It’d be better for Hewitt and Tech if the two sides part ways
Even millionaire coaches need to be loved. (AJC photo by Curtis Compton)
It would be better for both parties if Paul Hewitt leaves. Better for Georgia Tech, which would be free of an increasingly unpopular coach and his onerous contract, but also better for Hewitt, who could return to New York as the people’s choice. As coach of St. John’s, he wouldn’t be viewed as the guy who hasn’t really delivered since 2004; he’d be the man from Queens come home to save the Johnnies.
There was a time when Paul Hewitt seemed the savior of Tech basketball. In his first season he took Bobby Cremins’ remnants and turned them into an NCAA tournament team, and in 2004 he took a team of his own creation to the championship game. And for all those who’ve looked at Tech lately and decided Hewitt cannot coach his way out of a paper bag, the memory of 2004 stands as a golden counterpoint: That team was a triumph of coaching.
I’ve said it before, but here it is again: I don’t know if any other coach could have taken Tech further than Hewitt did in 2004, but I can think of three dozen who could have done better since. Tech hasn’t finished above .500 in its conference or reached the Sweet Sixteen over the past six seasons. His record over his first five seasons was 96-66; his record over the past five is 81-78.
Even more distressing has been Hewitt’s penchant for seizing every crutch. Tech’s too young. Or it’s overscheduled. Or it has injuries, or academic issues, or players who’ve left early. Or it’s just “snakebit.” This willingness to explain away mediocrity has always seemed bizarre, given that the 2004 Jackets were handed a gold-plated excuse — leading scorer B.J. Elder sprained his ankle in Tech’s third NCAA game and didn’t score another point until the final against UConn — and persevered.
There are no perfect collegiate teams. The aim isn’t to see who can cry the deepest river but who can maximize what it has. Thad Matta took an Ohio State team without a true center — or even a real forward — and won the Big Ten; Hewitt took a team with the nation’s best complement of big men and finished seventh in the 12-team ACC. On Sunday, Matta’s team spotted Hewitt’s eight points and won by nine.
Hewitt wasn’t Chan Gailey, who was unpopular among Tech fans from the start. Hewitt was warmly received at the start and beloved after the Final Four, but there was never a follow-through to the daring deeds of 2004. It took Jacket backers a while to get impatient, but they’re there now. They’ve seen the same game lost the same way too many times over too many winters, and they’ve read about his never-ending contract and they wonder if the underachieving will ever cease.
This gifted team was Hewitt’s last best chance to persuade his doubters, and all it did was give rise to deeper doubt. If he couldn’t win big with Derrick Favors and Gani Lawal, what will happen next season when both figure to be gone? Will it ever get better for Hewitt than this? And is 23-13 good enough?
St. John’s isn’t a better job per se, but for Hewitt in 2010 it’s a better situation. He can leave the ACC, in which he has a career record of 67-93, and try the Big East, for which he has great affection. (He was an assistant at Villanova under Steve Lappas.) He can charm the New York media, which has the reputation of being nasty but is a pushover for a return-of-the-prodigal yarn, and he’ll recruit well and have the Red Storm back in the Big Dance soon enough.
Six years ago there seemed no better fit than Paul Hewitt for Georgia Tech, but today the two need fresh starts. No coach wants to fall into the disfavor of his constituency, and no constituency wants to root against its coach. But that, sad to say, is the reality at Tech. Paul Hewitt wasn’t Chan Gailey, but Paul Hewitt has become Chan Gailey.
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567 comments Add your comment
Angus
March 23rd, 2010
6:30 pm
Yes, for all involved, this is the best thing. Tech will take a hit most likely, immediately, but probably not as bad as 08-09 and be able to resurrect the program from the dead. SJU looks like they have a decent set of kids coming back, so CPH should be able to have immediate success and put his career back on the sunny side.
All depends on how much $$$ SJU has, huh?
AMG
March 23rd, 2010
6:32 pm
EMAN, you are not from this planet. CPH has never had it together and is not getting close, You obviously have missed the last 6 years with CPH. Excuses roll out of his mouth quicker than you can ACC basketball. One more VERY important thing For all you guys saying we are NOT a premier job and that Hewitt should stay. KMA! before Hewitt there was Bobby Ceremins and there were several years we thought we could win a National Championship, there were several years we Won the ACC and we went to the big dance almost every year. SO KMA again, Tech CAN be A whole lot better and WILL be better even if we hire a high school coach that actually believes Tech can win.
**Frederick(Bailey)Douglass**
March 23rd, 2010
6:33 pm
@Brent
Exactly. However, this is the Atlanta sports model. Remember Leeman Bennett? I’ll let you research that one…
There are no quick fixes people. Coach K is not leaving Duke to come to Tech. Izzo is not sitting back saying “Hey, that Tech job might be available”. The AD will have to go back to places like Sienna, Richmond, etc to find somone. My point: Don’t complain if we are not as lucky this time…
Brent
March 23rd, 2010
6:36 pm
I,m starting to like you Frederick. I don’t have to research Leeman Bennett though, been here all my life. The Falcons ran him off way too soon, one of the best coaches they ever had
Tokyo jacket
March 23rd, 2010
6:38 pm
And there will be much rejoicing throughout the land!
FullMetalJacket
March 23rd, 2010
6:39 pm
Hopefully, Hewitt is just posturing for St. Johns for leverage. IF in fact he does not realize how unpopular he is and how incompetent he is perceived to be by a clear majority of Tech fans, then it is time for DRad to let him know. Of course Hewitt would rather get fired and then find a job on his own. He would make more money that way. The question is whether he will get another opportunity like this one, especially with his record of mediocrity. St. Johns and NYC will eat up his charm and faux charisma, they will bow down before his BCA affiliations and history, they will absolutely be orgasmic with his connections in AAU and the New York recruiting circuit. AS you say, Mark, he will be the new kid on the block with the big “savior” sign around his neck and a couple of years worth of teflon to get his footing. And for his sake, I hope he even wins some games and turns them around. He turned us around….in the wrong direction. The latter Cremins years were not pretty, but then again they were a damm sight better than most Hewitt’s.
AMG
March 23rd, 2010
6:40 pm
Frefrick Douglas , You sound like CPH, Surrendering before the fight even starts.Who knows who we get to replace Paul Blewitt, Who knows how successful they will be. Maybe Paul Johnson has a brother that coaches Basketball, you never know who the next Great Coach is. Also saying Coach K is not Leaving Duke for Tech is retarded. Coach K is not Leaving Duke period for ANY job, pro or college. Also, DUKE sucked when he got there and he was not considered a great catch when he got to Duke. Duke was not a premier job and they had a losing record everyone of there first 4 years.
FullMetalJacket
March 23rd, 2010
6:41 pm
Freddie D: I PRAY we are not “as lucky” this time around, if luck means another decade of mediocrity and Rupp-esque recruiting behavior.
GT00
March 23rd, 2010
6:41 pm
If MB is trying to force Blewitt out, he is not doing a very good job because this guy is still the head coach and continue to steal money from GTAA.
Any person with an ounce of common sense would know that money is the issue here. Yet, he got pissed off by MB and others for speaking up about this issue. I can name 7.1 million reasons why this clown will not leave GT.
To those who said we are not Duke and UNC, no kidding. Maryland is no Duke and UNC and yet they managed to win a NC and ACC under Gary Williams. Please someone explain this to me.
To those who said he own Georgia in recruiting, please explain this to me why did the good Alminu bolted to that little school called Wake Forest instead of coming to Tech? You tell me Udofia is best PG coming out of the state? COME ON MAN!
FullMetalJacket
March 23rd, 2010
6:43 pm
Mark, do you think Hewitt may be trying to leverage both Tech and St.Johns with his coyness? Or do you really think he is oblivious to the situation here? He admitted himself that he doesn’t read the papers anymore.
Tokyo jacket
March 23rd, 2010
6:45 pm
I don’t know who we’ll get to replace Hewitt, but DRAD is batting 1.000 when it comes to coach selection. I’d put my money on him doing something similar again.
FullMetalJacket
March 23rd, 2010
6:47 pm
Hewitt will walk away if for less than the $3M St Johns offered Donovan. He won’t get the same ironclad contract he has at Tech, but he would take a significant raise over the $7.5M for five years he essentially has at Tech. Figure an initial contract is going to be for at least 3 or 4 years, maybe 5, at $2M a year, and he is ahead of the game, assuming there will still be some kind of rollover, incentives, etc. Of course if he is as lazy as some accuse him of, then he’d rather collect his Tech money and do nothing.
FullMetalJacket
March 23rd, 2010
6:48 pm
A young, rising star coach (yes, like Hewitt was 10 years ago) but this time without the attitude, tunnel-vision recruiting, and hopefully with a commitment to winning and graduating players.
AMG
March 23rd, 2010
6:50 pm
Why in the Heck would St johns hire this lazy , unproductive, unbending and nondeveloping a coach. He has done a HORRIBLE job at developing people at Tech, what makes St. Johns think he will get better?
**Frederick(Bailey)Douglass**
March 23rd, 2010
6:52 pm
@Brent
…and what happened to the Birds? They sank lower than ANYONE could have ever expected. I’m sure there were fans that were willing to take the risk…damn Birds just had back-to-back winning seasons in 2009.
Stability in sports, with a proven winner, is the ticket. I’m outta here good people. Hopefully it all works out for the best…but before you run this guy out of town, answer the question:
Who is a qualified replacement that would take the Tech job?
John
March 23rd, 2010
6:53 pm
I agree. Time to part ways.
FullMetalJacket
March 23rd, 2010
6:56 pm
AMG: Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! St. Johns is in dire straits and among their complaints about the last coach are some of Hewitt’s strengths, including recruiting connections in NYC, close relationship with AAU, a homegrown product, and all the BCA and PC baggage is seen as a plus to them. Everyone else seems to like Hewitt, as long as he’s not losing them games, and he hasn’t had a chance to do that for St Johns yet.
Techster
March 23rd, 2010
6:59 pm
New coach in Athens sure did a good job against CPH’s greater talent!
FullMetalJacket
March 23rd, 2010
7:00 pm
Among the qualified replacements who are currently at Division I schools who might accept a position with Tech in the ACC: Scott Drew, Steve Alford, Andy Kennedy, Brad Stevens…. and if you ask me for coaches who are better than Hewitt then just look at the NCAA statistics for the last 10 years and you’ll find about 6 dozen with better records and five or more years head coaching experience in Div. I. Is that enough, Freddie boy?
Old School
March 23rd, 2010
7:01 pm
Okay folks, just check the FACTS. This is the link to the History/Records section of the Tech basketball media guide:
http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/geot/sports/m-baskbl/auto_pdf/honors-history.pdf
This should settle who is the best basketball coach in Tech history—and he was let go after 4 consecutive losing ACC seasons, 4 years after finishing 13-3 in the conf and winning the regular season title. Bobby Cremins. So it can be done, and it has been done as far as being able to compete year in and year out in the ACC.
Cremins stats:
*highest overall winning percentage in Tech history (excluding two coaches who were there for no more than 3 seasons)
*from 1985 to 2000 (19 seasons)- 2 regular season ACC titles, 3 tournament titles
*in NCAA Tournament play he took his team to the Big Dance 10 of 19 seasons, but….also went to done Final 4, to the Sweet 16 on 5 occasions and to the Elite 8 twice
So there is no doubt that Cremins was the best without question.
And yes, you have to take it both ways. Cremins didn’t too well for his last 4 seasons and was booted out for Hewitt. No, there is no guarantee that you will always get someone better.
But….it does prove that we have much better than Hewitt, and we can again.
Don’t believe me. Go to the link and check out pure, unbiased FACTS. Look at Hewitt’s season-by-season records, his record in the ACC regular season and tournament, and his overall record in the NCAA.
then come back and tell me he’s a “good coach”, needs to stay, blah-blah-blah.
Check it out:
http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/geot/sports/m-baskbl/auto_pdf/honors-history.pdf
RickyBobbyOnFire
March 23rd, 2010
7:03 pm
Cut the cord, DRad. Make it clear to Hewitt that if he doesn’t take this opportunity he will be fired and legally made to fight for every cent in the contract. He may not like Atlanta so much then. I expect he will find Atlanta more and more unfriendly in coming years as Tech fans move from frustration to exasperation to desperation to …well, it won’t be pretty.
RickyBobbyOnFire
March 23rd, 2010
7:04 pm
The road to St. Johns is paved with money, Paul Hewitt. The road back to AMC is paved with tar and feathers. YOU CHOOSE!
hehe
March 23rd, 2010
7:07 pm
Pile of dung > Herschel Talker
FullMetalJacket
March 23rd, 2010
7:15 pm
The Tech job clearly is not the Duke job, the UNC job, or even the Maryland job, but it’s pretty close to the latter. While we can debate whether the ACC or Big East is the better conference (clearly the Big East is this year), there is no doubt that year in and year out the ACC is one of the premier basketball conferences in the country and probably the best. As such, any job in the conference has added appeal, and the job at Georgia Tech is as good as or better than most. Tech is a mid-tier school, seldom in the cellar before Hewitt came. Tech is in Atlanta, with big city amenities and recruiting. Tech has an excellent AD and cooperative administration. Tech will have newly renovated ($30M worth) facilities. Tech pays pretty well compared to the national average, and is certainly comparable to the other mid-tier ACC schools. Media exposure and ease of transportation with the assurance of an occasional conference tourney, Final Four and NBA events in your backyard. And Tech has a respectable, albeit modern, basketball tradition and history thanks to Bobby Cremins and yes, Hewitt’s first several years.
Jackets2010
March 23rd, 2010
7:15 pm
I had season tickets for the first time, midcourt, second level. Gani Lawal’s dad sat nearby. All season except one game, the seats on my right were either empty or the opponent’s fans.
Lots of ACC games, I worried how many season ticket holders would show.
Lots of empty seats.
It will be worse next year without a change.
the Price is Right
March 23rd, 2010
7:16 pm
OH MY GOD PEOPLE, can we get our own in this position? Can we get a GT grad, former ACC free throw leader and NBA free throw leader who can teach someone to run the point guard position for four years like he did. Someone who can strive to not be dead last in basketball players who graduate in the ACC. You can name names all over this country, but MARK PRICE is the man. He is GT basketball.
techster
March 23rd, 2010
7:16 pm
Ring-ring
Uh, this is St John’s sports information department calling Tech season ticket holders about the possible loss of CPH to St. John’s. Any comments?
Absolutely fabulous coach – you will love him. You will particularly love the inbound plays he draws up. They create a ton of excitement and many times lead to dunks. Also a fun game to play is a shot of beer for every substitution. It’s better than playing to Melrose Place and drinking every time they say the words sexy or love. We really hate to leave hin but he should go to a better place, after all Tech is only in the Rap capital of the world, the ACC, and a good school. We do not deserve such a great coach. We deserve a mid-major. Hope you like him.
Mark Bradley
March 23rd, 2010
7:17 pm
Not that you asked, FullMetalJacket, but that’s where I see the Jackets fitting into the ACC pecking order: Not ahead of Carolina and Duke on a consistent basis, but in a fight with Maryland for third place.
RT
March 23rd, 2010
7:19 pm
Yo D-Rad,
If CPJ leaves, GTAA will save 7 million dollars by not firing him. PLEASE give him a million bucks for leaving, its cheaper than keeping him!!!!!!
Tech needs a "name" coach
March 23rd, 2010
7:20 pm
There is one in Boone, NC named “Buzz” and they are still playing.
Tech Fan
March 23rd, 2010
7:21 pm
Well said Mark, thanks.
RickyBobbyOnFire
March 23rd, 2010
7:22 pm
Definitely time to part ways, by hand grenade if necessary, but it will be a lot less messy if Hewitt will just take the SJU job and do his worst for them.
Jackets2010
March 23rd, 2010
7:23 pm
If Cremins could have seen the future, he would have taken the South Carolina job.
Hewitt is in a similar situation.
Now the economy is a factor but there were not many sellouts for ACC games and it is likely to get worse.
GT For You And Me
March 23rd, 2010
7:25 pm
D-RAD will send him to ST. Johns you can bet……..he will be gone…….
FullMetalJacket
March 23rd, 2010
7:25 pm
As always when we agree, Mark, your judgment is impeccable. Seriously, your article is a thoughtful piece that summarizes the situation without getting mired in the subjective quagmire than we posters thrash about in.
Mark Bradley
March 23rd, 2010
7:26 pm
Gee, thanks, FMJ.
FullMetalJacket
March 23rd, 2010
7:27 pm
Jackets2010: good point about Cremins and the SC job. Hewitt should take note, maybe give Bobby a call. I remember at the time most of us were sorry that Cremins had initially taken the SC job, but not THAT sorry. We were starting to see the cracks that eventually led to our parting ways.
FullMetalJacket
March 23rd, 2010
7:28 pm
Mark, you’re welcome….wow, that was hard to say with a mouth full of subjective quagmire.
The Dude
March 23rd, 2010
7:28 pm
At least someone at the AJC can accurately report Hewitt’s record in ACC play. Thanks, Mark.
FullMetalJacket
March 23rd, 2010
7:31 pm
techster: good stuff. I, too, am willing to write a ringing letter of endorsement for Mr. Hewitt for any position he might be considered for.
paul hewitt has made gt
March 23rd, 2010
7:32 pm
the sienna of the south and he is satisfied with that.
RickyBobbyOnFire
March 23rd, 2010
7:35 pm
The Red Storm will become the Red Blush of embarrassment when they realize what they are actually getting for their money.
RickyBobbyOnFire
March 23rd, 2010
7:36 pm
Doesn’t Sienna have a winning record against Tech during the Hewitt era?
Ashley
March 23rd, 2010
7:36 pm
Hewitt defenders seem to have a couple of traits in common. First, they’re all myopic, focusing on the ACC tournament or NCAA bid this year and the Final Four run while ignoring his overall record, which is well-below average. His ACC record verges on basement-dweller status, especially over the last five years.
The other thing that most of them claim is that there is no way Tech can get a better coach. That is directly contradicted by the terrific coaches we have in football, women’s basketball, baseball, golf, softball, volleyball, tennis, and even swimming. Radakovich has hired four head coaches since becoming AD, and every one of them has been stellar. If we can hire great coaches in football and many other sports, there’s no reason we can’t do the same for men’s basketball.
Jackets2010
March 23rd, 2010
7:39 pm
What I liked this year:
Peacock stepping up in the FSU game when the freshman all seemed to take a step back. He scored 22 and keyed a rally to get an OT. Then he hit a three. But the rest of the team failed to add a point.
I wanted us to win so he would get he deserved headline and glory.
I thought he should have played more the rest of the season.
Another higlight was starting a conversation with Gani’s dad who invited me to sit with him. He had a number of interesting observations.
The last game he seemed glad to see me and told me he had been sitting with his wife and kids in his good seats.
In fact he seemed happier to see me than most Tech folks do which was gratifying that at least with one Tech fan I bonded a little.
Those two things I’ll remember most about this year.
And the Duke win.
Angus
March 23rd, 2010
7:40 pm
Tech average a touch better than 5th under CBC and 6.4th under CPH.
3rd might be a bit of a stretch.
I’d say both Maryland and Wake Forest have been better programs over the past 15-20 years.
Angus
March 23rd, 2010
7:41 pm
I wish you could edit your own posts here – “averaged”.
Jackets2010
March 23rd, 2010
7:42 pm
I wonder if the Hewitt defenders put there money down for tickets.
I’m sure some did but not all.
Tiger
March 23rd, 2010
7:43 pm
Nothing about your football program on here.
Oh thats right they suck
They lost to a middle of the road UGA team who’s D coordinator got fired because he sucked
Their offensive line sucked their QB was a 1 yr starter
And you call yourselves conference champions
How about chumpions you couldnt where the shoes of the MIGHTY STANFORD!!!!!!
Oh and your education sucks compared with ours!
dawg 4 u
March 23rd, 2010
7:49 pm
Mark Fox > Paul Hewitt only within the city limits of Athens.