Bradley’s Buzz: Hewitt delivers least bang for big bucks
Big contract, smallish results
It has been this correspondent’s contention that Georgia Tech coach Paul Hewitt has underperformed for five consecutive seasons. In three of those he has finished with a losing record, and in the other two — 2004-2005, when the Jackets returned four starters from a Final Four team, and 2006-2007, when Tech had four future NBA players on the squad — he manged to lose 12 games each time. But now Matthew Futterman of the Wall Street Journal has gotten all analytical and determined that, lo and behold, Hewitt is the most overpaid coach in college basketball.
Futterman measures a coach’s contract — Hewitt makes $1.3 million — against his team’s annual RPI to ascertain that the Institute is paying its coach $288,888 for what he calls “each [rating] point beyond the threshold of mediocrity.” Futterman writes that Hewitt declined a request to comment, but Tech publicist Mike Stamus writes in an e-mail that,”Matthew asked to speak either to Dan [Radakovich, the AD] or Paul, and Dan volunteered to speak for us on that subject. We never presented the request to Paul.”
(Here’s what Radakovich had to say in January about Hewitt’s status and his massive contract.)
The WSJ also ran this chart, and it should be stipulated that Futterman ranked only those coaches who have been at their schools for four or more seasons and whose million-dollar contracts could be verified. Meaning: Kentucky’s Billy Gillispie isn’t featured. But Bruce Pearl of Tennessee is rated the best bargain. And now the thrifty Vols have surely pulled off another coup by hiring the crafty Lane Kiffin.
Kidding about the last part.
Capel to Georgia? Um, not so fast
The Bulldogs are reportedly prepared to offer Jeff Capel $2 million to leave Oklahoma and come to Athens, and that might not be such a deal, either. According to Jason Whitlock of FoxSports.com, Capel “simply cannot coach.” And it must be noted that, even with the presumptive national player of the year in Blake Griffin, the Sooners didn’t win either the Big 12 regular-season or tournament title.
Full disclosure: I saw Capel’s Sooners play Louisville in Round 2 of the NCAA tournament last March and wasn’t impressed with his team. Neither were the Cardinals, who won 78-48.
Last week at the ACC tournament I asked Jason Capel if his older brother was UGA-bound. He said he didn’t think so. “I don’t think Oklahoma will let him leave,” Jason Capel said.
And here’s another Georgia semi-update, this from Manny Navarro of the Miami Herald: The Bulldogs might be interested in the Hurricanes’ Frank Haith. Me, I’d rather re-up Pete Herrmann than hire Frank Haith, whose team didn’t even make the NCAA tournament. But maybe that’s just me.
Enough basketball! More draft!
According to Russ Lande of Sporting News’ War Room, Matthew Stafford won’t be the first player taken in the April NFL draft or even the ninth. He’ll go 10th. And Mike Mayock of NFL.com, who famously championed Matt Ryan last year, went on the Dan Patrick Show and said Stafford isn’t worth the No. 1 overall pick and contends, evocatively enough, that “the streets are littered” with big-armed quarterbacks. Why, I believe I saw Ryan Leaf on the corner of Marietta and Spring just the other day!
Also from Lande: Tech defensive end Michael Johnson, who was thought to be cliff-diving out of the first round, is now on the uptick. And Johnson has scheduled a meeting with the Falcons, who could use another pass rusher.
National correspondent fears for your Atlanta Hawks
The partnership of Mike Woodson and Josh Smith, now in its fifth season, is ultimately doomed. So writes Chris Mannix of SI.com. And here’s where I, being just a no-name local guy, step in and say: Wait a minute.
It’s my belief that this Woody/J-Smoove thing has been totally overblown. Yes, Woodson benched him in the second half of a loss at Charlotte 10 days ago. But can anyone really say Smith won’t (or doesn’t) play for this coach?
Let me channel Matthew Futterman and look at the numbers: In the five games since the Charlotte snafu, Smith has averaged 17 points and 10 rebounds. Averaged a double-double, in other words. And he has, wonder of wonders, hoisted only one three-pointer in that span.
Can Smith be capricious? Yes. Can Woodson be obstinate? Absolutely. But I see no reason to believe these two can’t continue to co-exist. And those five games? The Hawks won all five.
And now a word from the Fiasco sponsor (namely, me)
If you haven’t entered the 22nd annual Final Four Fiasco, please take a moment and do so here. You might not be glad you did, but we folks at the ol’ AJC sure will.
Oh, and here’s who I’m picking. More important, you’ll discover who Elizabeth Bradley, who has outdone her dumb dad each of the past two years, is picking.
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183 comments Add your comment
geez
March 17th, 2009
9:40 pm
Problem is Tech doesn’t get better. Each game is the same thing. They have little or no basketball “sense”. If Tech doesn’t want to buy PH out, I would be happy to take the job for free….I can teach a bounce pass, how to block out, and how to shoot a free throw….could easily finish .500 with work on the basics. They have the athletes…..no coaching
Coach (Skip and Pete will be missed)
March 18th, 2009
1:18 am
Bradley, you should write the same type of article concerning Bobby Cox.
And then watch the Nuclear fall out (figuratively speaking of course) after the blog bomb goes off.
GT66
March 18th, 2009
10:30 am
IndyGT we should not tolerate racism in any form. It should not be politically incorrect for white people to point it out as so often black people do. I have never suggested that is the only problem, but it is one of many including he cannot coach. Jacket87 Causey’s parents NEVER complained about his playing time, they were disgusted that the coach was so blatantly racist and made no bones about it. The black players also pressured him to stop playing the white kid. Just ask his parents. That kind of attitude would get a white coach fired in a minute. We cannot have double standards.
Keeping It Real
March 18th, 2009
10:35 am
I am a big Paul Hewitt fan. The best thing for him is to get out of the little Jawja Tech fish bowl arena and move on to a better opportunity. Tech is on the low side in the ACC when it comes to basketball. It is even worse when you are exposed as a coach to national media atention that is chacteristic of Atlanta. It is good for the players as they get national attention early on. Why do you think so many of Tech’s good players leave after two years. As for you yahoos who think that he is a bad coach, you know nothing about basketball.
Dadgum
March 18th, 2009
10:43 am
Not to stir the racial pot but consider this. If you think Hewitt is a racist because he doesn’t recruit white players also take into account that the high school talent pool to chose from is probably 85% African-American players. Ever wonder why there aren’t many African-American baseball players. The talent pool is about 85% White in baseball. Look at the Atlanta Braves. Not one African-American in the starting 9 although newcomer Anderson may change that. My son’s high school team has 18 players, all white. Not one single player even tried out that was ethnic in any way. The area that feeds his school is 40% ethnic.
Point is African-American players see basketball as their sports ticket more so than whites. Don’t tag Hewitt as a racist it just makes you look ignorant.
Rock on…..when you are up to your ass in alligators it is hard to remember that the initial objective was to drain the swamp!
GT66
March 18th, 2009
10:55 am
Listen just because I don’t like blacks doesn’t make me a racist.
Mark Bradley
March 18th, 2009
11:17 am
I’m distressed by the direction this discussion has taken, so let me point out something: Two of Paul Hewitt’s three assistants are white — John O’Connor and Pete Zaharis. And Dean Keener, who was Hewitt’s assistant his first four seasons at Tech before leaving to coach James Madison, is white.
BuzzBitesDawg
March 18th, 2009
11:19 am
There is absolutely NOTHING to suggest that Hewitt can turn this team around. You can measure a coach on his past performance and his potential in the future, and Hewitt fails miserably in both respects. When hired he seemed to have great potential, and he talked a good game. He’s already been here a season or two too long, and if doesn’t wise up and resign soon (with some sort of buyout compromise) he risks losing any remaining good will he has with the Tech community. He has already set the program back to pre-Cremins status, and there is no foundation to suggest he will improve on his legacy of failure and mediocrity here. Those few loyal souls who seek salvation in a high school recruit like Favors are blind to the facts, the history, and the numbers of Hewitt’s career. Paul, you still have my respect as a man, but you are in danger of losing it. Continuing to stay on at Tech tells me you would rather have the money than the respect and admiration of your peers, players, and (soon to be former) supporters. A $10 million buyout IS a lot of money, but settling with Tech for less while resigning to start again with a clean slate elsewhere is the smart move. If you linger on until Tech fires you you may never have to work again, which is probably a good thing since you may never be hired again as a coach.
Wizard of Techwood isn’t a Value? | MrSEC.com
March 18th, 2009
11:21 am
[...] least value" of any major college basketball coach, it's a must read. Mark Bradley appears to enjoy poking the Yellow Jackets at moments like [...]
FullMetalJacket
March 18th, 2009
11:31 am
The accusations of overt reacist behavior by Hewitt need to be publicly proven and documented if they are to continue. It is true that the numbers are not in his favor (number of white players and starters compared with other ACC schools, NCAA schools, and as a percentage of the university’s overall demographics). His own public comments suggests he feels strongly about providing opportunities for black student-athletes, which is admirable. But the mere accusation of racism, like rape or child molestation, is too damning to be levied without direct quotes or references to substantiate it. I don’t see a causal relationship between racial distribution on the team and the lack of success during Hewitt’s tenure, but the correlation and continued failure of the program is fair game for examination, Mark.
WreckHorn
March 18th, 2009
11:42 am
Hewitt’s agenda to “provide opportunities for black student-athletes” is an abject failure when one looks at the abysmal graduation rates for his players. Some may argue the handful of NBA draftees as fair compensation for the large number of dropouts, transfers, and non-graduates, but they forget the Institute exists to develop professionals and leaders in society (and grants degrees to signify this development).
WreckHorn
March 18th, 2009
11:49 am
By the way, Mark, while your point about the white assistants is well-taken and may diffuse the validity of claims that CPH is racist, the failure of the head coach and assistants to direct games and develop talent is perhaps the greatest cause of the team’s failure. I would rather he recruit the best players and coaches available without regard to race, and if that is what he is, in fact, doing, it still does not speak well of his ability to guage either coaches or players.
32Ford
March 18th, 2009
12:02 pm
Getting back on message….Hewitt is OVERPAID. By any reasonable measure, he is not getting the job done and has not done so for several years. His lack of a longterm strategy (or even a successful short-term strategy) for the program should ensure his termination. Merely recruiting an occasional high school star without the academic chops to survive Tech’s curriculum is not grounds for letting Hewitt perpetually drive the program into the ground. Fire him, and either pay him off or fight it in court, but first, just fire him.
FullMetalJacket
March 18th, 2009
12:06 pm
At this point I would be content having the most underpaid basketball coach in the country, and one of the highest paid football coaches in the conference. Fire Hewitt and take a chance on an up-and-comer without all the baggage, agendas, and expensive tastes. And this time, reward him after he has proven himself over the long haul, even at the risk of losing him. At least the Institute will not be fettered by another Braine-storm like a perpetual $9.5 million buyout.
Beeswax
March 18th, 2009
12:28 pm
Since any number of high school coaches could have produced the same results over the last few years, there shouldn’t be much risk of bringing most anyone in here at a much more reasonable price than 1.3MM per year.
If Hewitt is so confidant in his program and ability, he should have no problem with us renegotiating his contract to pay for performance.
Mark Bradley
March 18th, 2009
12:48 pm
If you were Paul Hewitt, would you renegotiate? Both parties signed in good faith.
Keeping It Real
March 18th, 2009
12:49 pm
As previously stated, Hewitt needs to get out of the Jawja Tech cess pool. It’s a no-win situation. I suggest that Tech get a white coach, recruit white players with the ability to meet Tech’s rigorous standards(like Duke and Vandy),stop recruiting black players with poor educational backgrounds and limited instruction in school systems that are under funded)and move forward. They will still finish last but at least it would be with people who most reflects Jawja Tech’s alumni. Finally, Hewitt should not give up any of his salary to appease the alumni. No self respecting white coach who understands our capitalistic system would do so. Enough already.
GT66
March 18th, 2009
1:03 pm
A must read article on the front page of the USA Today Sports Section. Memphis lost in the finals last year to Kansas. They lost three starters from that team. All Americans Derrick Rose (NBA No. 1 Pick) and Chris Douglas-Roberts left early and both are in the NBA as is senior Joey Dorsey. They lost their point guard, a forward and their center. So they replaced three NBA players, two who left early, and have won 25 games in a row after losing three games to Xavier, Georgetown and Syracuse. They are the number two seed in their region and they have done this having had to replace three starters who went to the NBA. By the way their point guard is a freshman. So much for those who excuse Hewitt’s pitiful coaching by citing the players we lost to the NBA or for other reasons. Calipari just moved on and his team has the fewest losses (3) of any team in the tournament.
Mark Bradley
March 18th, 2009
1:07 pm
I don’t think Tech is a no-win situation. All the team has to do is win.
Atlanta Native
March 18th, 2009
1:42 pm
Look at Hewitt’s picture at the top of this article.
He looks like he is straining to take a BM.
Beeswax
March 18th, 2009
4:55 pm
No Mark, nothing to really make him renegotiate right now…
And it probably won’t come to that.
I expect the team to be better next year, but under perform against expectations. If it is even close, he stays until the Gailey payoff is done and GT can afford to upgrade.
Keeping It Real
March 18th, 2009
5:20 pm
I respectfully disagree with you Mr. Bradley. Tech is a no-win situation. As with the case of Dennis Felton, Paul Hewitt is in a no-win situation. Bill Gillespi at Kentucky is in the same boat. As you state, all the team has to do is win. That will not happen on a consistent basis at Jawja Tech. The blue chip players will not stay long enough. Any thing less than blue chip recruits will not win in the ACC. Bring on the good white players to appease the alumni and move forward. Notre Dame did this and they were pretty compeititive in the Big East. At least the black vs.white issue would go away just as it has done with the Braves.
TechTony
March 18th, 2009
8:59 pm
For anyone to suggest Georgia Tech is a no-win situation is positively absurd. Hewitt does not, and will not, succeed in Atlanta because he’s simply not up to snuffas a coach or a motivator. He puts players on the floor that cannot compete at the ACC level (I won’t name names because it’s unfair to be critical of college kids). Sure, one has to play the hand one is dealt, but the fact of the matter is instead of aces, he’s playing too many deuces and treys.
Keeping It Real
March 18th, 2009
11:53 pm
Tech Tony,
You are the Joker in the deck. We shall see how Tech competes when Coach Hewitt is gone. Bring in Bobby Knight if the other idiot school passes on him with the search firm. I believe the same search firm brought in Paul Johnson. You can keep it “all in the family” LOL.
Nitmar Odarp
March 19th, 2009
3:25 am
Here’s some love for Al Horford-
http://crashingtheglass.com
Dadgum
March 19th, 2009
9:45 am
GT66….are you trying to compare Memphis and GT as similar situations? Please give us more credit than that. We may have been born at night just not last night. Memphis is a perennial power along the lines of UCLA, UNC, Duke, etc. that has a basketball first education second mentality. Memphis has players lined up wanting to play there. GT is a tough academic school to attend no question.
There is no doubt in my mind that Hewitt has had to take a pass on many kids that he may have gotten but that he knew would have a tough time with GT’s academic standards. I wouldn’t be using Memphis as an example for your point. GT does not have the luxury of losing players to the NBA. Again to my point a few posts back…until the NCAA/NBA quit allowing players to leave early you will have to settle for the one-and-done prima donnas and hope that what is left doesn’t turn into a 2-14 conference record.
Rock on….GT is not a no-win situation but it is tough.
Dadgum
March 19th, 2009
9:52 am
Oh yeah, to those that think Bobby Knight would do better here or Coach K or whomever. I will point you to 4 years ago when Hewitt’s Jackets played in Lubbock, Tx against TT. Hewitt was so heavily praised by Bobby Knight as one of teh brightest coaches in the game. If anyone regards Knight as a great coach you also got to believe he notices a good coach when he sees one….just saying.
Rock on….Hewitt is a great coach and recruiter
Dadgum
March 19th, 2009
10:10 am
Mark….I too am very upset to continually see posts that point to Hewitt as a racist. Certainly disturbing especially when certain posters keep referring to “actual” proof. Haven’t we gotten past all of that. I guess when you have a losing season all the doomsayers like to jump on the carcass.
Rock on……do great players make great coaches or do great coaches make great players. I am not sure but I do know that there has probably never been a great coach say that he is going to recruit a kid that was a marginal player and make him great. Ya’ll think about that.
TechTony
March 19th, 2009
11:02 am
Keeping It Real,
Sorry you don’t agree with me. Hewitt has proven unfit beyond any reasonable measure. But then again, it’s clear you have little understanding of reasonable. Hewitt has the program clearly in a state of rapid descent. Gee, Stevie Wonder, I mean Keeping It Real, how could you not see that?
GT66
March 19th, 2009
12:01 pm
Dadgum you are all over the map. The comparison is totally valid because it speaks to the reloading after losing outstanding players for whatever reason. Memphis was not a better team than Geogia Tech was when Cremins was coaching. They have definitely gone to a higher level since Calipari has been there and Hewitt has been here. You continue to make excuses for Hewitt whether it be one and dones, injuries, academics or the NBA. All coaches at big time schools face all the same issues. You talk about our tough academics hurting recruiting when NC, Duke, Wake Forest, Boston College, Virginia to name a few all have tough entrance standards and all but Virginia do just fine. NC graduates 83% of its basketball players and still has great teams. It can be done. Virtually all Tech alums will readily admit that Bobby Cremins was not a great coach, but was a great or at least very good recruiter yet his record so far surpasses Hewitt’s it is not even close. On the race this format is not set up to prove anything. I have no reason to lie about what people with first hand knowlege have shared with me. Matt Causey, his parents and Ed Nelson have no reason to not tell the truth. We do not need to debate it and there are plenty of valid factual reasons to fire Hewitt without the race debate, but regardless it should not be tolerated under any circumstances. For you to claim Hewitt is a great coach defies logic and the facts. You lose all credibility when you claim that.
Dadgum
March 20th, 2009
10:11 am
GT66…..your points are understood but I stand by my Memphis comments. In addition you mention UNC graduating 83% of its players, their program and Duke’s specifically play to that. That is a totally different environment. They stay because they have a chance to play for a national championship every year. The great players are lining up to play there. They simply retool every year.
Ever wonder why the deplorable college football landscape is so dominated by the same teams every year? I’ll tell you why, all the great players want to play for these teams because of the exposure they will get on the national picture and play for championships. It is exactly the same in basketball. You always have the Kansas, Duke, UNC, UConn types there every year. Sure you will have George Mason or GT in the Final Four on occasion but let’s get real, Hewitt is not the reason GT isn’t considered among the great programs. They never have been and never will be in our lifetime.
Until the NCAA/NBA quit taking these kids early GT will have to get the prima donna and pray he stays and brings kids with him. That is not an excuse for Hewitt, and I am aware other teams lose players too, but GT can ill-afford to lose super players because they are not a powerhouse program and won’t be with any other coach either.
Rock on…..not sure I have any credibility, just a crusading everyman
GT66
March 20th, 2009
10:57 am
Dadgum that was a very nice response. I guess there are so many of us that are just over giving Hewitt any more time. He has proven, for whatever reason, that he cannot win at Tech. I wish he would just resign before dragging the program down any further.
blackprix
March 25th, 2009
11:32 am
I also agree with the poster that said after 2004 Hewitt got some ego and too high on his horse. I also agree with the poster who said, he consistently has had good to very good recruiting classes and can do nothing with them. That’s the real story.
Getting bluechippers and to continue the downward spiral should be telling everyone – including Dan Radakovich – this coach can’t cut it and a change is needed!