Radakovich’s exit won’t affect Paul Johnson (for now)
Dan Radakovich fired Paul Hewitt but he hired Paul Johnson. (Johnny Crawford/AJC)
(UPDATED: 1:30 p.m.)
Dan Radakovich is leaving as athletic director at Georgia Tech, where he had thousands of empty seats at football games and needed to search between couch cushions for funding, for the same job at Clemson, where he won’t have to worry about either.
So don’t blame Radakovich for leaving. He has been rumored for previous vacancies — most recently Tennessee and Texas A&M — and the wonder is that he didn’t leave before for a more lucrative option. The fact Radakovich is filling a position at another ACC school may upset some Tech fans, but it’s a slam dunk of a career move.
The question many already are asking is: What does this mean for Paul Johnson?
The answer: Probably nothing. At least in the short term.
Nor should it.
Tech is having a bad season: 3-5 overall, 2-3 in the ACC and coming off a 41-17 home loss to BYU. This follows going 2-5 down the stretch last season after a 6-0 start. Johnson has fired two defensive coordinators during his tenure and the fact the Jackets failed to score an offensive touchdown against BYU just raised the volume level of those who never liked his offense to begin with.
Radakovich recently gave Johnson a vote of confidence. That vote obviously means nothing now that he’s not on campus any more. But in declaring Johnson “the right person for the job,” Radakovich also said a few weeks ago: “I know there’s some erosion in support right now, but the Falcons are 5-0, and there was erosion in their fan base last year, too, when they didn’t win in the playoffs. That’s the thing about sports now. People can express their opinion quickly.”
He is right, of course. Ask Mark Richt.
In any profession, there is a level of discomfort when the boss who hired you leaves. But no matter who takes over as Tech’s new athletic director, he (or she) is going to be dealing with the same situation that Radakovich did. That person is unlikely to make an immediate coaching change, and there are at least two significant reasons:
• 1) Johnson’s four-plus-season resume is largely positive, even if the records are going in the wrong direction: 9-4, 11-3, 6-7, 8-5, 3-5. He won 20 games in his first two years and an ACC championship in his second season. He had no role in the NCAA’s decision to void that conference title based on its investigation. In short, it’s too early for anybody to jump ship, even if so many people commenting on message boards and blogs believe the world would be better off if they were running it.
It doesn’t take long for the “Fire him!” inferno to start in today’s media world — about the time it takes to type seven letters on Twitter. But it would be premature to make that move now. The new A.D. will want at least one year to evaluate the health and direction of the program.
• 2) Firing Johnson would cost way too much, particularly at a school that is barely in the black in athletics. (Radakovich did a good job just getting the Jackets out of the red and in fundraising for new facilities.) Remember, the athletic department is still doubled-over from Paul Hewitt’s $7 million buyout, and it’s not like either the football or basketball teams are selling out.
Johnson’s contract was rewritten twice in his first two seasons. It runs through 2016. His salary averages out to about $2.6 million annually. A firing after this season would cost the school in excess of $10 million.
That’s not happening.
The Jackets will need to go 3-1 in the last four weeks just to become bowl eligible. Projecting: a win over Maryland next week; games at North Carolina and home against Duke that can go either way; a loss at Georgia. That’s anywhere from 4-8 to 6-6, nothing for a Tech fan to cheer about.
But making a change isn’t a subject the new athletic director will, or should, visit for at least another year. If even then.
By Jeff Schultz
• EARLIER TODAY: Here’s how Georgia can get to BCS game (step by step)
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• Short Takes: Jarvis Jones rules, Aaron Murray escapes
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• Weekend Predictions: Sorry Doggies, Gators look too good
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• Georgia Tech stops the bleeding but assumes nothing
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• Weekend Predictions: Bulldogs, Jackets rise from the dead
• Falcons are NFL’s last unbeaten team: Here’s fate of others (with video)
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163 comments Add your comment
Tech Engineer
October 30th, 2012
9:32 am
Because of Johnson’s contract and Radakovitch’s increased debt burden, Tech cannot afford to fire Johnson. The new AD needs to avoid adding years to Johnson’s contract; so that if we continue with poor teams, firing Johnson will be affordable.
Billy
October 30th, 2012
9:41 am
When they hired Johnson we were suppost to get better not worse…I’ve been a GT fan since I was 6 years old when Dad took me to games in the 50’s. This is the low of lows. CPJ and staff need to go and alumni need to come up with the 10 million to move him. CPJ has not recruited the right players, hired the right asst coaches and now we see the results of his decision making process. Dan could see the writing on the wall and jumped ship..Empty seats and bad BS PR..I’m shamed for the 1st time to be a GT fan. You can build all the building you wish but you got to win! Drad and Johnson have FAILED GT and its FANS.
ps..God forgive for those ugly uniforms, thats not GT!
GTgrad71
October 30th, 2012
9:55 am
Someone at the highest levels of Georgia State Government needs to look at what GT has become. Does the State keep funding (at least 200 million dollars/yr) GT’s limited Majors with the current 50% level of Georgia students and with UGA now having Engineering Programs? Should GT be private?
If the State keeps funding GT, why not require GT to serve Georgia students; after all GT is a Georgia University, why not serve Georgia. UGA is 90% Georgia Students.
Put in Timeout by Ken Suguira,Filtered by Mark Bradley, Banned by Bill King, Chip Towers & only slightly loved by Jeff Schultz.
October 30th, 2012
10:42 am
GTgrad71…………The problem is the Government School System. They are not educating the students of Georgia in the Math and Sciences enough to get in TECH. The Regents are Screwing TECH because it is filled with MUTTS ie. Don Leebern aka S. Yoculan’s PIMP DADDY and Huge UGa donor. The Regents is trying to DUMB DOWN the Engineering programs by allowing Ga Sou & UGa have engineering. the regents also GAVE UGa more medical degrees trying to Kill the Medical College of Georgia(or whatever it is now called)
SG
October 30th, 2012
11:00 am
HT to @Billy “…..Drad and Johnson have FAILED GT….”
That sums it up perfectly. Johnson inherited some decent stock that helped him thru his first couple of years. He’s a one trick pony whose hideously limited offensive scheme repels decent QB and WR recruits at the same time making it easy for even a half baked, totally blind opposition defensive coordinator to prepare for. Just look at the depreciating return on the record to prove that mystery. And on the subject of GT D coordinators…. nah, we don’t even need to go there.
As for DRad – any AD that would hire a coach who centers his offense around a high school triple option should be working at low tier high school. As far as getting the financial house in order, I have to agree that he did that OK w/ the way I understand the new facilities debt to be serviced. But to give the extension to Johnson w/o a ltd. buyout?!?!? How’s that putting things in order? Top it off w/ his atrocious handling, and resulting costs of the NCAA investigation, (”I won’t make that mistake again”), f’in eh! DRad – At $650k/ year were you asleep at the wheel?
Bud needs pull the necessary strings, call in some favors, whatever, to a) get a zealous up and coming AD w/ sports mgmt / finance degrees, and b) yank the costly comfort blanket off of CPJ.
T-man
October 30th, 2012
11:06 am
It’s real simple. If CPJ can’t win the rest of his games this season then it’s not a matter of can’t or shoudn’t he be fired but that he must be fired. If Tech can find the money to finance it’s building programs then it would seem reasonable to believe that it can find the money to buy out CPJ? He was hired to do smething Gailey couldn’t do – win more than seven or eight games each year and and beat UGA often enough that it matters. So what did we get? 0-4 in bowls, 1-3 against UGA, perhaps the worst defeat in Tech history against Middle Tennessee State, and a team apparently more concerened with a wardrobe change than not laying down and playing tough, smart football like Tech teams used be known for. Yes Drad. You did a great job. We traded in Gailey’s mediocrity for CPJ’s cluelessness.
Put in Timeout by Ken Suguira,Filtered by Mark Bradley, Banned by Bill King, Chip Towers & only slightly loved by Jeff Schultz.
October 30th, 2012
11:22 am
i love all the CPJ hate……I think TECH has the talent to win. I also think if we get the players to sign in Feb and we get a Good DC tech will have a real good year next year. I wish more of you fans were on Facebook and actually talked to the players and hear what they think and feel about Tech. CPJ and the team.
Bestoink Dooley
October 30th, 2012
11:28 am
Good Riddance – I will personally help him pack his bags…
His heart was never in the GT program to begin with. I will say one thing for him – at least he did not get busted for cheating on his wife – oh I forgot that happened at uga (the university that really knows how to set fine examples from leadership all the way down to those fine upstanding football players they have)
Time
October 30th, 2012
12:40 pm
I know the Tech fans will bash me for repeating this again, but you should have never, ever, ever fired Chan Gailey. He was the best you could hope for. He was slowly building a winner at Tech, recruiting real top shelf talent, and it wasn’t good enough for you. You bring in MOOBS and he gimmicks his way to a few wins using talent that wasn’t his own. Now no recruit of any prominence will even look at Tech, and you’re going to have a hard time finding a established coach willing to come in and clean up this mess.
That being said, Johnson should go. I hope you guys keep him though, as he does provide some chuckles every now and then when he decides he wants to get mouthy.
If I were the new Tech AD (seriously I couldn’t do a worse job anyways) I would be looking at a young offensive minded Division 1-AA (whatever they call it now) coach. Can’t get established big name, so you have to build a name. Of course he’ll leave as soon as better job comes available, but you will have reestablished your credibility with recruits.
Put in Timeout by Ken Suguira,Filtered by Mark Bradley, Banned by Bill King, Chip Towers & only slightly loved by Jeff Schultz.
October 30th, 2012
12:45 pm
Ride out the CPJ contract and see how well Goose Godsey does at New England and bring him Home to TECH in 3 years.
Pitbull
October 30th, 2012
1:29 pm
Just wait until Paul Johnson gets his own players in place for his system.
Then he will show you. BWahahahhahahahahahahaha!!!!!!!!!!
Put in Timeout by Ken Suguira,Filtered by Mark Bradley, Banned by Bill King, Chip Towers & only slightly loved by Jeff Schultz.
October 30th, 2012
1:36 pm
Pitbull…………….Crowell is the next next next next neat HERSCHEL. BWahahahhahahahahahahaha!!!!!!!!
GurShell……….is the NEW next next next next next Herschel to right?
Nativebird
October 30th, 2012
1:56 pm
Pitbull: I’m a lifelong Jackets fan and you are right. Additionally and moreover….this is a long version movie of the Petrino to Falcons to Arkansas Act, the lane Kiffin to USC, the pete Carroll to Seattle act…..only at the AD level. Lesson? Every time your about to be held accountable for your failures….jump ship…Quickly.