTER knowing what CPH’s contract would do to GT was irresponsible fiscal behavior by DRad and that $700K/yr. is hurting much more than Hewitt’s is because DRad had a chance to do “something” about the latter whereas he had no chance to anything about the former, yet he still “rolled the dice” and upped Coach Fish Fry’s Contract in an Athl. Dept. that really could not afford that kind of Contract.
Once DRad knew he was stuck with Hewitt’s deal, he SHOULD HAVE KNOWN there was no way to logically give Coach Fish Fry that deal since he “knew” he’d have to fire CPH in 2-3 seasons anyway.
Poor MANAGEMENT by Braine(less), but WORSE MANAGEMENT by DRad!
Snellville Jacket
March 28th, 2011
6:13 am
As a Tech alum, I believe that Craig Neal (and/or Mark Price) is the only hire likely to bring the Tech b-ball family back together and restore some excitement to the program immediately! Craig, come on home, son – Ma Tech is calling!
JSS
March 28th, 2011
6:29 am
Tech Forever
March 27th, 2011
11:10 pm
“Hiring a Duke assistant or former player is akin to hiring Vince Dooley as AD after Drad leaves as far as I’m concerned.”
I love this myopic hatred that college fans instead of looking at the obvious. Once upon a time, a coach won and dominant his conference and was envied by his opponents. One of the teams decided: “If you can’t beat, emulate ‘em!” So meet General Robert Neyland and Robert Dodd. Oh yeah, Meet Shug Jordan and Vince Dooley too! And while Rome is burning, meet Billy Donovan and Anthony Grant!
Folks, stop worrying about if they are the enemy. Just worry if they are willing to sell their allegiance!
waitforthefacts
March 28th, 2011
6:38 am
Jeff maybe you should read your AJC buddy’s words: And let’s be clear: We don’t know if Mooney was ever offered the job at Tech. The assumption — on the outside, remember — was that it was his to lose. But that might not have been the case. Mark Bradley
My apologies I am assuming you are smart enough to read, think and reason.
QWDH
March 28th, 2011
6:55 am
Craig Neal. Get it done now.
Justin Pignon
March 28th, 2011
7:09 am
Georgia Tech is an outstanding academic institution with the role of preparing young men and women for the engineering challenges of the 21st century. Face the facts, they are Rice.
Georgia State should be the equivavlent of VCU, G Mason, etc. A city based “commuter school” that can attract D1 athletes. GSU is a missed opportunity for Atlanta sports.
BADJOB
March 28th, 2011
7:15 am
I’ll take the job for $1000.00 that’s about correct for the Nreds from North Ave!!! Tech will always be second rate!!! Dawgs rule!!!
Dan
March 28th, 2011
7:20 am
UT Vols found a coach pretty quick and the Nerds can’t. Now that’s funny!
Hairy Dawg
March 28th, 2011
7:35 am
I told you no good coach want to be ooaching techmites that losers.
O'Brien
March 28th, 2011
7:41 am
Jeff,
Your colleague Mark suggests the Wichita State coach as an option. How do you feel about his chances?
chc4
March 28th, 2011
7:41 am
Jeff — can you explain why Tech should be a top 5 ACC basketball program? Duke, UNC, Maryland. Clemson and FSU have built-in advantages though they don’t have the tradition. What makes Tech any better than Wake Forest or UVA? If you’re #1 point is that GT is located in Atlanta then it’s an automatic fail. There are plenty of athletes in VA, SC, and FL that are just as good.
Ringtoss999
March 28th, 2011
7:49 am
Why doesn’t DRad look at successful HIGH SCHOOL coachs for the position. The incoming freshman class are only one year removed from those ranks. And a local coach could scoop up all the “Dwight Howards” in the area. If you know or have played against the local and regional talent ,you then have a real opportunity to recruit top players and create a “Buzz” at the school.Which is exactly what the program needs.
Jacket Man
March 28th, 2011
7:49 am
Jeff; sometimes there’s more to making a life-altering decision such as managing your professional career than just taking the money and running – like in the case of Charlies Weiss when he decided to once again spurn Pro Football and return to the collegiate level as an assistant coach at Florida. Sometimes location and family plays a far greater role in a decision than money. Timing has a lot to do with decisions in life and this wasn’t the best personal me for Chris to make his move from Richmond. Enough said.
sk
March 28th, 2011
7:52 am
While it is 90% likely that Mooney is off the table – we know coaching is a weird enough business. If the papers are not “signed” then maybe he is still holding out. After all Bobby Cremins did the shuffle when SC tried to hire him. Will money be a problem for the hire? Maybe (and it should if the university’s priorities are reasonable) but I think there are some good choices out there (Gregg Marshall cough cough).
Obviously Radadkovich is not going to be truthful about how this stuff works – really he has done a nice job keeping the search under wraps.
GTSux
March 28th, 2011
7:58 am
Hey “Hoopster”,
Since you seem to know so much, why don’t you tell us what is going
on with GT athletic department? We are all anxiously awaiting to hear you
enlighten us with your wisdom
Megan
March 28th, 2011
8:26 am
I love all the “Tech never made an offer” arguments! Jeff is absolutely right in that no offer will be extended unless the school knows it will be accepted. Have any of you ever interviewed for a job when you were highly sought-after and invaluable at your current job???? If the interview doesn’t bring to the tables incentives or benefits more desirable than what you already have or what you hope to have, you pass on the job! It seems Chris Mooney did exactly this! Face it Georgia Tech, your basketball HC job is not as glorious as you seem to think! Tight on funds, fair-weather fan base, poor alumni donations, having to play games next year at off-campus venues, having an ACC schedule yet not a perennial contender are pretty good reasons to pass on a job. As for being located in Atlanta, a hotbed of recruiting? Only half of Tech’s team is usually from Georgia and not necessarily metro Atlanta. Too many other schools with more storied traditions are able to come in and snatch away the top talent (i.e. Duke, North Carolina, Florida, Kentucky, Alabama, etc…)
UD Flyer Fan
March 28th, 2011
8:46 am
Congrats GT you are getting our coach….Brian Gregory…formal announcement this afternoon. He has done a great job here…not surprised he is moving on though. Not sure what that means for the Dayton program.
Brian Gregory will have to create own excitement for Tech | Jeff Schultz
March 28th, 2011
8:47 am
[...] Shaka Smart, Chris Mooney – and certainly the sudden king of the hill, Brad Stevens — probably would have gotten more people excited. But that doesn’t mean Gregory can’t win everybody over. [...]
TomB
March 28th, 2011
9:57 am
Ok Megan; Hewitt was or was not offered the job at St. Johns last year?….. Give me a break all you let me tell you how its done people.
K
March 28th, 2011
10:05 am
I find it funny that in the article is states that tech basketball should be top five in the acc every year. And us dawg football fans are the ones delusional to think that we are an elite team in the sec.
Hoopster
March 28th, 2011
3:57 pm
To take it a step further, how is it a whiff if you never even interviewed a guy?
old school
March 31st, 2011
1:58 pm
Radakovich is mediocre at best when it comes to assessing coaching talent. One has to look no further than his choices of Paul Johnson in Football. One would question if he will ever be able to replicate his early success with his offense. The softball program has major issues he refuses to address after rewarding her with a long term contract after one successful season of which she took all the credit. Watch when the real story comes about about her off field issues and player issues. Only time will tell on his most recent basketball hire, I doubt he will have the ability to fill he seats in the next 2-3 years unless he recruits a different type of player. These run and gun offenses are not sustainable in the ACC or any other major conference around the country.