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
StingerSplash
March 16th, 2009
12:51 pm
Bradley, dude, the WSJ thing has been on the stingtalk.com forums for a week. But hey, not all of us had to toil those long hours at the ACC cocktail party, no?
Mark Bradley
March 16th, 2009
12:55 pm
With all due respect, it hasn’t been a week. The article ran in Friday’s WSJ.
Gordon
March 16th, 2009
12:58 pm
Keep in mind the WSJ report is only considering the current year salary – I don’t think it takes into account the buyout. That makes it even worse. Bobby Cremins won 56 games his last 4 years at Tech, and felt with that performance he should resign. Paul Hewitt has won 56 games his last 4 years at Tech.
Born2Buzz
March 16th, 2009
1:04 pm
Geez Mark (and WSJ), just rub it in. I’m just so sick of thinking about Hewitt I’m actually glad our season is over.
GSU
March 16th, 2009
1:05 pm
Tech gets All-American recruits every year, but they don’t produce on the court. I wonder why that is? UGA football does the same, but at least they usually end up in the top 25 every year. Got to hold the coach accountable on this one.
Gordon
March 16th, 2009
1:10 pm
To be fair, I think Hewitt shouldn’t be criticized too much for the year after the final four. Elder, Muhammad, and Smith were are injured much of that year. The year before the final four (the Bosh year), I do think he underperformed. The first (taking Cremins leftovers to the tournament) and second (winning 8 of the last 11 with a bunch of freshmen) years I thought he walked on water. Now I don’t think he can even swim. As I’ve said before, the Midwest regional win over Kansas in 2004 has turned out to be the most expensive in Tech history.
dawgkicker
March 16th, 2009
1:13 pm
Mark bradley cant give any un-biased opinion about tech being the UGA lover he is… its funny he wont publish articles like this about UGA and the extreme low results this year for the NATIONAL CHAMP bullpups. but what can you expect from this paper. and as far as tech recruiting i will use the UGA approach to the situation….. We had injusries and trasnfers that affected our team with unpredictable results. This was also in conjunction with the loss of a core of senior leadership….. Hey that alwasy works for UGA when they fall short……
thom
March 16th, 2009
1:17 pm
Hey, I envy the Dawgs! At least they had the kahunas to step up to the plate and finish the Felton train wreck!
Trouble Funk
March 16th, 2009
1:19 pm
Hewitt is not overpaid. They’re only worth what their boss is willing to pay them. For what he has done at Tech I would say he’s underpaid. Capel can’t carry Felton’s “Jock” If Felton had Blake he would’ve made it to the Final Four. I like Capel but lets wait & see what he does after Blake leaves.
TM
March 16th, 2009
1:21 pm
I totally agree with the WSJ on this. Paul Hewitt has done N-O-T-H-I-N-G at Tech. The Final 4 appearance was a product of Cremins. Not hating on Hewitt, but how long do you have to be mediocre before you realize your coach is mediocre? I don’t think he is a bad coach, just not a great one.
wes
March 16th, 2009
1:27 pm
I used to think “Bark Madley” was just that….a big-time UGA homer.
He’s not. He predicted Tech to make the Final 4 in 2004 and picked UGA to win the NC in football this past year.
He’s equally dumb and smart and not really biased in this regard. However, the whole “I’m from Kentucky” bit really really blows.
RAMBLE ON!!!
March 16th, 2009
1:29 pm
Thanks Mark, keep up the good work. $433,333 for each ACC win, after 9 years.
That is being over paid. That’s a no brainer…or should I say a David Brainer
m
March 16th, 2009
1:32 pm
Paul Hewitt is only half as bad as Chan Gailey…..but that is still pretty bad.
GT Fan
March 16th, 2009
1:34 pm
Enough is enough….Fire Paul Hewitt!!!ASP!
RIP
March 16th, 2009
1:36 pm
Kid, you still don’t get it do you? I’ll be seeing you soon.
GT4Life
March 16th, 2009
1:49 pm
I just wish that the WSJ would write an article titled, “The Most Over-paid Sports Columnist”. I’d like to see if M. Bradley would let everyone know that he tops that list. I doubt he would.
DawginLex
March 16th, 2009
1:58 pm
Rambler, you will think Hewitt is a bargain after a few years of Paul johnson…………………..
Jack
March 16th, 2009
2:13 pm
Mark, I did not need the WSJ to tell me that Hewitt is grossly overpaid. If he had any pride in himself, he would just resign because I don’t think that the Tech AA plans to fire him anytime soon. It really doesn’t matter, Tech BB is irrelevant anyway.
lawzoo
March 16th, 2009
2:14 pm
Didn’t ga. want Dave Odom? He’s available.
Mark Bradley
March 16th, 2009
2:18 pm
TM, I really don’t know how you could say the Final Four was a product of Cremins. His last season was 1999-2000. The Final Four run was in 2004, and most of those players were juniors. (Jarrett Jack was a sophomore.)
Keith in Midtown
March 16th, 2009
2:18 pm
Listen Hewitt is the best dressed man in college so leave him alone.
Mark Bradley
March 16th, 2009
2:20 pm
Vince Dooley always liked Dave Odom and approached him at least twice. But Odom’s retired now. I don’t see him as a long-term answer.
ggodsey
March 16th, 2009
2:24 pm
RIP welcome back! I have missed you so much.
?? dawginlex ??
March 16th, 2009
2:27 pm
DawginLex,
Is your contention that Hewitt will be a bargain after a few years of PJ because, under PJ, that Jackets will lose fewer than 10 games over the next 3 seasons (none of which will be to GA), and he [PJ] will receive another pay raise??
Ty in Sandy Springs
March 16th, 2009
2:28 pm
I think Iman Shumpert is the most overrated player we’ve had since Kevin Morris.
ggodsey
March 16th, 2009
2:31 pm
Im going to get you sucka
Mark Bradley
March 16th, 2009
2:31 pm
I actually think Shumpert is a good player. He’s more a slasher than a shooter, but I like guys like that.
The UNDISPUTED Truth
March 16th, 2009
2:33 pm
To say that Hewitt is only “half as bad as Gailey” is simply ridiculous.
Relatively speaking, Hewitt has had 10 times as many blue chip recruits as Gailey ever had.
And what has Hewitt done with these recruits over the past five seasons? Zilch.
Otto
March 16th, 2009
2:34 pm
Isn’t Paul Hewitt’s agent a UGA grad? Go Dawgs!!! GT can’t afford to dump Hewitt like UGA dumped Felton.
Mark Bradley
March 16th, 2009
2:38 pm
I believe Hewitt’s agent is indeed a Georgia alum.
Ty in Sandy Springs
March 16th, 2009
2:41 pm
Mark, Don’t you think Shumpert is a little aggressive with his ball play?
RedGADawg
March 16th, 2009
2:42 pm
Guess paying PH is the reason high end zone tixs for GA fans are $75.00 this year for football. Do believe that the UGA policy is to charge the same for visitors as they charge UGA fans. Too bad for Yella Bees as there is shortage in Athens and plenty available for all Tech games from their fans who can’t stand the smell of defeat on home turf. Hewiit is proved to be overpaid and a can not get rid of coach. I need his agent.
Tom Davis
March 16th, 2009
2:42 pm
Paul Hewitt doesn’t think he is overpaid. Just ask him. Just like everything else at Tech, especially the women, subpar.
Mark Bradley
March 16th, 2009
2:44 pm
I don’t think anybody in the world believes he/she is overpaid. Not even the folks at AIG.
DawgGirl32
March 16th, 2009
2:45 pm
DawgKicker: “Mark bradley cant give any un-biased opinion about tech being the UGA lover he is… its funny he wont publish articles like this about UGA and the extreme low results this year for the NATIONAL CHAMP bullpups. but what can you expect from this paper. and as far as tech recruiting i will use the UGA approach to the situation….. We had injusries and trasnfers that affected our team with unpredictable results. This was also in conjunction with the loss of a core of senior leadership….. Hey that alwasy works for UGA when they fall short……”
The difference is, when UGA “falls short” they still finish in the top 10 in the nation….
JimG
March 16th, 2009
2:45 pm
So which of Hewitt’s assistants will get the gate? I’d be surprised if Rado hasn’t told him he has to fire some assistants to give the impression of accountability adn “change”…
Mark Bradley
March 16th, 2009
2:49 pm
I’m not sure any of them will, Jim G. But I would be surprised if the topic of changing assistant coaches wasn’t at least raised in-house.
StingerSplash
March 16th, 2009
2:51 pm
Felt like a week. Friday, Saturday …. so it’s been about four days, more than half a week.
Still, Mark, your points are salient and well-taken.
And Memphis is winning it all.
Tom Davis
March 16th, 2009
2:52 pm
When Tech won in the first round of ACC Tournament, Hewitt and the tech fan base acted like they won a National Championship. Steak Shapiro on 790 The Zone was pumping the news too because he thought he could get more people in STATS his overpriced, crap hole sports bar.
JimG
March 16th, 2009
2:53 pm
Do you think Hewitt is a good evaluator of talent and attitude? Seems as though the last 4-5 yrs have seen a number of heralded players who underperformed, and also a number of players who just don’t seem to be ACC material, even with the academic challenges to deal with..
RedGADawg
March 16th, 2009
2:53 pm
Follow up comment, so do the Yella Bugs blame UGA for Hewitt’s contract since a DAWG alum is his agent. Thanks to the agent, great hope for UGA’s BB future as TECH is stuck with PH.
GTgrad'10
March 16th, 2009
2:53 pm
Ty, I wouldn’t say Shumpert is overrated. He was a true freshman this year, so his better days are ahead of him. I have a couple of classes w/ him and have had the pleasure of getting to know him. I think he showed true grit this year considering everything he has gone through in his life. Most of you don’t know that he grew up in the slums of Chicago, and didn’t really have anyone in his family he could count on. His dad skipped town when he was a boy (only to resurface when Iman started getting noticed). Iman worked all through out high school (full time) bagging groceries at a local Super Target trying to help his single mom pay the bills. Iman started to get attention from schools his soph year, and eventually chose us over UNC.
He has the chance to be a 1st rounder in next years draft, so he will have his chance to enjoy -along with his sweet mother- not living on wellfare for the first time in his life.
Iman is a true heroe in my opinion and he deserves our respect. Good luck next year, Iman!
darblue
March 16th, 2009
2:56 pm
Dear Mark Bradley,
As a UGA Basketball supporter, I am intrigued by your blogging that my Doggies are “reportedly prepared” to offer Capel a 2m/yr offer. I know his name is associated with the opening, but if this has truly been reported I would appreciate a link to analyze the credibility of the source.
What does “reportedly prepared” mean? Damon will be presenting him with an offer sheet once OU gets ousted from the tourney? I’m not buying it … yet.
Mark Bradley
March 16th, 2009
2:58 pm
Jim, I don’t know what the problem is. I thought Hewitt did a terrific job in 2001 with Cremins’ players and in 2004 with his own. I think — and I’ve even said this to him — he proved he could coach at the highest level. But he’s one game above .500 since the NCAA title game of 2004. And I think a lot of talent has been left to languish.
And Stinger, I was certain the Tigers were going to win it all last season when they were up nine with two minutes left in the title game. But it didn’t happen then, and I don’t think it’ll happen now.
StingerSplash
March 16th, 2009
3:01 pm
Okey dokey, Mr. Bradley, one challenge for you:
Forget the NCAA Sweet 16. I want to know your picks for the real Sweet 16 to take place this weekend at Rupp Arena.
Mark Bradley
March 16th, 2009
3:02 pm
Jeff Goodman of FoxSports.com reported it about two weeks ago. I relayed the link in Buzz last week. http://tinyurl.com/7h4gx6
GT66
March 16th, 2009
3:04 pm
The WSJ article simply confirms with math what we knew and saw for ourselves. Hewitt is a terrible coach and should be fired. He cannot even coach as well as Whack Hyder. Hyder would beat Kentucky. When has Hewitt beaten North Carolina?
Mark Bradley
March 16th, 2009
3:06 pm
Final Four: West Jessamine, Eastern, Holmes and Mason County. Final two: Eastern and Holmes. KHSAA boys’ state champ: Holmes.
ggodsey
March 16th, 2009
3:06 pm
Thats a touching story about Shumpert. The really sad thing is that his uncle was not there for him in high school but suddenly appears when Iman gets some attention. Iman, don’t let hangers-on bring you down. When you go to the NBA remember how Tony just appeared in your life a year before you were to get paid. Good luck.
StingerSplash
March 16th, 2009
3:07 pm
GT grad ‘10,
I’m with you on Shumpert. Kid hits two huge shots at the end against Wake. His late game play against FSU in the tournament left something to be desired, but he wasn’t getting a lot of help, either.
And perhaps it was MB who pointed out the paucity of timeouts for Tech at that critical juncture.
I think Shumpert can be very good. He won’t be Kenny Anderson-Mark Price-Jarrett Jack great. He may not even be Travis Best or Tony Akins. He’s got to work on a few aspects of his game but he has time to do that. I think Moe Miller, even with the time he missed because of his injuries, took a step back, or at least did not progress as much as hoped. You want to win, you better have good guard play. So sayeth a friend of mine who’s won 600 games in Georgia. And The Genius is never wrong.
Mark Bradley
March 16th, 2009
3:08 pm
Regarding Hewitt and North Carolina: Lately he has beaten the Tar Heels twice in the ACC tournament (2004 and 2005) and he beat them in 2007 during the regular season.
StingerSplash
March 16th, 2009
3:09 pm
And Mark (glad you’re keeping an eye on the blog. Not even DOB is that hawk-eyed), there is truly nothing like that Saturday, with the semis in the morning and the finals at night.
HVACjacket
March 16th, 2009
3:12 pm
Hewitt is 6-10 against UNC, 6-3 away from Chapel Hill. I’d say that’s pretty good. That said, he needs to go.
StingerSplash
March 16th, 2009
3:13 pm
Another comment on Hewitt, aside from his under .500 record in league play and the number of losing seasons at The Flats (yes, I’m bored at work. So sue me. My lawyer’s better than yours.)
How many ACC tournament championship games have the Jackets been in during the last 10 years?
Mark Bradley
March 16th, 2009
3:13 pm
You’re right, Stinger. I went to my first Sweet 16 in 1963. I was in the second grade. I sat in the first row of the Maysville section in Freedom Hall as we beat Clay County on Bobby Hiles’ free throws. Louisville Seneca played the next game and had a center named Wes Unseld.
And Ron King of FSU was introduced as an ACC legend Saturday at the Dome. I told Brian Oliver (Tech’s legend), “I saw him score 44 points against Ohio County in the 1969 state championship.” And I did.
Mark Bradley
March 16th, 2009
3:15 pm
One ACC title game for Tech since 1996, and the Jackets lost to Duke in that one in Washington, D.C.
Gordon
March 16th, 2009
3:20 pm
StingerSplash,
I think it is 1, in 2005. A 5 point loss to Duke. Cremins got there at least 5 times I remember in his 19 years. The 3 times we won it and 2 1-point losses (once to Duke, once to Wake).
BravesFan79
March 16th, 2009
3:25 pm
Hewitt hasent proven he could coach at the highest level since his top assistants left!
Its like a football coach loosing his longtime defensive and offensive coordinators and trying to replace them with inexperienced guys he believes he can groom himself. Terrible mistake!
Our assistants might not be on a NAIA level…. much less ACC level! This is why were Constantly outcoached by the likes of Sidney Lowe….. ugghhh…. i mean you expect coach K to outcoach u… but the likes of Sidney Lowe??
Mark Bradley
March 16th, 2009
3:28 pm
I’ll say it once more: It took some doing to lose 14 conference games.
Concerned
March 16th, 2009
3:44 pm
1 winning conference record in 9 years!!
By what resonable standard should CPH not be fired?!?!?
Every year and every game, it is Groundhog Day.
It will cost the same to fire him today, tomorrow, next month, next year, or in 5 years…SO FIRE HIM NOW!!!
RAMBLE ON!!!
March 16th, 2009
3:51 pm
Mark, the reason why GT has stunk since ‘04 is due to Hewitt getting to full of him self. BCA President, calling out Dick Vital, he thought he was better than Coach K. and took everything for granted. He quit working and now he’s scrambling. I wish it wasn’t so, but the truth hurts.
Last year, when he was reassuring us, GT Basketball was in “fine shape” and the AJC criticism was due to having to “sell newspapers”, and for some crazy reason, throwing Fox News under the bus too.
He’s been humbled, but only as much as 1.3 million dollars will allow you too be.
DawginLex…you pray every night CPJ will turn out like Hewitt. CPJ has won ever place he’s been, and he’s taken over Georgia. 16 players coming back from last years 45-42. You will now have to compete with Ga. State for Second place in this state. Get use to it.
Gordon
March 16th, 2009
3:52 pm
You recently said you were cautiously optimistic about Tech next year, Mark. I think you based that on the presumption that Keener was coming back, but I haven’t heard anything from Hewitt, Keener, or you since then to support that. In fact your “Keener mind” column said that Hewitt thought the problem was all recruiting. I also don’t believe Radakovich is going to force him to do anything with his assistants (and I don’t believe he should – that’s Hewitt’s job).
You obviously see a problem with Hewitt, so are you saying we will be successful despite Hewitt with all the new talent, or have you downgraded you outlook? What’s Elizabeth’s opinion, since she obviously has the “keener” basketball mind in the family?
hope
March 16th, 2009
3:53 pm
Next year will decide if Hewitt stays. He will have had a PG for a 3rd year(miller) and a blue-chip class. We should be a top 4 team in the conference.
scott
March 16th, 2009
4:02 pm
I think Hewitt will be given one more year, given who is coming next year. But if they don’t make the tourney next year, then I bet even Siena won’t take him back. Maybe Siena High School? Their hand will be forced. Another 2-win season in the conference cannot be tolerated, despite the most generous termination clause in world history.
That said, I hope Tech has a great season next year. And they might. But then it will be at least 3 more years of Coach Hewitt and not just one.
Left to Right
March 16th, 2009
4:03 pm
I think every college basketball coach in the country looking to get a raise and/or extension is going to have his agent “leak” his name to the media as a possible candidate for the UGA job.
jt
March 16th, 2009
4:09 pm
Mark, your an idiot. In your article, you wrote that Hewitt has had players leave early each year. How can you build a successful program if your players dont stay. Hmm…Duke players stay in college, Duke has great basketball. Do you see a correlation?
PMC
March 16th, 2009
4:11 pm
no doubt David Braine is responsible for that contract too….. nice.
I think Hewitt can get it done again but he’s really got to get his teams more consistant from year to year. All good teams lose players to the NBA. To his credit he never blames his players… but a lot of them came up short this year.
Mark Bradley
March 16th, 2009
4:15 pm
Duke players who left early for the NBA: Luol Deng, Elton Brand, William Avery, Corey Maggette, Shavlik Randolph, Josh McRoberts, Jason Williams. It happens to the Dookies, too.
GTgrad'10
March 16th, 2009
4:23 pm
Thanks for the post, Stinger. Iman has talked about his past only twice to me, but both times he had tears streaming down his face. I only gave the PG 13 version, but let’s just say he has had it rough. And that kid LOVES his mama lol.
Even the people who aren’t associated w/ Ga.Tech should root for this guy to make it to the next level. Lord knows he has earned it.
FullMetalJacket
March 16th, 2009
4:26 pm
There is no doubt that Tech’s Hewitt is the most overpaid coach in the land. And I would agree completely with your assessment of Hewitt’s performance since 2004–it has been truly underwhelming, and the last three years are an embarassment to the Institute. I did not see the WSJ piece until you referred to it, but there was at least one “Vent” or AJC blogger in the past couple of weeks who had made the point that with only 2 conference wins in the regular season this year he must be the most overpaid coach in the country. Taken with his (only slightly better) performance since his arrival at Tech (2004 being the only high point, and that with a 9-7 ACC record), the truth and proof is clear. His fat wallet apparently keeps him from feeling the hot seat.
StingerSplash
March 16th, 2009
4:26 pm
I don’t think the BCA stuff has much of anything to do with Hewitt’s failings. I think it falls squarely on Hewitt’s lack of strategic and tactical mastery. If anything, look at the number of minority coaches in the 300-plus Division I ranks, where a majority of the players are African-Americans. Who would have thought 40 years ago that there would be this many minority coaches in the ACC?
MB, I’m sure you read Pat Forde’s long but quite readable and very, very good piece on the Kentucky team from the hills on espn.com. Very well done. He glided over Clay County’s championship with Richie Farmer, who now is the state’s ag commissioner and yes, even then and now, he could run for governor.
A friend of mine and I were on the way to the Sweet 16 about 10-12 years ago and we stopped in Clay County. There’s a little store there with a picture of the Clay County state championship team on the wall. As we walked in, my friend said something to the effect of “it’s here somewhere” and the lady behind the counter said, “You want to show him Richie?” meaning the state championship photo. Yep.
StingerSplash
March 16th, 2009
4:28 pm
And yet, all those players, all that talent now in the NBA, and only one ACC championship final appearance in the last 13 years? Even Gailey got us to one football championship game in seven years (and, of course, was roundly outcoached by Jim Grobe.)
Mark Bradley
March 16th, 2009
4:30 pm
Well, yes. There was that 9-6 loss to Wake — the worst game in the history of college football.
WreckHorn
March 16th, 2009
4:34 pm
There is another politically incorrect reason why CPH has struggled at Tech. Would Mark Price, Matt Harpring, the Barry boys, Craig Neal (you get my drift) have ever been recruited by Hewitt? Clearly, the last 9 years has shown he would not have recruited them, though if they had walked on, like Causey, they MIGHT have got some playing time. Hewitt’s social agenda and BCA ties have not served the Institute, the team, or the players well.
DawginLex
March 16th, 2009
4:35 pm
One fluke loss followed by your sorry team getting run in the Chicken Bowl. What is there to be afraid of? Not Tech, that’s for sure.
Bernie Matt
March 16th, 2009
4:36 pm
I’ve been telling people for years, Hewitt was a joke!! The thing is, the people I’m telling already know because he let them hijack the program. That program is run by AAU coaches, whom I won’t name because their friends of mine, and they are getting paid good money by Paul to get McDonald’s AA’s like Javaris, Thad and Derrick. What tripped me out though is seeing how Paul paid for Peacock and was then forced to start him, thinking he had something, and really, screwed the team up, not to mention causing dissension among the guys who were there before, like Rashaan Dickey. Hell look at Zam Frederick and the impact he had at SC, he might not be an NBA talent but solid ballplayers are what make a program, hell most guys don’t go to the league. When I’m arguing this point with my boys, they just laugh and tell me to get off their guy(pigeon).
BuzzBitesDawg
March 16th, 2009
4:42 pm
While I doubt Wreckhorn’s assertion of a race-based agenda, it would be generous to say that at the least CPH has not had his primary focus on the basketball team’s success. It really doesn’t matter whether it is incompetence, distraction, or lethargy that is the cause. I am even more disappointed with his lack of success in graduating players and developing character in individuals, which would be at least some consolation albeit no excuse for poor records. Hewitt used to represent the school well, but now he lacks either on-court or off-court success and that undermines his credibility and the program’s bottom lines: making men out of boys and making a profit.
RAMBLE ON!!!
March 16th, 2009
4:49 pm
How bout Roddy Jones running another 16.9 yards per carry for another 3 years. BBWWWHHHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!
GPB
March 16th, 2009
4:51 pm
“Well, yes. There was that 9-6 loss to Wake — the worst game in the history of college football.”
Come on Mark, what’s your criteria for that decision? Lots of field goals being boring? We could just as easily use these as criteria – Most boring game: Auburn – Miss State 3-2. Biggest beatdown: GT – Cumberland College 222-0. And many other games with many different criteria.
Mac
March 16th, 2009
4:52 pm
Mark, last year the national sportswriters said Atlanta HAD to take Matt Ryan, because you HAVE to rebuild around a franchise quarterback. OK, why does that not apply to Detroit this year? Is Stafford considered that much worse a prospect than Ryan? If so, why? What’s wrong with him? Or, are all these draft experts full of $#%&?
pws
March 16th, 2009
4:55 pm
Hey Mark:
Change of subject, I read an article this weekend about how Kenny Anderson is trying to get his degree from some college other than GT. He stated that he wanted to be a coach somewhere, and have his jersey retired at GT. As a GT grad, I hope he understands that to have his jersey retired, he needs to graduate from GT! I have sent DRad an email about this, I hope he understands the retired jersey policy, or there will be some really upset GT grads. The point is, that GT diploma isn’t the same as one from UGAG, or anywhere else!
FullMetalJacket
March 16th, 2009
4:57 pm
Bernie Matt, I hope you are right. At least in that case the school might have some recourse for ethical violations to avoid paying out so much rollover buyout bread (thanks, Braine). Surely a little NCAA inquiry is in order, eh?
George P. Birddog
March 16th, 2009
5:10 pm
Once Braine and Tech handed Paul Hewitt that bottomless golden envelope, he has not produced. Perhaps a part of him would even welcome getting a pink slip and check for 9.5 million bucks to go away. There is not a Divison 1 NCAA school who would pay him half his current salary, I bet, based on his performance. I admit it must be mighty tempting to just phone it in when your paycheck is guaranteed and your employer lets you talk your way out of everything without question. I would like to see the AJC and other media sources really put him on the spot and give us a glimpse of his take on his failure. So far, he seems to be in denial that he’s a failure and not earning his keep.
BuzzBitesDawg
March 16th, 2009
5:13 pm
Separated at Birth, or One in the Same: CPH and AIG. I’ve never seen them in the same room together, and they both have a penchant for bilking good people out of big bucks while taking big rewards for themselves.
PMC
March 16th, 2009
5:23 pm
Mark You were hanging out at the Cheetah with Ryan Leaf??
Mark Bradley
March 16th, 2009
5:34 pm
I’m not trying to put words in Hewitt’s mouth, but it’s my belief that he believes the program is in good shape.
Mark Bradley
March 16th, 2009
5:35 pm
And I remember more than a few writers saying the Falcons shouldn’t pick Matt Ryan because he was too great a risk. (I was the contrarian: I thought they should.)
Mark Bradley
March 16th, 2009
5:53 pm
Please note that Tech publicist Mike Stamus e-mailed me to say that Hewitt did not turn down the Wall Street Journal’s request for comment — as Matthew Futterman wrote in the story — but that such a request was never put to Hewitt. Buzz has been updated to reflect as much.
IndyGT
March 16th, 2009
5:58 pm
I saw that article the morning of the FSU-GT game, and was hoping it would prove motivational for CPH.. guess not. I’ve been fairly supportive of CPH, and willing to let this season slide because of all the other issues. All the while maintaining that these are a result of CPH’s mistakes, and he needs to remedy them. Next year, and the following couple of years after that are going to be very important to him.. I’m not calling for his head just yet. But, I will be pretty soon if we have more years like this. As for the ‘politically incorrect’ assertions.. people, come on? CPH has recruited players that were white.. Nelson, Luke, Causey, Sheehan, etc. Obviously not near as many black players, but you recruit the best players you can get for your system that you play. I don’t think there’s a concerted effort by CPH to bring only black players in.. I know I’m going to hear about Duke.. but Coach K goes after guys that fit well into his system.. which is geared around 3-pt. shooting, team defense, and they play well as a team.. but very few of those players are gifted potential NBA stars. And Coach K as much as I hate him, is a helluva coach.
Mark Bradley
March 16th, 2009
5:58 pm
One last thing, and then I’ll shut up: Dave Leitao of Virginia, No. 2 on the WSJ’s list of overpaid coaches, resigned Monday.
UGAIsSoLastYear
March 16th, 2009
6:00 pm
DRAD is an ass for keeping Hewitt. Who cares what DRAD said in Jan – want to hear what DRAD and Paul say to this Wall St article!!!!
StingerSplash
March 16th, 2009
6:16 pm
If UVa asks D-Rad permission to speak to Hewitt about their vacancy, by all means, let them have it (and if they do, that means it’s a fait accompli. Rarely do schools ask for permission unless there’s already some sort of deal on the table, usually arranged by a third party, like Barzini brokering the deal between Tattaglia and Don Corleone).
terpfan
March 16th, 2009
6:18 pm
Look at the talent level at Maryland and GT. Maryland doesn’t have anywhere near the talent level that GT has but Gary Williams has them in the tournament. The bottom line is….. what can a coach do with talent and what can some do without? You be the judge. GT didn’t even get a NIT bid.
Marky Mark
March 16th, 2009
6:32 pm
A blog writing about what other people have blogged about? Mark, I missed your old columns. You were one of the bests
GT 84 Alum
March 16th, 2009
6:35 pm
I hate to say it that Paul Hewitt is the black Bobby Cremmins. A great recruiter that consistently gets talent, but cannot coach a game to save his life. The end of the Florida State game in the ACC tournament looked like a bunch of guys how just met each other in a pick up game. If we could build a “FrankenCoach”, I would take Paul Hewiit as a recruiter and Gary Williams of Maryland as my game coach. We would end up in the top 3 of the ACC consistently and would have a least one championship banner. There is no reason that with the talent that GT has, that they don’t make the trounament every year.
UGAIsSoLastYear
March 16th, 2009
6:40 pm
It’s true. Really liked Bobby but it became apparent, with him too, that he was a great recruiter and an average coach. His last years were brutal. It is apparent with Hewitt now – so time for him to go too.
Steve
March 16th, 2009
6:49 pm
On the Capel to UGA comment, I don’t think Dennis should have been fired. Seriously. He was the victim of 4 gimpy ankles before the season began, and a DUI where he did the right thing and kicked the guy off the squad. On recruiting of student athletes has gotten superb the last 3 years, and he was finally a year away of having the program that is needed with UGA’s academic requirements.
That being said, the man for the UGA job is John Thompson III. Coached at Princeton. Awesome recruiter. And he is loaded at Georgetown for next year. No, he didn’t make the tournament this year, but he still played the 4th best schedule in the country, with a winning record, and no Senior contributing significantly. Get him. You’ll be glad you did.
kenny
March 16th, 2009
6:50 pm
hewett either recruits uncoachable player or is a terrible coach..either way, he needs to go..does antbody really believe a bunch of young freshmen will save the day? they will need better coaches than we have now…
and why does the ajc not cover tech baseball any better?
Go Jags
March 16th, 2009
7:04 pm
I am as big a Tech fan as there is, but I want you guys up in Atlanta and Athens to know that there is one GREAT basketball team in the state of Georgia, and it’s not in either Atlanta or Athens. Even though Division 2 athletics may be looked down on by many, the Augusta State Jaguars are proof of what a good coach can do with an average to good bunch of players: he can build a TEAM. Augusta State lost to UGA in the final seconds IN ATHENS last year and ended up finishing second in the country in Division 2. They are one win away (Tuesday night) from returning to the Division 2 Elite Eight in Springfield, Mass next week. I got sick and tired of going to Tech games this year, even though a season ticket holder, and I started attending ASU games for the first time ever. WOW!!! I had forgotten how much fun a basketball game can be. Mark, you should check them out.
steve
March 16th, 2009
8:58 pm
Hewitt is a great recruiter, not a good coach. He has no program with so many 1 year and out guys. Even the guys he has kept the duration, don’t seem to develop under his tuteledge. Favors will be great, but I think he is another 1 year and out guy. If Hewitt doesn’t make the NCAA’s next year, I think he should do the right thing and resign.
GT66
March 16th, 2009
9:12 pm
IndyGT you and others keep saying Hewitt recruited Nelson. Cremins recruited Nelson and Hewitt ran him off. He started the first half of his last season with us and led the team in rebounding then Hewitt sat him the rest of the year and then he transferred to Connecticut. Hewitt only wanted to play his black players and got complaints all the time from black players for playing Causey even though he was the high scorer in three consective games. If you doubt that ask Causey’s parents.
Mark Bradley
March 16th, 2009
9:34 pm
Cremins left in 2000. Nelson was a freshman — the ACC’s top rookie, truth to tell — in 2001-2002. That means he signed in 2001 to play for Hewitt, not Cremins.
EC
March 16th, 2009
9:50 pm
You people are being too hard on Paul. The program is in great shape. No one cares about it. We have an arrogant coach which we should be proud of. And finally, if it is not in good shape – it’s not his fault -it’s someone else or bad luck. I’m like the other guy – who wrote in – can we just forget this so we can go on to happier times. The salary, the arrogance, the results – the talent yet lack of coaching – it all nausuates me. But of course hewitt is not to blame – just ask him.
Navigator
March 16th, 2009
10:04 pm
I’m impressed that finally someone in the Atlanta press has the intestinal fortitude to write an honest evaluation of Paul Hewitt. Unlike the coach at UVA, Hewitt is willing to take the money and force Tech to either allow this to continue or buy him out. Honor seems to have no place in the coaching profession.
StraightJacket
March 16th, 2009
10:23 pm
Mr. Bradley, I just don’t know what the big mystery is. Ever play chess? Hewitt lines up with 4 bishops and a rook every night. You can play that way, but it isn’t a well-designed team. And despite having good pieces, you will lose a LOT if you’ve got clones at too many spots. Do you REALLY think Peacock was playing his “true” position? What about the disaster at point guard. Lawson is a “Queen” on the floor for UNC, and we had a “RooK” out there … dealing with injuries half the season. I can’t get to the point of blaming Hewitt for Critt leaving a year earlier than ANYBODY thought he would, Dickey going when he did, Bell getting hurt in preseason, etc. etc. etc. … In summary, we had lots of good “pieces” on the board this year, but mostly clones, and many playing out of position. And no “queen” (i.e. point guard). If Hewitt can’t get it done next year with Mfon U., Favors, and a well-blended cast (i.e. rooks, bishops, knights, a queen, and some pawns), the fine…. I’ll get on the bandwagon for a new coach. Until then, give the man a chance to play on an even playing field, court, … chessboard! -SJ
Beeswax
March 16th, 2009
10:57 pm
If this was a one year phenomenon, then I could see the excuse of bad luck, injuries, etc. However, we’ve now had 3 losing seasons out of the last 5 and two underachieving seasons out of the ones that were not below .500. I believe those results by themselves would be cause for dismissal.
However, our coach has now shown himself to be willing to hold the institute hostage to a badly negotiated contract all the while maintaining an arrogance while protected from that badly negotiated deal. A good representative he is not.
I say turn the heat up as high as possible.
Leon
March 16th, 2009
11:28 pm
I have been a Tech basketball fan during and since the Whack Hyder era and this is the poorest excuse for coaching I have seen in the last 50 years. I can’t think of a single Tech player that has shown significant improvement under Hewitt. The few Hewitt players that played or are playing in the NBA left Tech early and made it on raw talent rather than Hewitt’s coaching coaching ability. His players play out of control like playground teams who look as if they either have not received coaching or don’t listen to the coach. Rarely have any of his players had a respectable free throw shooting % which is another indicator of lack of mental discipline and meaningful practices. Although Hewitt’s winning percentage has nothing to do with race, does it not seem ironic that Duke, North Carolina, FSU, and other ACC contenders are able to recruit and play some white players as starters while the head of the Black Coaches Association has never been able to do this unless you count Luke Schintzer who happened to be 7′ tall. One token white guy every 8 – 9 years would not be bad if he could win with his all minority recruiting but he can’t win regardless. Unfortunately he supposedly has a great recruiting class coming next year but, if they really are that talented, they will soon realize that Hewitt’s coaching will not prepare them for NBA or life unless their aspirations are to be head of a minority organization whose sole purpose appears to be to bring in other minorities regardless of talent or abilities.
Jo Bling
March 16th, 2009
11:32 pm
Another defense of Shumpert here. The kid had a rough year, but he’s loaded with natural talent. I loved the way he took the final shot against FSU – even though he missed. He was quoted saying he couldn’t find Clinch to get him the ball, but I sense he planned to take that shot all along. I love that in a player, and I think he’s going he’s going to be a really good one.
I think we can talk about Hewitt’s underperformance all we want, but the facts are what they are. He’s locked into a massive contract that leaves the school no choice but to keep him another year, and the recruiting class compounds the dilemma. He’ll be here next year, but he better get this team up near the top of the ACC or he’ll be gone after ‘10.
Buzzalucci
March 16th, 2009
11:39 pm
This clown can’t coach. But he speaks well and wears nice suits. I am ashamed of how sorry our BB program has become. I am a grad who will not attend another game until we hire a real coach. Who says this guy can recruit? If he could we would be at least a .500 ACC team. Sorry coach with below avg talent equals a disaster. And do people really believe that a few freshmen are gonna arrive next year and suddenly we will know how to win? Give me a break. It will be de ja vu all over again. Mediocre followed by crap. But by then we will have the excust again that we lost players to the league. Pass the hat, fire the clown and lets move on. I have seen all I want to see. Just don’t forget the year after the Nat’l championship game appearance. That was great coaching. It has been great ever since.
79
March 17th, 2009
7:20 am
Mark wrote, “Duke players who left early for the NBA: Luol Deng, Elton Brand, William Avery, Corey Maggette, Shavlik Randolph, Josh McRoberts, Jason Williams…”
This is not exactly an NBA All-Star team, is it…? But they all won big at Duke……Maybe they were just very well-coached in college…do you think..?
William Casey
March 17th, 2009
10:20 am
Let’s take a look at Coach Paul Hewitt:
* Javaris Crittendon screwed CPH by leaving way early. His momma needed a house. She has one now and Javaris rides the bench for the Memphis Grizzlies. Wow… but momma has a house! GT… a social welfare agency!
* Coach Hewitt can’t recruit white guys. Schencher was an afterthought following Southall’s legal problems. Causey just stumbled into Tech. Will CPH ever recruit a 4-year guy like Hansbrough or Scheyer? Their moms don’t need houses.
* Coaching ability: let’s get specific. I’m a retired high school coach. Watch the tape of the last 8 seconds os the GT-FSU game. EVERYONE, including my 17-year old son who pointed it out, knows that when defending an in-bounds play at that position on the floor, the guy guarding the ball plays at least a half step below the ball and FORCES the in-bounder to throw the ball in AWAY from the basket! POOR COACHING! We lose!
The GM
March 17th, 2009
10:32 am
To have Hewiit to resign DRad has to begin micro managing the coach and the basketball program. Give Hewitt an ultimatum that he has to get DRad’s approval before offering a scholarship and no recruiting any player that could be a one and done, plus hire all new assistant coaches meaning fire those that are there. See how long Hewitt can take the heat before he has to get out of the kitchen.
GT66
March 17th, 2009
11:13 am
William Casey is so correct. There is obviously no rule or requirement to recruit white kids, but Hewitt will not regardless of their talent. Can you imagine what a Hansbrough, Singler or Scheyer could do for our program. They are only examples, but all are good students and could certainly hack our academics. By the way the latest stats say NC graduates 83% of their players and UConn 33%. Simply shows that you can recruit quality kids of all colors and succeed. Tech’s graduation rate is not very good which goes to the overall quality of who Hewitt recruits.
GT66
March 17th, 2009
11:20 am
Mark thanks for correcting me on who recruited Nelson. Hewitt did after all. But he did run off the ACC Rookie of the Year. Very sad. Mark what is Tech’s current GPR (Graduation Progress Rate I think)?
Mark Bradley
March 17th, 2009
11:25 am
I’m pretty sure Hewitt wanted Nelson to stay. Nelson’s problems were more with Chris Bosh, who left for the NBA the same year Nelson split for UConn.
Mark Bradley
March 17th, 2009
11:28 am
Tech’s APR for the 2006-2007 academic year was 931, which put it in the 40th-50th percentile of Division 1 men’s basketball programs.
Scott
March 17th, 2009
11:50 am
I repeat, as a life long Tech fan, I can say without question or doubt, I cannot WAIT for the day we fire Paul Hewitt !!
GT66
March 17th, 2009
12:04 pm
According to my sources D Favors has no chance of getting the SAT score he needs.
dannyc
March 17th, 2009
12:08 pm
Let’s send Hewitt to Athens. 2 problems solved asap
Glenn
March 17th, 2009
1:11 pm
I think it’s safe to assume that both Hewitt and Radakovich are confident that this contretemps over Hewitt’s never-expiring contract will blow over. It won’t. I’m a lifelong Tech fan and it galls me to no end that we have a basketball head coach who is, for all intents and purposes, completely unaccountable.
Hewitt needs to be publicly shamed into unilaterally altering the terms of his contract so that a year isn’t added on to it automatically every year. Here’s the mantra: “Hewitt, start the clock!” I know it’s unlikely he’ll do that, and I know it’s probably unprecedented, too, but isn’t this a particularly, umm, unique contract?
Until Hewitt shows the strength of character to make himself accountable, to put himself on the line instead of mouthing platitudes and reveling in his security, his support will continue to dwindle. He will be the loneliest of figures, coaching on the sidelines while no fans or Tech supporters are behind him.
Mr. Bradley, please start the drumbeat!
josh
March 17th, 2009
1:35 pm
wait, wait…isn’t that racist to say that paul hewitt is overpaid? where is terrence moore?
Dadgum
March 17th, 2009
2:05 pm
Mark….APR is misleading. Anyone that leaves the program early counts against the grad rates. Thus you have Zam Frederick, Thaddeus, and Crit among others skewing those numbers. Not that they couldn’t be better but the scores would look better without the attrition.
I will say this one more time. Until the NCAA and the NBA quit allowing college kids to jump after 1 year you will never have any consistency at GT. We will never get the number of good players that Duke/UNC get. We have to hang our hopes for the most part on the one-and-done types to carry us each year. Hewitt has done a phenomenal job of geting those type of players. Rather have them than not have them or see them go to Duke.
We would be talking National Championship for next year if Crit and Thad had stayed, Lawal stays, and Favors and the boys coming next year. Ya’ll think about it. Hewitt did a nice job getting the pieces together for a run but the pieces fell apart. We all knew this was going to be a tough year. It was worse than expected. Recruiting blue-chippers is a two year process. We weren’t going to get solid PG play and with Miller hurt and slumping we were doomed.
Blame Hewitt if you want but I am blaming the college basketball system. It is absolutely terrible. Ask yourselves why does baseball and football make a kid wait until after his junior year?
Rock on….Paul Hewitt is a great coach and recruiter!!!!
Dadgum
March 17th, 2009
2:08 pm
So GT 66 are you calling Hewitt a racist for not recruiting white guys?
Rock on….just curious
Dadgum
March 17th, 2009
2:12 pm
BTW, Lateo resigned at UVA because he lost the respect of his players and several were looking to transfer if he didn’t leave. That is the absolute truth. Can’t make it up. Read what the players say about Hewitt and it is just teh opposite of what is happening at UVA.
Rock on…..
GT66
March 17th, 2009
2:27 pm
Dadgum yes I am calling Hewitt a racist. Just talk to Matt Causey’s parents among others and hear what they say their son experienced. Also, please name for me the last highly recruited white player Hewitt even attempted to go after. You never hear of any and just look at who has been on the team over the past five years. Schencher (sp) was not highly recruited nor was Sheehan and Causey walked on. Why would you want him to continue to recruit one and dones. The results speak for themselves – disaster and nothing but losing records. He simply cannot coach and you are in total denial for not acknowleging it.
Big-Man
March 17th, 2009
2:29 pm
GT 84 you are correct in your assessment. Neither Paul Hewitt, nor Bobby Cremins could coach, but they sure could recruit.
GT66
March 17th, 2009
2:31 pm
Also, someone used my name to write about Favors not being able to make a sufficient SAT score. I did not write that and have no knowlege of whether he can or cannot.
Mark Bradley
March 17th, 2009
2:49 pm
I’m not sold on the APR, either. But somebody asked what Tech’s was, and I relayed the information without comment.
Mark Bradley
March 17th, 2009
2:50 pm
Ed Nelson was a pretty big recruit, as I recall.
Crisco
March 17th, 2009
3:00 pm
It’s his assistant coaches! Hewitt is a great recruiter, but he has some lousy assistants that sit there like bumps on a log!
Hewitt: Fire the bunch of them and get some folks that will do some WORK. Not one of them will pull a player aside when they need a “talking to” during the game. Not one of them does any behind the scenes work that we can see. They just follow Hewitt around like puppy dogs and nod in agreement to everything he says.
You’re only as good as the staff around you, Mr. Hewitt!
pws
March 17th, 2009
3:04 pm
So Mark, when are we going to talk about the lady jackets? They made it to the big dance, when the men did not……..
Gt Grad 2002
March 17th, 2009
3:09 pm
I talked to Nelson the day he left. You may not believe me, but I remember him laughing about it, saying “read the AJC, they’ll have a whole write-up about it.” I can’t remember the article, but his excuse to the paper was that some of his family was in the NorthEast and some was in Florida. He wanted to go where his family was.
His excuse to me was, and I quote, “Hewitt is racist. I can’t play for him anymore.”
I was shocked, because that was the first I heard of it, but it came straight from the horse’s mouth to my ears.
GTgreg
March 17th, 2009
3:15 pm
Mark- do you not find any issue with this metric they use? Dollars-per-points-over-50RPI is grossly inaccurate. What if there is a coach who averages a 48 RPI and makes $2 million/year? This WSJ guy was obviously not a math major, maybe didn’t even make it out of high-school algebra. How about $salary * 1/RPI. That’d give you a $value of the coach. So someone like Roy Williams with a $2 million salary and RPI of probably 5 would get a “value” of $400,000. While Hewitt would be valued at $1.3 mil * 1/54, which equals $24,074. And some schmuck who coaches at a lower tier ACC/SEC/Big Ten school who still makes $800k but has an RPI of 150 would only be worth $5k. This article definitely has its merits, and Hewitt has not performed well, but the metric that “proves” he is the most overpaid is way off base by even middle-school math standards.
Mark Bradley
March 17th, 2009
3:17 pm
There’s no way I could pass even middle-school math today, I’m afraid.
Glenn
March 17th, 2009
3:35 pm
GT Grad 2002–
Your comment is problematic on so many levels.
First of all, don’t you think it’s a little bit irresponsible (yes, I know this is the comments section of the AJC sports section, but still) to be throwing about charges of racism that are so thinly sourced?
For one thing, we don’t know who the hell you are; nothing personal here, but anyone relaying such an anecdote could be making it all up from whole cloth to support some agenda. Again, nothing personal, but you’re commenting anonymously and so there’s nothing to hold you accountable for what you’ve asserted–no way to check what you’ve said.
For another thing, even if it is true that Nelson relayed to you what you say he did, so what? Nelson could be–probably is, I would guess–flat wrong. Charges of racism are a dime a dozen, sadly, and they don’t always bear up under scrutiny. There are any number of reasons Nelson could have been mistaken in assuming racism on Hewitt’s part, or perhaps he had an axe to grind and wanted to get the rumor mill going with a behind-the-scenes accusation of racism.
asdf
March 17th, 2009
3:41 pm
Thanks for writing this article. Hewitt needs to be fired. GT deserves a better coach. Simple as that.
FireHewitt
March 17th, 2009
3:58 pm
Whether Hewitt is a racist or not, only he know. But his inability / unwilingness to recruit good white players certainly makes it a definite possibility to be considered.
GT66
March 17th, 2009
4:20 pm
Glenn I have first hand evidence of the same accusation. Just read what I wrote above. If he were not why do you never see us going after any highly ranked white kids. That is not circumstanial, just the facts. Nelson may have had an ax to grind after being named ACC Rookie of the Year the next year he led the team in rebounding the first half of the season and sat on the bench the second half. He did not all of a sudden get worse, but Hewitt told numerous people that because he wanted to recruit black players he had to play them. Matt Causey faced the same scenario. He led the team in scoring three games in a row then did not play much after that. Just ask his parents what happened.
Wild About College Sports
March 17th, 2009
4:28 pm
You Tech people need to calm down and give Hewitt a chance. He just had a bad year.
Beewas
March 17th, 2009
4:43 pm
Hewitt has had 9 years worth of chances and 5 recent consecutive years of sub-par results.
It is now apparent that his earlier success was due to his assistant coaches whose departure coincided with lack of success.
It is clear that he should be shown the door. The only thing stopping it is his golden contract.
Mark Bradley
March 17th, 2009
4:46 pm
As I recall, Causey’s minutes went down because of a concussion.
GT66
March 17th, 2009
6:00 pm
I don’t necessarily prefer white players, I just think they have a better chance to succeed in the classroom.
GT66
March 17th, 2009
7:31 pm
I did not write the last post by someone using my name. Why don’t you grow up and use your own name. Mark Matt Causey did miss some time because of the concussion, but just check the record after he recovered. His parents will tell you that many of the black players resented him playing and asked the coach to “get the white kid out of there”. He was by far the best offensive player we had and he was a walk on. Pretty sad indictment of our program.
TechTony
March 17th, 2009
8:16 pm
Sure he can recruit, that’s pretty well established. The best way to judge how well a coach works with his talent is to assess performance the first four minutes of each half and how the team performs coming out of timeouts and Hewitt fails miserably on all accounts. Tech ran a total of ONE inbounds play all year. ONE! To paraphrase Randy Quaid in Days of Thunder, watching his offense is like watching a monkey cpoulate a football. The man is woefully inept; the only one who fails to see it is Hewitt himself.
IndyGT
March 17th, 2009
8:20 pm
GT66, look give up the racism deal.. It clouds the real issue. We want GT basketball to be successful. For all the recruiting success that CPH has had, its the recruiting failures that’s doing him in.. and it was mainly at the 1-2 position after JJack left. Zam, Austin Jackson, JCritt, and recruiting some guys who just seemed like they never would fit in.. Faye, Diaw? That said, I see reasons for optimism.. Hopefully Shumpert can move over to the 2, watching him this year was like watching when Elder ran PG.. as soon as he moved over to his normal position, he dominated (when he wasn’t hurt). Udofia and Mo should have a good handle on the 1, and we’ve got the bigs down low. We’ll be ok, and hopefully CPH learns from these mistakes.
Jo Bling
March 17th, 2009
8:25 pm
This discussion has degenerated into racial nonsense. To throw around unverifiable anecdotes is reckless. Personally, I don’t care if the players he recruits are white, black, green, or orange. I just care that they are good citizens, good students, and can win basketball games. In that regard, he is coming up short. If Tech had won the ACC this year and netted a high seed in the tournament, nobody would be talking about the color of the players.
And to Dadgum, I would say that all schools play under the same rules, and every top program has had to deal with players leaving early. Some coaches just seem to deal with it better than others.
Jacket87
March 17th, 2009
8:53 pm
GT66, last time I looked, there are 2 ends on a bball floor. Matt Causey could be effective on the offensive end. but was a clear liability on the defensive end. Hewitt is all about match-ups and Matt had difficulty doing this. I’m sure that Matt is a fine person, but the last people you should listen to are parents of any player. They all think that their son should play more and it is always the coach’s fault when he doesn’t.
ga_tech_92
March 17th, 2009
9:02 pm
I have to agree with this:
1 winning conference record in 9 years!!
By what resonable standard should CPH not be fired?!?!?
Every year and every game, it is Groundhog Day.
It will cost the same to fire him today, tomorrow, next month, next year, or in 5 years…SO FIRE HIM NOW!!!
gtforever
March 17th, 2009
9:15 pm
Screw basketball, when does football start……? I really wish Ramble On would shut his pie hole about the DAWGS! They are a TOP 10 team every year, GT on the other hand barely won for the first time in a LOOOOONG time! We were EMBARRASSED by a very mediocre LSU team. The bottom line is that we have a LONG way to go, to be in the same league as UGA. So please stay HUMBLE until CPJ can recruit and make this thing competitive. Good Grief, let’s just try and fill our stadium up, for goodness sake!
Tyrone Banks
March 17th, 2009
9:18 pm
Where’s Hartstein? I enjoy his articles on Tech more.
Bradley’s writing (if you call it that), reads like an Atlanta Sports Soup from other publications
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!