Tech grants permission: St. John’s can speak with Hewitt
Paul Hewitt: Is he headed back to New York, New York? (AJC photo by Johnny Crawford)
Georgia Tech athletics director Dan Radakovich has given St. John’s permission to speak with Paul Hewitt about its coaching vacancy. The request from Red Storm athletics director Chris Monasch was received at 11:45 a.m. Tuesday, according to Wayne Hogan, Tech’s associate AD for communications.
St. John’s fired coach Norm Roberts last week. It had targeted Hewitt, who grew up in Queens, after Hewitt led Tech to the 2004 Final Four. He chose instead to sign the now-famous perpetual rollover contract and stay at Tech.
Reports in the New York media have identified Hewitt as one of the names atop the Red Storm’s list.
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194 comments Add your comment
Jacket Fan
March 23rd, 2010
1:58 pm
St. Johns, the blessed Saint of GTBB.
I’ll help pay for the bus ticket.
This is best news for GTBB in 6 years.
We can name the back door out of AMC after Hewitt. anything it takes to get that moron out of Atlanta.
Great news
March 23rd, 2010
1:58 pm
Maybe he can actually recruit NY better at St Johns- I never saw him parlay the fact that he is from there into any high profile big apple recruits while at GT. Overrated recruiter, pi$$ poor gameday coach. Facts are indisputable.
Gordon
March 23rd, 2010
2:00 pm
That’s what the first blog you put up said. That Georgia Tech is not standing in the way and that they would not hold Hewitt to the $3.5M.
“Hewitt’s contract also includes a buyout on his end: Should he leave for another college job, he would be obliged to pay Tech $3.5 million. But there have been recent indications that Tech would not hold Hewitt to that figure.”
FullMetalJacket
March 23rd, 2010
2:00 pm
I’ve only heard that DRad has indicated he is willing to negotiate on the $3.5M buyout, but conventional wisdom suggests he would all but waive it if necessary. Principle and propriety would seem to dictate that St.Johns/Paul Hewitt would pay something, but compared to the cost of firing him in the next few years, Tech would come out way on top if they just gave him away.
How to look at a PH career move
March 23rd, 2010
2:02 pm
No one outside of Brookly, NY or downtown Atlanta, specifically on the west side of Spring Street and north of International Blvd and south of 10th Street and East of N’side Dr even cares about Tech basketball coach BOLTING the sinking ACC and powerhouse Tech. heeeeeeheeeee.
Now, the names of the FORMER Navy aviators are coming out and it ain’t Maverick and Cougar.
Their names?DUMB AND DUMBER and now BOTH ARE pumping jet fuel in the desert.
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHAHHAHAHAHHAA
The Dogfighter Returns
March 23rd, 2010
2:02 pm
Favors not a lottery pick? Dude, the guy is projected as the 5th pick in the draft. Leslie is staying in Athens because he wouldn’t sniff the first round… Give me a break- you just can’t hide stupid.
—–
kobe bean bryant wasn’t a lottery pick. just because you are projected as a lottery pick doesn’t mean you will succeed in the nba.
marvin williams was a lottery pick and he is a certified bum.
1990_Champs_GT
March 23rd, 2010
2:03 pm
I think that Hewitt should take the job, and not just because I want him gone. Maybe he can regroup there and salvage a career that was once very promising. Or maybe not, but at least it won’t be our problem anymore.
And I agree with Gordon. The majority of Tech fans are sick of him and DRad has struck gold with his football coach so far.
Billy C. Gillispie
March 23rd, 2010
2:03 pm
I’m on my way Tech.
You will beg for Phil Donahue to come back when I’m done.
Where da’ booze at?
FullMetalJacket
March 23rd, 2010
2:04 pm
If Hewitt goes (please oh please oh please) then it will be so much more exciting to contemplate what the next coach will do with existing players and in recruiting new ones. I might actually break out the exclamation points again in a positive vein.
EJ
March 23rd, 2010
2:05 pm
He’s as good as gone. St Johns threw out some feeler calls two weeks ago. Paul said he was interested. That’s why he had his little hissy fit with the Atlanta media. He’ll be in New York next week as the St Johns Head Coach recruiting and trying to finish off their 2010 class. He will wait for his GT players to get back from spring break to inform them.
1990_Champs_GT
March 23rd, 2010
2:06 pm
Mark,
If Hewitt does leave, could Tubby Smith be the answer? Or will Tech go for another “up-and-comer” like Hewitt was?
FullMetalJacket
March 23rd, 2010
2:06 pm
Tech’s Navy fighter jocks fly too fast and too low over the home crowd during the National Anthem at Bobby Dodd Stadium and they get in trouble. I guess they could have gotten drunk and ridden down an Athens sidewalk on a scooter (or maybe a goat?) instead, IF they had been UGA grads.
Brent
March 23rd, 2010
2:08 pm
Paul Hewitt is a class act, but he needs a fresh start. Too much bad blood here with fans and media.
KC in Smyrna
March 23rd, 2010
2:09 pm
No way D-Rad can waive that 3.5 million buyout. He can accept a reduced amount, but we absolutely can not waive that part of the contract. He can even accept payment on an installment basis (4 year payment to GT). We can use those dollars to pursue Rick Pitino, Tubby Smith, or others.
S Uga Fan
March 23rd, 2010
2:09 pm
As a UGA fan……… Coach Paul please stay at tech!!!
Douglas
March 23rd, 2010
2:12 pm
I agree with you Uga Fan.
justahawkfan
March 23rd, 2010
2:12 pm
bwash21,
Are you sure Tubby has the hue-it you want?
Gordon
March 23rd, 2010
2:15 pm
KC,
Of course he can waive the buyout, just as Hewitt could have taken a lesser buyout if Tech approached him. Waiving the buyout is a lot cheaper than paying Hewitt $7M after he gets fired next season. This is Tech’s chance, and they won’t blow it. Hewitt may not take the job, but it won’t be because he had to pay a buyout. This could be the best day of Radakovich’s professional life if everything goes well.
All I'm Saying Is...
March 23rd, 2010
2:16 pm
Ha, Ha, Ha! If PH leaves, then it will be just what Tech deserves. Favors and Gawal [sp.] will consider and likely leave and the program will drop to the level of UGA. PH will resurrect St. John’s where he will be appreciated and savored and it will take place on the biggest stage of them all, NYC. Bradley will have to go back to writing stories about sports he knows even less about (ex. baseball) as he will no longer have a coach to create stories about such as that weak post yesterday alleging GT’s 10th man is better than OSU’s 10th man, blah, blah, bogus, blah. (Man, that was so weak Bradley that you put out in the open what up to then was merely alleged that this thing with PH is now personal for you).
The proper criticism of PH is simply this: GT guard play has been abysmal all season and either PH doesn’t realize it (coach’s fault), has no suitable replacement on the bench (coach’s fault) or is unable to articulate the problem and get the players he puts out there to correct it (coach’s fault).
The problem with PH is not recruiting one and done players that’s the issue (though it doesn’t help), not doing stupid things like using Twitter to call out critics or fans (though it doesn’t help), not the contract (all can be gotten out from under and 7.1M is significant but a small price to pay considering the revenues at stake if the alternative gets you into the NCAA Tourney several years in a row), and not even having a sub .500 record in the ACC (if you look at the matter closely, the ACC is a two team league and always has been with Duke, NC, and a bunch of random contenders).
The real problem with PH this season is his tolerance of and inability to correct lousy guard play which primarily drives the persistent turnover issue which is almost exclusively the reason for their losses including the last one. At times, its as if he doesn’t know what to do to correct the guard play which as any coach knows is easy: you remove the player from the game when they keep making the same mistake, tell them that on the bench, and tell them they won’t start again or play much unless they correct their proclivity to mishandle the ball.
CoachJRB
March 23rd, 2010
2:17 pm
Mark, I know i am getting ahead of myself here, I think there is NO chance Tech gets Tubby (too much money offered by Auburn). Any chance we would go after Mark Price (is this a real possibility?)? I would love it!!
Happy Happy Joy Joy
March 23rd, 2010
2:18 pm
YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Blackberry Cobbler
March 23rd, 2010
2:21 pm
Come on now, folks. GT did much better in the SEC and NCAA tournaments than almost anyone thought they would.
Frankly, I think St. Johns is a better position for a BB coach than GT.
After months of being bad-mouthed by Mark Bradley, I say it would be good for Hewitt to leave so Bradley can enjoy gravy on his crow.
KC in Smyrna
March 23rd, 2010
2:22 pm
And you’ve seen what of Mark Price to say he can coach or recruit? In that case, let’s get Mark Price to coach basketball, Joe Hamilton to coach FB, and Nomar Garciapara to coach baseball.
GA Tech Insider
March 23rd, 2010
2:22 pm
I wouldn’t worry too much about Paul’s buy-out if it comes to that.
Blackberry Cobbler
March 23rd, 2010
2:22 pm
Obviously I meant ACC– not SEC.
Mark Bradley
March 23rd, 2010
2:22 pm
I don’t want to speak about replacements until there’s an opening, CoachJRB, but just in general terms I cannot imagine a school of Tech’s caliber hiring someone who hasn’t been a Division I head coach.
Fools Gold
March 23rd, 2010
2:23 pm
The embarassing 2009 three game losing skid vs Iowa and UGA and LSU if you count the last two post season efforts has yielded only FOOLS GOLD for Tech. To win the ACC get as much attention over the football nation like whether E. Coweta Midle School wins their sub region.
30-24 and in 2010 it will become 1-9 vs The Dogs.
nickj0321
March 23rd, 2010
2:23 pm
SWEET!!!! God does listen!
Blackberry Cobbler – GT does no play in the SEC and to say St Johns is a better position proves you are in fact an SEC fan and therefore probably know nothing about basketball
RAMBLE ON!!!
March 23rd, 2010
2:24 pm
Who cares who GT gets…GET RID OF BLEWITT and everything else with take care of its self.
nickj0321
March 23rd, 2010
2:24 pm
fools gold – i am so confused? 3 game losing skid?
All I'm Saying Is...
March 23rd, 2010
2:24 pm
Mark Price? Tubby Smith? Bill Self? Rick Pitino? Steve Alford?
People on this blog tossing out these names as potential PH successors clearly illustrate how brain-dead some GT fans are and what a question mark their decision making is at this point.
Mark Price has zero head coaching experience.
Tubby Smith has a great job in the Big Ten Conference (psst…that team that thumped you, Ohio State, plays in the Big Ten) at a school that appreciates him
Iowa was close to firing Alford, if you believe Sports Illustrated, and he jumped to New Mexico at his mentor’s (Bobby Knight) urging and is happy to be there
Bill Self who won a championship is at Kansas where their first head coach invented basketball for goodness sake so he knows what a great situation he has despite their NCAA flame out
Rick Pitino really knows how good he has it given all of his recent transgressions
The best you guys can hope for is that a coach at Butler or Northern Iowa or Baylor believes all the misplaced hype about the ACC (Duke, NC, and a bunch of pretenders, truth be told) and decides they want to compete in it via an Engineering school
Mark Bradley
March 23rd, 2010
2:24 pm
Gordon, I meant by that I have reason to believe Tech would be willing to negotiate the terms of a buyout. Not necessarily that it would waive the entire $3.5 million.
Veteran Fan
March 23rd, 2010
2:25 pm
Wish him well in NYC. It has been terrible to watch Braine’s rollover affect this proud program and the coaches and players. It is not a good situation right now and we need to rise above the emotion and treat all parties with our normal class and respect. Coach Hewitt has worked hard and been unsuccessful for the salary he is being paid, it is time to move forward with a new leader, someone young and energetic (not Tubby please, great guy but too old). If this transpires, I will buy two season tickets for next season and I would suggest all Atlanta Tech BB fans do the same. A sold out Alexander will make quite a statement to an incoming coach!
RAMBLE ON!!!
March 23rd, 2010
2:25 pm
Can we pay St. Johns to take him?!?
Or do you think they may get suspicious?
Fools Gold
March 23rd, 2010
2:26 pm
To Full Metal Jacket:
Getting drunk in Athens is far better and safer????? than risking 22,000 or was it 12,000 fans at GF@HBDS in jets that is owned by the US Government.
Besides …….the two FORMER PILOTS are now known as Tech grads ………DUMB and DUMBER.
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHA
nickj0321
March 23rd, 2010
2:26 pm
Veteran Fan – good post
Al Ciraldo
March 23rd, 2010
2:28 pm
Bring back Dwayne Morrison!
RAMBLE ON!!!
March 23rd, 2010
2:28 pm
Fools Gold, if you’re going to be an idiot, at least be funny.
Gordon
March 23rd, 2010
2:28 pm
Mark,
Thanks for the clarification. But I cannot believe Radakovich would allow that to stand in the way of getting out from under this contract. It has been obvious for at least 2 years this wasn’t going to end well for Tech. This is more than Radakovich could have hoped for, other than Hewitt turning it around.
FullMetalJacket
March 23rd, 2010
2:29 pm
It is absolutely worth it to waive the $3.5M buyout, but for obvious reasons of precedent, principle, and propriety it would not be realistic. Tech can accept pennies on the dollar, however, given the mutually beneficial timing of it all. While there may be some disagreement about keeping/firing Hewitt this year, I bet there is much less doubt that he will be fired within the next several years and there is no doubt he would be owed five years of salary if we do have to fire him.
YellerJacket
March 23rd, 2010
2:30 pm
Shhh!!!! He might stay just in spite.
nickj0321
March 23rd, 2010
2:30 pm
the Dogfighter returns – you are dumb
buzz
March 23rd, 2010
2:31 pm
Hey Fools Gold, its 1-1 since we got dumped that clown who is now with the Bills. At Tech because we are realists on our position. Thirty years and counting mutt boy, thirty years and counting. 1990>1980.
Gordon
March 23rd, 2010
2:32 pm
FullMetalJacket,
“It is absolutely worth it to waive the $3.5M buyout, but for obvious reasons of precedent, principle, and propriety it would not be realistic.”
Please explain.
CoachJRB
March 23rd, 2010
2:32 pm
KC – I agree in general. Mark Price does not have Division 1 coaching experience. However, to compare him with Joe Hamelton is a VERY bad compairision. Mark is the all-time NBA free-throw percentage leader, he played in NBA all-star games. Joe was a back-up who never started in the NFL (not a knock on Joe, I loved him at Tech!). By the way Mark continues to work with players today (Swannee sp? Sports academy) that include NBA and college players. I do have some first hand knowledge as he has worked with my son. He would be an excellent fundamental coach. My question would involve recruiting…
tbake
March 23rd, 2010
2:32 pm
As happens from time to time, Hewitt at GT has become a clear case of a coach reaching his ceiling at a particular school.
For those who doubt this, tell me–what more do you need to see? 7-9 in conference with a very talented team, and a 2nd-round beatdown at the hands of a solid but hardly world-class opponent.
What recipe is Hewitt suddenly going to create / stumble across that will reverse five seasons of underachievement?
Short of the entire starting five of the Los Angeles Lakers exploiting some heretofore-unknown NCAA loophole, deciding to return to college (or in Kobe’s case, go for the first time), and enrolling en masse at Georgia Tech — when is Paul Hewitt going to have substantially better talent at his disposal than he had THIS season?
Never.
Time to go.
All I'm Saying Is...
March 23rd, 2010
2:32 pm
Mark Price? What a stupid suggestion. He’s never been a head coach.
Steve Alford? What a stupid suggestion. Iowa fans grew to hate him and he jumped to New Mexico (a lesser league and program) instead of getting fired (if you believe the most recent SI issue)
Tubby Smith? He has a better job now because, in case you didn’t know, Ohio State is in the same conference as Minnesota and Minnesota folks love Tubby for what he has done and will glowingly accept a 20+ win season every year with an NCAA bid included
And don’t give me any of that nonsense about Pitino or Bill Self because they too have better jobs.
The best hope for GT is that they could persuade the coach at a mid-Major to jump ship. Like the Butler or Northern Iowa coach or maybe even the Baylor coach as that’s a school that stresses academics and plays in a nationally competitive conference. Be prepared to have a UGA type season next year while spending some significant bucks of the nature that will make PH look like a bargain—and you will get some hefty political fallout as well given the budget cuts the state is facing.
Not a Techie
March 23rd, 2010
2:33 pm
I think PH is a really good guy who is a really average coach. I’ve shared season tickets the past 3 years and watching Tech try to run an offense is painful most nights-no movement, poor ball handling, horrible spacing, etc. This despite having the better level of talent most nights. And just because DR may waive the buy out doesnt mean he doesnt want Hewitt, it just means he doesnt want a coach to stay here due to economics when he really doesnt want to be here at all. That’s bad for both parties.
Herschel Talker
March 23rd, 2010
2:33 pm
Paul Hewitt may be the only person on the planet dumber than RAMBLE ON!!!
30-24. I’m so glad it still hurts so bad.
Fools Gold
March 23rd, 2010
2:35 pm
The 3 game skid includes ( read the entry again ) …..UGA, Iowa AND LSU if you count post season play. In other words, tech lost to my 09 lousy Dogs and LSU and nobody Iowa. Tech played no one else beyond those two. Over 9 years Tech has won once vs UGA. Sort of like the Navy pilots who were ONCE aviators. AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHAHAHHAHAHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHAHAHHA
Rememebr, UGA spotted VaTech to a 28 point lead few ( 4?) years back in the Peach, before blowing them out. There is not one good team in the ACC ………..see Clemson and their whuppin at the hands of the SC Gamecocks. MIami? Please give me a break. LOL NC? LOL. Wake? LOL
Tech is a on a 3 game losing skid when they play poor ( UGA in 09 ) to average BUT STILL MAJOR CONFERENCE teams ( Iowa and LSU in 08)
Man Boobs will be gone soon. Either fired or moved on to App State or some south ga middle school. Since 1967 tech averages 4.5 years and gone with football coaches and that includes Bobby Dodd.