Brian Gregory will have to create own excitement for Tech
Brian Gregory coached at Dayton for eight seasons. (AP photo)
(UPDATED: 8:56 a.m.)
Sometimes you don’t get the buzz hire (and in this case we don’t mean Buzz Williams). Sometimes you don’t sell tickets or get anybody to run through a wall at the news conference. But sometimes all of that is overrated.
Georgia Tech has hired Brian Gregory of Dayton as its next basketball coach, and we’ll find out soon enough if it was the right decision.
Does he get a lot of people excited? Judging by the reaction when his name leaked out on Twitter a few days ago, no. But that really doesn’t mean anything, unless athletic director Dan Radakovich was hoping to sell season tickets this week.
Georgia didn’t get buzz with Mark Fox. The Falcons didn’t get buzz with Mike Smith.
Excitement from coach hiring last only until the open tipoff or kickoff. After that, you have to win. Gregory has done that. He was 172-94 in eight seasons at Dayton, including 97-46 in the last four. He went to the NCAA tournament in his first season in 2003-04 and lost, and five years later went 27-8 but lost in the second round.
His greatest postseason success: Dayton won the NIT last year.
In the Atlantic 10, Dayton went 22-10 in conference play in Gregory’s first two seasons, but only 48-48 in the next six years.
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.
By Jeff Schultz
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103 comments Add your comment
Speedy
March 28th, 2011
8:42 am
Welcome to the Flats, Coach.
Lee
March 28th, 2011
8:48 am
Yes, welcome Coach.
DBH
March 28th, 2011
8:48 am
Excellent point, Jeff, regarding both Fox and Smith. If we were honest, we would all admit that when those respective hires were made, the collective response from UGA and Falcons fans was, “Who?!” In hindsight, those have both turned out to be pretty good moves. A not-so-sexy hire is exactly what Tech needed because it forces us to focus on the basketball, not the buzz. Go, Jackets!
Cbell
March 28th, 2011
8:50 am
I don’t get this hire…..would have much preferred Craig Neil/Mark Price combo. Nothing here to get excited about.
spider
March 28th, 2011
8:51 am
i will not run this hire into the ground like some are doing until he gives me a reason too, lets give the guy a chance.
Go Jackets
March 28th, 2011
8:55 am
Everyone, please have faith in Dan’s decision making here. When Dan hired Paul Johnson, we were not all going crazy about the hire with excitement. But we learned that CPJ is a winner and that he is the PERFECT coach for Georgia Tech. I have no doubt that there is something about Coach Gregory that Dan sees that will make him a good fit for us as well. Welcome to Atlanta. Lets start winning (and playing defense, and shooting wild 3’s on every possession).
Me
March 28th, 2011
8:56 am
Not all UGA fans are “sold” on Mark Fox. Didn’t get the most out of Leslie or Thompkins this year. Let Trey Thompkins walk all over him. Some of us think Mark Fox is the Jim Donnan on UGA basketball.
Another Dawg
March 28th, 2011
8:57 am
Uh, Georgia created plenty of positive buzz with Mark Fox.
The difference is that we aren’t a basketball school.
Jeff Schultz
March 28th, 2011
8:58 am
DBH — Thanks
TommyJack
March 28th, 2011
8:58 am
Sometimes these kinds of hires work out well. Tech wasn’t exactly in the driver’s seat for hiring a Coach K type. Wish him well.
gdawginkalamazoo
March 28th, 2011
8:59 am
These days you just have wait and see. I didn’t know who Coach Fox was other than reading Neveda’s record in the paper. My opinion was give the man a chance to see what he can do.
Good luck Bees!
Quick question, a little off subject. Jeff that has been bugging me all weekend. When Kentucky beat Ohio State this weekend, was considered karma or irony, that they got beat by a lying cheating coach?
HelluvaEngineer
March 28th, 2011
8:59 am
Welcome to Tech! I think this is a fine, but not stellar, hire. Radakovich has some very serious questions from the fanbase, we hope he will have answered (although it’s unlikely given how tight-lipped he is). Why could have he not waited two/three days to see how Wichita State’s season panned out and maybe go after Gregg Marshall?
Jeff Schultz
March 28th, 2011
8:59 am
CBell — Personally I never believed the Neal/Price combo was going to happen. I think those interviews were merely to appease the segment of the fan base that wanted DRad to bring back some of the old Tech guys.
yellerjacket
March 28th, 2011
9:00 am
Good thing DRad knows more about this than all of us. Craig Neal and Mark Price? Let it go, folks.
Jeff Schultz
March 28th, 2011
9:00 am
Go Jackets — That’s true about Paul Johnson and I should’ve included him. Some folks were excited but others questioned his offense and whether he could recruit and win in a BCS conference.
yellerjacket
March 28th, 2011
9:02 am
I would have liked to have seen us wait on Marshall as well, but Stevens wasn’t going to happen, and Smart hasn’t been a head coach very long. I like the hire…other than the striking resemblance to Ron Zook.
Jeff Schultz
March 28th, 2011
9:02 am
Gdawginkalamazoo — Hah. Funny. But I think irony is the word your looking for here.
We'll See
March 28th, 2011
9:05 am
Yeah, he could be the next Mark Fox or Mike Smith… but he could also be the next Larry Drew!
peacengrits75
March 28th, 2011
9:06 am
Blank stare…
al davis
March 28th, 2011
9:06 am
why did drad need to hire a consultant? Doesnt he get paid to as AD because he knows who to hire. what a cop out
Go Jackets
March 28th, 2011
9:07 am
Like I said above, have faith in Dan. Look at our sports programs across the board (yes, including the women’s programs) and it is obvious that Dan knows what he is doing.
DBH
March 28th, 2011
9:07 am
Everybody’s talking about “buzz” and “excitement”, but such things last for only a short time. What Tech needs is consistency, stability, and excellence – things our basketball program has been known for until recent years. The ACC is one of the most competitive conferences in all of college basketball, and Tech needs a coach who possesses the maturity to know what it takes to recruit and win over the long-term. Hopefully, Gregory will prove himself a good recruiter and can bring the right STUDENT-athletes into Tech who can excel both on the court AND in the classroom.
Dayton Flyer
March 28th, 2011
9:09 am
`
A stellar hire.
Ozzy
March 28th, 2011
9:11 am
This hire shows exactly how much damage Hewitt has done to a once proud program. We are truly at the bottom of the conference with no where to go but up.
On the bright side, there should be plenty of tickets available in the brand spanking new arena. I wonder how much we’re paying Eddie Fogler for this?
ormewood
March 28th, 2011
9:12 am
I think this guy can coach. He comes from a conference that gets two, maybe three bids a league, and Xavier always gets one of those spots.So the margin for error is slim when it comes to getting to the NCAA.
He’s got one thing in common with Paul Hewitt. He whipped UNC the last time his team faced them.
peacengrits75
March 28th, 2011
9:12 am
Go Jackets….we really don’t care about the women’s swim team… no offense.
RochesterJacket
March 28th, 2011
9:13 am
Who’s buying season tickets now? I hope this works out. I still believe Noodles and Price was a no-lose situation. They would have had majority support even if they did lose.
peacengrits75
March 28th, 2011
9:14 am
We pay Hewitt 130,000 a month for the next three years… paying Galley too.
Go Jackets
March 28th, 2011
9:17 am
It’s not about caring about the women’s swim team. With that said, Dan Radakovic is in charge of the women’s swim team, the women’s tennis team, the women’s basketball team, the volleyball team, the softball team, etc. and they are all winners. The point is that Dan knows how to do his job insofar as hiring coaches and promoting the right environment for success.
Tech Man
March 28th, 2011
9:19 am
Noodles/Price was the hire to make. DRad likely made a decision to protect his opportunities elsewhere down the road.
RochesterJacket
March 28th, 2011
9:21 am
Did Hewitt really leave Tech in this bad of shape? I guess we have to wait to see who NC State hires to make a fair comparison. What if NC State is able to hire Shaka Smart or another big name coach? What does that say about Tech? What does that say about DRad? Time will tell.
Paul N Destin
March 28th, 2011
9:22 am
Cheer up Jackets..it could be worse and you could be 10RC fans today…just saying
Pawleys Island Jacket
March 28th, 2011
9:24 am
Color me very disappointed. This guy’s record isn’t as good as hewitt’s. Hope he doesn’t have a long contract.
collegeballfan
March 28th, 2011
9:32 am
The problem with hiring Craig Neil/Mark Price is that combined they have Zero wins as head coaches in college basketball.
That hire woiuld have been the ultimate drawing to an inside straight.
spider
March 28th, 2011
9:33 am
im curious if this story is really true as espn or usatoday are reporting anything???
JB
March 28th, 2011
9:33 am
Just because Fox and Johnsoon turned out to be decent doesn’t mean that another ho hum hire will be, too. Often ho hum IS ho hum.
The absolute best thing you can say about this hire is, well, lets see what he does.
Is what it is
He certainly isn’t gonna excite the rescuits down here, He doesn’t even know who they are.
HBTD!!!
Observer
March 28th, 2011
9:34 am
I don’t mind the hire. History suggests this guy can coach so let’s give him a chance. In the meantime, Craig Neal will get a head coaching job somewhere and gain some much needed experience. Then, he will be a more viable candidate down the road if this hire doesn’t work out.
Scott
March 28th, 2011
9:35 am
Brad Stephens was the right man for the job.
Gregory wasn’t.
CarolinaJacket
March 28th, 2011
9:36 am
For those who wanted G. Marshall (and I was one of the first to mention his name), I doubt that he would have taken to job if he reads all of these blogs. The fan support at WSU and Tech are from two different worlds — and they were that way back when they were losing. Reminds me of the Gamecocks who when they had football teams the couldn’t have beaten Presbyterian College, still packed the stadium with loyal, supportive fans. The same thing can not be said about Jacket fans, and this is a shame.
Gordon
March 28th, 2011
9:37 am
It’s not how they feel about you after day 1, it’s how they feel about you after 3 years. Good luck Coach Gregory.
spider
March 28th, 2011
9:38 am
i have too assume that GT program is so far down that neither ESPN or USATODAY is reporting this story at all on their websites.
JB
March 28th, 2011
9:41 am
espn IS reporting it.
HBTD!!!
Section242
March 28th, 2011
9:42 am
7-9 in the Atlantic 10? Just over .500 in a mid-major conference. That bodes well for sucess in the ACC. I am sure he will be outcoaching Williams and Coack K.
I guess he is getting paid by gate receipts. He will learn that he just got a pay cut.
Reality Check
March 28th, 2011
9:42 am
The truth is that GT fired CPH and got a coach that may not even be as good as him. This is a mid level coach for at best a middle of the pack team in the ACC. GT hoops has hit bottom and this coach does not have enouogh charisma to bring them back. D-Rad struck out because the top candidates turned him down, similar to Mark Fox at UGA. All the Fox fans UGA barely went over .500 in the pitiful SEC. In five years the search will begin again.
srschirm
March 28th, 2011
9:44 am
Go Jackets, how is Paul Johnson the perfect coach for GT? Just want to hear your opinion.
NGaTech Fan
March 28th, 2011
9:45 am
O.K. DRAD, now go get Price to come as an assistant. That’ll help with recruiting, fan base and will give him some experience should this hire not work out and we start “looking” again in 2-3 years.
Hoop Dawg
March 28th, 2011
9:52 am
Welcome to Athens Julian Royal!!!!
mowreck
March 28th, 2011
9:52 am
Well, in my opinion, excitement comes with winning. If he wins 20+ games the next four years here, like he did at Dayton, I’ll be excited!
Wolfpacker
March 28th, 2011
9:54 am
So will N.C. State get VCU’s Smart?
Tech had no chance.
gt45
March 28th, 2011
9:59 am
Welcome aboard, coach! You got your work cut out for you!
mowreck
March 28th, 2011
10:00 am
I love Craig Neel and Mark Price, just like most GT fans that saw them play. Hell, I had tickets ON THE FLOOR when they whipped up on NC in the ACC championship game. I am happy with the hire, because this guy is a COACH. We needed someone with a proven record. Neel and Price have neither been a head coach. But, would love to see one of them as an assistant next year.
mowreck
March 28th, 2011
10:01 am
Don’t worry Jeff, Buzz will show up for the games, he always does.
JB
March 28th, 2011
10:02 am
I’d also mention that this is a guy that is leaving a school where the fans and some of his players aren’t happy to see him go.
HBTD!!!
Glenn
March 28th, 2011
10:15 am
Just went to a Dayton blog . They are pretty excited he’s gone . They feel this move could clear the way for either Shaka Smart or Brad Stevens . Whenever I see Shaka Smarts name that Shaka Con song from the 80’s keeps going though my head . I need to dig up that 45 .
Old Yella'
March 28th, 2011
10:18 am
Dayton Flyer fans welcomed Gregory into the fold when Oliver Prunell left Dayton for Clemson. Gregory recruited well for UD (states of Ohio, Michigan, Indiana), won a decent number of games but never took the program to that proverbial next level. No real post-season success, although the Flyers did beat North Carolina for the NIT championship last year (is the NIT success?). Summary of Gregory-he can recruit but not the best with Xs and Os. Sound familiar? Thanks to Dave Braineless, Tech got a decent coach but could not afford a great one.
The gold is way off the Paul Johnson rose. He cannot recruit the number of good players necesssary to be a national program. His style of play, particularly after seeing it a number of times, is just plain boring. Tech will be in the middle of the pack in the ACC as long as he’s at the helm, not terrible but not very good. Probably where the basketball team will be. Mediocre is the word for years to come in both programs.
Yurtle_the_turtle
March 28th, 2011
10:20 am
…and, for prospective viewing, I WAS excited when we initially hired Phewitt and looked how that turned out. So, I’m withholding judgement until year 2 or 3 and see where this leads. All in all still, not very exciting!
down the tubes
March 28th, 2011
10:29 am
why are Dayton fans on their blogs celebrating? Gregory has a 64% winning average, Cremins has a 66% at C of C and beat Gregory in the NIT.
Could DRAD picked up a phone and ask Cremins back?
Football was letdown enough with a fired Groh running the defense and a IAA quarterback running the offense.
This is sad.
doc
March 28th, 2011
10:32 am
traded a guy who couldnt win in the acc the last 6 years for a guy who only did .500 in the atlantic 10 the last six years? who boy, not good. maybe he will be steady and “win” against the lesser talented teams to keep his team at 20 wins a year. enough cream puffs like ksu that hewitt stumbled on should pad things well and give the “impression” of a winner.
ormewood
March 28th, 2011
10:34 am
Dayton has no shot, zero, of luring Smart or Stevens. Those guys are not going to go from one mid-major to another.
MikeB
March 28th, 2011
10:38 am
Dayton alum here…. Gregory is a good coach and a great guy. At a minimum, you got a great ambassador for your program and someone that is easy to root for.
As a coach, Gregory’s teams play well defensively and at times can be dominating on that end of the court. Offensively he’s a little hit or miss as he stresses his system for better or worse. He will field a team that will be competitive and stay in games… but there were few blowout wins for UD in recent years. If GT’s roster is average for the ACC then Gregory is a good pick to get the most out of those guys. But if you were looking for a rock star coach who’d pull in the type of recruits who are on to the NBA after a year or two, then he is probably not your guy.
glsjunior
March 28th, 2011
10:40 am
Who would have thought that Ga. State would make the better coaching hire?
headley lamar
March 28th, 2011
10:51 am
But we learned that CPJ is a winner and that he is the PERFECT coach for Georgia Tech
Perfect for Tech must mean losing to UGA every year, losing the bowl game, and being mediocre in the worst BCS conference.
Wow you guys really do have low standards with regards to Football.
Hal
March 28th, 2011
10:54 am
He sounds good to me. Good LucK CBG
bascogcjs
March 28th, 2011
10:59 am
reality check, the socalled pitiful sec is better than your has been, overrated acc.
These aren’t the 1960’s any longer.
dyslexicbunny
March 28th, 2011
11:01 am
I’ll post this on Doug’s and Mark’s articles too but hopefully one of you will get a chance to do this. Doug had an article about Tech fans having unrealistic expectations. Any chance you could interview Gregory to see what his expectations are for his contact length?
gdawginkalamazoo
March 28th, 2011
11:01 am
What is his last name?
Bill
March 28th, 2011
11:01 am
Welcome Coach Gregory to GT…..now kick some a@@ and put GT’s BB program back on the map.
ANTOINEFORD
March 28th, 2011
11:06 am
The only way Price and Neil are ever coming back to the school is if DRAD hires them to tutor mathmatically-challenged players.
gdawginkalamazoo
March 28th, 2011
11:07 am
Just heard Smart interviewed on the Dan Patrick show. Sounded like he would have been looking for a step up after the tourney. Oh well. Gregory at least had the same job for the past 8 years. He beat UNC last yeat to win the NIT. Face it Dayton isn’t the recruiting bonanza that the Southeast is so he may have a better chance to do well at Tech. He graduates kids. I have seen a lot of positive things on the blogs regarding his character.
rob
March 28th, 2011
11:11 am
Enough with the Noodles/Price deal. Having a guy who has actually run a program as head coach is somewhat desirable when you have a big time program to be run is it not?
PureEvil
March 28th, 2011
11:14 am
This is a very good hire when you consider most people wanted Mark Price or Craig Neal.
Tech Fan
March 28th, 2011
11:23 am
Agree with some other commenters here. Paul Johnson is a dubious yardstick to measure D-Rad by. He won with Gailey’s players, but will not likely be able to recruit many starts into his gimmick offense.
Also, comparison to the Mike Smith hire is inaccurate. Mike Smith was unexciting, but had a clear track record of success in the NFL. Gregory is unexciting as well, but doesn’t have near the resume that Coach Smith had.
Hoping for the best, but not hugely optimistic.
Tech Fan
March 28th, 2011
11:24 am
“recurit many stars”, not “starts”
mountain_jim
March 28th, 2011
11:27 am
Dayton folks says he is offensively challenged, needed an OC, and his offense was rebound and run. No recruiting connections in south. So I have my doubts this will work out.
Now we have a football coach who can’t coach one or recruit for and does not believe in a passing game and a bball coach who supposedly can’t coach offense. Go Tech….
Auburn Tiger
March 28th, 2011
11:29 am
Tech and the word “excitement” should never be used in the same sentence….
ANTOINEFORD
March 28th, 2011
11:30 am
Shaka Smart is as sexy as a hire can get.
mountain_jim
March 28th, 2011
11:32 am
Agree with Tech Fan that the bloom is off of Paul Johnson – his best season was with Gailey’s players and with no passing offense and no decent WR recruits his gimick offense gets beat up by good dlines and teams with plenty of time to prepare. Plus Johnson believes he does not need a passing game or a shotgun package.
Okeefe/Bob
March 28th, 2011
11:45 am
From what I am hearing from some of you people, this guy shouldn’t even unpack his bags. Give the guy a chance.DRad has done an excellent job for Tech so far and I do not expect a letdown.Give Gregory a chance for crying out loud.
UGADawg83
March 28th, 2011
11:46 am
This guy will do okay in a watered down ACC. Basically it is the Big Two (Coach K and Roy Williams) with Gary Williams a level down and everyone else struggling for recognition. The ACC is really a shadow of its former self. It has a couple of great programs but everything else is weak as dishwater.
Luke
March 28th, 2011
11:58 am
To everyone beating this guy down,
He hasn’t stepped through the doors and he’s already going to suck? Come on now guys. We don’t have room to be picky, let alone room to talk about Brad Stevens or Shaka Smart (shaka khan). Let it be and cheer on our program. We have a solid coach and only time will tell where our program will be.
To those beating down CPJ,
Last time I checked he is 36-14 (.720). Let him go this year with his recruits before you judge him too hard.
Ramblin Wreck
March 28th, 2011
12:04 pm
I don’t think DRad was planning on selling many season tickets for next year anyway, given the whole Gwinnett Arena/Philips Arena arrangement. This is nice because it essentially gives Gregory a low-pressure year to establish himself and win over the fan base.
And good grief, people, no excitement with the hire? Big whoop. Excitement fades, and everyone is a crap shoot, no matter the hire. I’ll give him a chance. Just not a lifetime contract.
FullMetalJacket
March 28th, 2011
12:08 pm
Welcome to Georgia Tech and Atlanta, Coach Gregory. We hope you and your family will find the Institute and the city a great home for a long time to come. You’ll have to pardon some of the naysayers here; they’ve obviously forgotten why we were hiring a new coach in the first place. It’s been mighty easy to be down on basketball and basketball coaches around here for some time. You start winning games and you’ll win back the fans. And Mr. Radakovich, good job except for all that awkwardness on Friday.
gte
March 28th, 2011
12:09 pm
why do the Delberts of the world as well as Jacket2011 and Full MetalJacket constantly on all these AJC blogs guarding all post and condemning all those that oppose them? Why not just make your points and get off and shut up.
No, you 3 cannot because you are cyber bullies. And not one of you could possibly attend any games even if they were in your backyards because you have to be on these blogs 24/7 in case someone says something that doesn’t agree with you people.
Guess this is your new profession. Makes you feel good about yourselves.
Nothing against Gregory even though most of the Dayton people seem estactic he is leaving, but why you 3 would bash Mark Price is beyond me. What did he do to any of you? Sorry bunch of losers
FullMetalJacket
March 28th, 2011
12:10 pm
I could care less about making a big splash. I want us to win basketball games in the Atlantic Coast Conference and so far Coach Gregory is undefeated as an ACC coach. Unproven, yes, but undefeated.
FullMetalJacket
March 28th, 2011
12:15 pm
gte: I’ve never “bashed” Mark Price. I am often critical of AJC blogs. My current profession allows me time to swap ideas here. I would contend that anyone who uses the term “cyber bully” is spending way too much time online himself/herself… And, just like the rest of your wretched little existence you must feel incredibly inferior in the “cyber neighborhood”, too, if you see me as a bully.
Belcher
March 28th, 2011
12:19 pm
ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
Tech vs. Georgia: Has balance of power shifted in hoops? | Jeff Schultz
March 28th, 2011
12:20 pm
[...] without Travis Leslie (who may follow him); 2) As much as the Georgia Tech fan base appears split on Brian Gregory — much like the Dayton fan base was split on Gregory — we have no idea what kind of job he’ll do on The [...]
Placenta Eater
March 28th, 2011
12:26 pm
I would have taken Gregory over Hewitt five years ago and I’ll take him today. It is pointless to compare Gregory to the other prospects at this stage: he is the coach, not a prospect, and he starts with a clean slate. I think he will be a good one, but if he’s not, then Ga. Tech will be in truly dire straits, along with DRad. So, let’s get behind him and see what he does on and off the court for Georgia Tech.
Placenta Eater
March 28th, 2011
12:29 pm
Jeff, you are probably an expert at “creating your own excitement.” But if you don’t stop, you’ll go blind. All seriousness aside, you make a good point.
ANTOINEFORD
March 28th, 2011
12:36 pm
I popped a boner in the waning moments of that VCU game yesterday. Shaka Smart will make a sexy hire for some fortunate program.
UGA=YAWN
March 28th, 2011
12:50 pm
I, for one, am excited for a new change and a new positive attitude. Be patient. He will take us back to the top of the ACC!!!
scary statistic
March 28th, 2011
12:53 pm
In 5 of his 8 seasons at Dayton, his team finished 7th or worse in the Atlantic 10.
Actually, it’s 5 of his last 6 seasons. Wow.
UGA=YAWN
March 28th, 2011
12:58 pm
Your point scary? Ah…we finished in 11th this year !!!!
scary statistic
March 28th, 2011
1:08 pm
If you don’t see the problem with that stat, I can’t help you.
Steve
March 28th, 2011
1:14 pm
UGA did create buzz with Mark Fox. He was one of the bigger hires that year. That being said, the team underperformed this year. Maybe not on the scale of GaTech, and maybe not based on our recruiting rankings, but the simple fact is we let a half dozen games slip away in teh secodn half that should have easily been wins. Fox has a couple more years to get that corrected, as the expectations have already risen.
As for GaTech, I like this hire. He is rumored to be a coach that does not tolerate primadonnas or players unwilling to play team ball. Will that hurt Tech getting the prized short term player .. I think so. Will it make Tech a more consistent team by focusing on the team and not the self .. I believe so.
It’s a good hire for Tech. They will be more consistent, but maybe not as high profile. He will get lesser marks for recruiting, but do more with those recruits. And if, IF, there just happens to be any big time player out there who is willing to lose a little be of the ‘ME’ time in ESPN in search of a championship .. then this is the right coach for that type of player.
I am a UGA fan, but I really see this as being a very solid hire.
BehindEnemyLines
March 28th, 2011
1:30 pm
re: CPJ — I’d say the jury is very much still out on whether he can recruit & win in a BCS conference. So far he’s proven that the system can be successful with someone else’s players. Based on what we’ve seen so far, I’m very uneasy to say the least about the eventual answer to the question.
Rudy
March 28th, 2011
2:53 pm
GREAT HIRE!!! GREAT HIRE!!! Now, let’s go DAYTON FLYERS!!!
)
Glenn
March 28th, 2011
3:31 pm
The more I look at this hire I believe this guy will atleast make his kids go to class & will probably graduate atleast half of them . You can’t say that about the last two coaches . Tech could have never afforded Shaka Smart even if he was interested & Brad Stevens can coach any where he chooses . It wouldn’t be Tech . This is probably as good a hire as Tech could have hoped for .
Price/Neal era alum
March 28th, 2011
6:57 pm
While Mr Schultz is correct that “[e]xcitement from coach hiring last only until the open tipoff or kickoff”, that’s true only if it ever starts — and it doesn’t seem to have done so this time. Not knocking Gregory — maybe he’ll turn out to be a great fit. But considering the absolute void of interest that Hewitt left, it seems that it would be wise to generate *some* excitement going into the open tipoff. Perhaps it was wise for DRad not to kiss the glutes of alumni too much by hiring Neal or Price as head coach. But it seems it would be even wiser to hire one as an assistant. Otherwise, we may hit late January before anyone is buying tickets again (assuming Gregory does well).
BTW, for those saying that neither has been a head coach, you are misinformed. Price was the head coach of an Australian professional team before one of his players sabotaged him (and then went on to be a huge failure himself).
BUZZ 2011
March 28th, 2011
7:32 pm
This hire may give Mark Fox the lead in at NC State.
This would get him into a more competitive ACC
conference.. He would however, need to learn when
to call timeouts and get a team to play two entire
halves of ball..
BobDawg
March 29th, 2011
12:21 am
Heard on Rivals Radio that Gregory is a tough Defensive minded coach and worked/learned from Izzo at Michigan St…. Sometimes his defense is over the top at the expense of his offense…Will be interesting to see if he can find a Happy Medium at Tech…
BobDawg
March 29th, 2011
12:23 am
Buzz, Mark Fox just took a sleeper recruit in Connecticut from NC State… 6-8 Matt Howard clone (Euro dude)… Fox won’t be going to NC State and with greater depth… we won’t peeter out in the 2nd halves much longer….
Brian Gregory will have to create own excitement for Tech | Visionary Glass Arts
March 30th, 2011
1:45 pm
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