Tech grants permission: St. John’s can speak with Hewitt

Paul Hewitt: Is he headed back to New York City? (AJC photo by Johnny Crawford)

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.

194 comments Add your comment

take him

March 23rd, 2010
1:08 pm

they can have him

Good Riddance

March 23rd, 2010
1:09 pm

DevilInLaw

March 23rd, 2010
1:09 pm

Is today Christmas in March for Tech fans?

Good Riddance

March 23rd, 2010
1:10 pm

dagnabbit!

Paul, hope you enjoy your return to New York!

TechDan

March 23rd, 2010
1:11 pm

Bigstack O' Pancakes. It is an Irish name.

March 23rd, 2010
1:13 pm

If he leaves I would turn cartwheels. Who would be a good next Georgia Tech coach?

TechDan

March 23rd, 2010
1:13 pm

Whoo! I would be so happy if Hewitt took the job. He’d be a better fit up there, and we’d get out of that damn perpetual contract. Braine’s Legacy may finally be gone forever.

[...] UPDATE: Georgia Tech athletics cirector Dan Radakovich granted St. John’s request to speak with Paul H… [...]

the Sting

March 23rd, 2010
1:15 pm

Wow, NY sure is nice this time of year.

mowreck

March 23rd, 2010
1:16 pm

I really like the young coach from BUTLER. Stevens is his name I think. He is 85-14 or something like that at Butler. Soooooo, please take the job PH.

Jeremy

March 23rd, 2010
1:17 pm

As bad as things have gotten with Hewitt it might not be the best time for Tech to go searching. With the state budget crisis causing massive University system cuts they could risk a ton of PR and political grief if they offered any kind of a big contract – even if it was a downgrade from Hewitt’s rollover deal.

kennyh

March 23rd, 2010
1:17 pm

go hewitt go!

acowa

March 23rd, 2010
1:17 pm

CPH can recruit and NYC is full of great players. He was a point guard short of having something special this season. Get Sylven Landesberg to come to the program now that he bailed on UVA and you might be able to build something quickly. My guess is that in a couple of years that he’s back in business…while Mark Bradley is still slumming at the AJC.

Dragon

March 23rd, 2010
1:24 pm

Thad Matta obviously out-coached him, as did Coach K a week before. But Coach is a class act who recruits great kids to the program. Dan R is 1-for-1 on big hires – this will be his second chance at proving his mettle.

John

March 23rd, 2010
1:26 pm

I think the writing is on the wall for Coach Hewitt. The problenm is that he needed to surround himself with better assistant coaches.

Greg

March 23rd, 2010
1:27 pm

Thank God!!! A dream come true. A way to get rid of Hewitt without GT having to pay millions for nuthin’ but their prior contract stupidity.

LizellaJacket

March 23rd, 2010
1:28 pm

State budgets have nothing to do with Tech offering a coaching contract. Separate entities.

Brian

March 23rd, 2010
1:29 pm

I would like to throw a name into the job search: Greg Marshall at Wichita State. He has only been there for two seasons, but in the years before he led Winthrop University to several tournament appearances. He’s an excellent recruiter, motivator and a stickler for fundamentals. He’s worth a look.

Mike

March 23rd, 2010
1:31 pm

Tech Fans don’t get your hopes up yet. He’s not leaving unless he gets a better deal from St Johns and……who in their right mind is going to match or exceed that crazy contract.

Walt Bellamy

March 23rd, 2010
1:35 pm

Dragon…”coach is a class act who recruits great kids”????????????????

Who or WHAT have you been watching the last few years?

juvenal

March 23rd, 2010
1:36 pm

so, MB, what do you think?

jon

March 23rd, 2010
1:36 pm

You get the Paul Hewitt Boner!

GT Fan

March 23rd, 2010
1:37 pm

Thank you Lord. Now Paul take it and be gone.

wiley

March 23rd, 2010
1:37 pm

This may work out very well for tech. We may have enough money to go after a big name coach if Hewitt walks away with out his buy out.

Gordon

March 23rd, 2010
1:38 pm

This is going to be a HUGE letdown if it doesn’t happen.

Do you think Radakovich said “Well H*** yes you can speak with him! Here’s his cell number!”, or was he less obvious than that?

Dawg Fan in Grayson

March 23rd, 2010
1:39 pm

Once St. John’s looks at his current contract they will walk away. But if they are so convinced that he can turn SJ around they will do whatever is needed. Then Tech can go out and hire Felton. He is available and cheap.

Dan the Nerd

March 23rd, 2010
1:39 pm

Dragon got it right. CPH is a class act and a great recruiter. Lots of schools would be very happy with CPH. For some reason GT thinks they deserve the next Coach K. Maybe DRad will get it right if PH leaves.

Personally, I think GT’s bball program is doomed due to the bad karma from how they treated Cremmins.

Chris

March 23rd, 2010
1:42 pm

Think about this…Hewitt had trouble with the Atlanta media. How do you think he’ll handle the New York media…

Buckhead Dawg

March 23rd, 2010
1:45 pm

Gordon

March 23rd, 2010
1:45 pm

Dan the Nerd,

How we treated Cremins? He resigned. And then we named the court after him.

Dawg Fan in Grayson,

What does the current contract have to do with anything? They don’t have to give him a rollover deal. They will offer him more per year and a five year deal at least. Hewitt has a chance to leave gracefully. Why would he come back here when his boss would rather waive a $3.5M buyout than keep him? Getting fired here (which he eventually will be if he stays) will cost him more in the long run than walking away from the rollover deal.

Mark Bradley

March 23rd, 2010
1:46 pm

I think Coach Hewitt will have a tough decision to make, juvenal.

Hewitt is a Joke

March 23rd, 2010
1:48 pm

Somebody needs to fire up the ExecuJet and get him to NY as soon as possible. Any of you idiots that think he is a good coach have obviously never worn a jock strap in your life. If you don’t want to listen to us bloggers, just listen to the basketball commentators who seem to echo our sentiments. Most of them are ex-NBA or at least played at a very high level in college. They can see what the rest of the world can see- PH is a god awful gameday coach.

Richard

March 23rd, 2010
1:48 pm

Everyone, stop rooting for this. You don’t want to give SJU the idea that our entire fan base will do a collective backflip if Hewitt leaves.

(NO NO NO!!! Don’t leave Hewitt!!!)

Tampa Wreck

March 23rd, 2010
1:49 pm

WOW.. We better get together and sweeten CPH’s deal. I would just hate to lose such a brilliant coach and game tactician to St. Johns. This would be a disaster!! (wink wink)

The Dogfighter Returns

March 23rd, 2010
1:49 pm

lawal and favors are not lottery picks.

lawal is grossly overrated. that dude cannot shoot free throws and can’t shoot jumpers. this is the definition of an nba bust.

the only nba super star in the state is leslie.

GT71

March 23rd, 2010
1:49 pm

If he goes, get Norm Roberts.
Please go.

Dannyboy

March 23rd, 2010
1:49 pm

I think GT and Paul Hewitt are in a relationship where neither really wants to be in it, but both realize there’s not much they can do about it. It’s like couples that stay together for financial reasons. Paul Hewitt knows that he’s not going to get a better deal anywhere else, and GT isn’t at the point it can pay him off. I think both parties know that it’s time to move on…

Delta is ready when you are

March 23rd, 2010
1:49 pm

ET, phone home. Home is where the heart is Coach.(and i used that term loosely)

bwash21

March 23rd, 2010
1:51 pm

I can’t believe someone wants Hewitt. Please hire him!

How about Tubby Smith?

Dan the Nerd

March 23rd, 2010
1:53 pm

Gordon, you are an idiot. Bobby was forced out by the big money alums. GT HAD to name the court after him because of the beating the school’s reputation took for not standing by the coach that brought them back from oblivion.

You can't hide dumb

March 23rd, 2010
1:53 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.

RAMBLE ON!!!

March 23rd, 2010
1:53 pm

GREAT NEWS!!!

Mark, please tell me DRad will wave the buyout if St. Johns is dumb enough to hire him.

Oh yeah, and Phewitt, if your reading this and are on the fence, LEAVE, I will drive you to the airport!!!

Reality Check

March 23rd, 2010
1:54 pm

Paul,

Take Iman Shumpert with you.

Gordon

March 23rd, 2010
1:54 pm

Mark,

How can Hewitt come back after Radakovich waived the $3.5M? Assuming he gets an offer from St. John’s, how do you work at a place where you know you’re not wanted by the fans or by your boss? I know he’s walking away from the rollover, but doesn’t he have more pride than that in your opinion?

juvenal

March 23rd, 2010
1:54 pm

i don’t think it will be just about the $…selah..

hoopsweisshairpiece

March 23rd, 2010
1:55 pm

Enter your comments here

tbake

March 23rd, 2010
1:56 pm

Alternate title: GT AD prays for St.John’s to take multimillion-dollar mistake off of his hands

As Mark said, it would be a tough decision for Hewitt though. St. John’s somewhat foolishly built on-campus housing for athletes a few years back, which means that the nifty little housing stipend that area players could pocket (quite legally, too–no NCAA violation) was gone as a recruiting hook. Now there’s no real incentive for an NYC high school player to pick the Johnnies over any other school that wants them– a real recruiting advantage gone.

Daniel

March 23rd, 2010
1:57 pm

Braine’s legacy won’t be gone until we’re done paying Gailey, which is still two years from now.

Mark Bradley

March 23rd, 2010
1:57 pm

Has Radakovich waived the $3.5 million, Gordon?

FullMetalJacket

March 23rd, 2010
1:58 pm

OK, Paul. Good luck and go sell the hell out of yourself. Use that NYC charm of yours to convince them you can turn around the HMS Queen Mary on a dime. Persuade them that your skin is thick enough for NYC press and attitude. Most importantly, just get the damm job so that Tech, St.Johns, and you can move on. It’s a win-win-win.

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.

SMITTYSTHEMAN

March 23rd, 2010
2:36 pm

What a perfect win-win scenario this could turn out to be. Hewitt knows it’s just a matter of time at GT. If DRad is willing to pay out millions to Gailey (although not near as much Hewitt’s buyout would be), I feel confident he would pull the same trigger with the unrest that’s sure to continue with Hewitt. DRad could negotiate the $3.5 million that Hewitt would owe if he leaves and then also be out from under the ludicrous rollover and the $7.1 million buyout that Braine left Tech with. And Hewitt could start fresh back in his home state in a lowly program that he could rebuild and make even more money than he makes at Tech. Sounds like a winner to me !!

Recruit Considering Tech

March 23rd, 2010
2:36 pm

The reactions coming from the Tech fans, sure does make me re-evaluate things. Are these the people that I may be playing in front of.

FullMetalJacket

March 23rd, 2010
2:37 pm

Tool’s Gold: Clearly you have not seen the carnage on Athens sidewalks after a Saturday night: it’s almost as bad as the UGA campus after a home football game. The two Tech alum fighter pilots, Lt. Cmdrs Fryman and Condon, are not to be confused with the two UGA cropdusters who crashed their biplanes into the UGA library last year during midterms, obliterating both books and injuring two souls, the janitor and the librarian. Of course you wouldn’t remember either event, as you were probably among the passed out wretched refuse face down on the sidewalks as the UGA athlete swerved and wove his Vespa down the way.

Hey Buzz

March 23rd, 2010
2:38 pm

Where is the Dobbins runway? Huh???

Maverick and Cougar they ain’t. Try DUMB and DUMBER.

Both are now pumping jet fuel and BUSTED in the desert. A tech career for sure.

FullMetalJacket

March 23rd, 2010
2:39 pm

Fool’s Tool: One more point. The Tech and Wake fans were never in danger since Tech men were at the controls. However, this year in Sanford Cesspool, if you see a couple of F-18’s coming in low over the horizon, I’d suggest you and your fellow bullpups hunker down and kiss your painted a$$es goodbye.

FullMetalJacket

March 23rd, 2010
2:40 pm

Simply put, our transgressions are much cooler than yours.

Intelligent 5-star Recruit

March 23rd, 2010
2:43 pm

Thank goodness I can add Georgia Tech to my list of potential destinations, along with Duke, Wake, Stanford, & Vanderbilt. Now that Hewitt is gone, I might actually get recruited.

T3

March 23rd, 2010
2:47 pm

I have not been disappinted in ANY of the decisions D-Rad has made since he arrived at GT.

I dont think I’ll be disappointed with what comes next for the BBall program.

FUGA

March 23rd, 2010
2:50 pm

One name for ya dawg fans: Jim (How many points in a 3pt basket) Herrick.

FullMetalJacket

March 23rd, 2010
2:51 pm

Setting the precedent of completely waiving a multimillion dollar buyout creates complications for future contracts and terminations/defections…and we know there will always be more. As a matter of principle, Georgia Tech and its agent, Radakovich, can hardly be expected to completely ignore the buyout since it is generally accepted that the new employer (St. Johns, hopefully) would be paying for a buyout whoever they employ. As a matter of pride and propriety, Tech would not advertise publicly that they are happy to get rid of Hewitt and thereby admit the folly of the contract in the first place, even though most of us are well aware of it. Legally, Tech could do whatever it wishes with the buyout, probably, unless there are administrative guidelines concerning the negotiation of such items. Radakovich has great latitude and the confidence of the Institute, I would imagine, but not absolute carte blanche in potentially turning away money.

T3

March 23rd, 2010
2:52 pm

Take it to the Bank. Hewitt’s gone.

FullMetalJacket

March 23rd, 2010
2:53 pm

Whoever the new coach would be, he would generate more positive excitement and interest in the program. As it stands, there is more apathy and anger than anything else in regards to GTBB.

StingerSplash

March 23rd, 2010
2:54 pm

I’ve met Hewitt and he’s been affable and cordial.
But I won’t be sad to see him depart, either. This could not be working out better for Dan Radakovich. He has an unhappy fan base and a millstone of contract around his neck with Hewitt’s automatic rollover and $7M buyout. It will be interesting to see who Tech tries to contact to fill the position, should St. John’s and Coach Hewitt come to terms (and as a very smart man who knows a little something about these things once told me, if they’re asking for formal permission to speak, all that’s left to iron out a few contract details).
I don’t think D-Rad will have to beat the bushes to find a good candidate. They’ll be lining up pretty fast at his door. Maybe not them themselves, but their agents or representatives or another third party.

GT

March 23rd, 2010
2:54 pm

How can St. John’s or why would they pay him what we are paying him. Hewitt is tied into the best contract he can get and about 4 times what he is worth. Now next year and probably the next after that will be torture, it may even destroy Tech basketball but why should that bother him. If he is smart he will close his ears and sit-down like a donkey and wait for a pile of cash to get rid of him. He reminds me of one of those trophy wives that got fat on us, and now we wish we still had the old one back. The second wife has her own accountant and she is figuring out how much the old man is worth, and she ain’t leaving till she gets hers. You have got to feel sorry for Dan Radakovich having to deal with another man’s laundry and another man’s scale of achievable goals that he is stuck with and his budget having to honor.

FullMetalJacket

March 23rd, 2010
2:55 pm

Even if we hired Mark Price’s dog we would at least be interested in seeing whether or not he could coach his team to execute an inbounds play any less effectively than Hewitt.

Gordon

March 23rd, 2010
2:56 pm

FullMetalJacket,

I respect your opinion, but these are not normal circumstances. We can fool around with precedent, propriety, and principle, or we can end this nightmare of a contract. Schools and coaches all the time say they want to go in a new direction, and in this case it is both parties. Both Tech and Hewitt want and need a fresh start.

Jeffrey

March 23rd, 2010
2:59 pm

Take him, and take him now!

FullMetalJacket

March 23rd, 2010
3:01 pm

GT: St Johns is on a crusade to rejuvenate their “storied” basketball program and they have already tried to pay Donovan 3+ Million a year. They view Hewitt as the NYC prodigal kid coming back with his charm, his smile, his social agenda, and his NY connections to save their program. According to their blogs, he is most of the fans second choice after Donovan, who has already turned them down, reportedly. No one doubts that Hewitt can talk a good game and exude charisma and charm initially, so I am hopeful he can land the job. If he can get more than 7.5M over five years (the approx. value of his Tech contract), and he realizes the tenor of Tech fans’ disappointment, then he would be wise to take it. It might even work out for St Johns too.

FullMetalJacket

March 23rd, 2010
3:03 pm

Gordo, I agree completely that we should waive the buyout, pay for his plane ticket, buy his house from him, and give him a nice parting gift to boot….all of which would be cheaper than firing him at a later date. My experience in dealing with contracts (not athletic contracts, obviously) just tells me that Tech will make sure they get rid of him, but still negotiate for something. St Johns would be wise to pay something also, lest they send the message to their fans that Hewitt is basically our castoff.

Paul in RDU

March 23rd, 2010
3:04 pm

Mark – I agree with you that CPH may end up with a tough decision to make. IF (and that’s a big IF) St. John’s make him an offer at an annual salary above his current one, I expect him to talk to DRad about the buyout and eventually for him to leave for NYC. I seriously doubt that “losing” his autorenewing contract will stop him – he’d get at least 4 years going in at St. John’s, be welcomed with open arms (local boy coming home) and be given a grace period of a few years.
I should ask my parish priest what he thinks – he was president of Siena when Hewitt was there.

Larry Bird's son

March 23rd, 2010
3:04 pm

Maybe there is a chance I might get recruited by Tech now. I averaged 27 points and 12 boards last season but coach Hewitt said I didn’t fit his mold of a basketball player. Then he was off to another Black Coaches Association meeting.

[...] March 23, 2010 picodulce Leave a comment Go to comments The Atlanta-Journal Constitution reports: Georgia Tech athletics director Dan Radakovich has given St. John’s permission to speak with [...]

Alex

March 23rd, 2010
3:05 pm

With our luck, Hewitt’s cab driver will commit an “unforced turnover” and miss the offramp to Hartsfield. Then Paul will run around aimlessly at the boarding gate until the clock runs out and he misses his flight. Finally, Hewitt will hold a press conference and blame the “youth” of his cab driver and gate agent for his failure to get to New York.

Calvin21

March 23rd, 2010
3:05 pm

They can have him! Let Paul Johnson coach the basketball team!

FullMetalJacket

March 23rd, 2010
3:08 pm

If Tech appears too eager to give up Hewitt it hurts Hewitt in his next job, hurts Tech financially, hurts his future employer who must convince their fans that they hired a worthy coach. One man’s pariah is another man’s savior, but it would be awfully hard for Radakovich to keep a straight face as he announces “We’d like to thank Paul Hewitt for all he has done for our student-athletes and basketball program over the years…” after he’d basically paid St Johns to take him off our hands.

St. John

March 23rd, 2010
3:11 pm

From my perspective, I would not want a coach I did not have to pay a buyout for. By the same token, I wouldn’t object to getting a good deal on the buyout given the state of the economy and the price of housing here in NYC for Saints. You should see the dump Peter and Paul are sharing over in Queens.

NoCoach Blewitt

March 23rd, 2010
3:11 pm

Any way we can package Iman with this deal???

NoCoach Blewitt

March 23rd, 2010
3:12 pm

FMJ …. I agree about DRAD trying to maintain a straight face when he finally gets that call … Gotta be nearly impossible

St. John

March 23rd, 2010
3:12 pm

I’m keeping my fingers crossed that Augustine can get us a break on Master’s tickets this year, since it appears that St. Tiger will re-emerge there.

St. John

March 23rd, 2010
3:14 pm

OF course, Bernadette is all ticked off because they won’t let her join there at Augusta National…but not as ticked off as she was when Tiger hit on her.

St. John

March 23rd, 2010
3:15 pm

Alex, I’ll talk to Francis about getting together some livestock to make sure that Hewitt and all his possessions get to New York somehow or another, despite himself.

St. John

March 23rd, 2010
3:16 pm

How did get to be the patron saint of basketball anyhow? I’m a rugby man….off with their heads! and all that rot.

Mark

March 23rd, 2010
3:17 pm

I know a lot of my fellow posters are really down on the program and the prospects for the future, but I believe that there would be a large number of current big-time coaches who would like to get the contract that Hewitt has. It wouldn’t add any more costs to the athletic department budget to offer the same to someone else especially if St. John’s is willing to pay Hewitt’s part of the buyout. Might end up being a very competitive hiring process.

FullMetalJacket

March 23rd, 2010
3:18 pm

Radakovich is bouncing around his office like a superball on steroids right now in anticipation of his deliverance.

Gordon

March 23rd, 2010
3:22 pm

Mark,

There is NO way that Radakovich is going to put Tech in this position again. No automatic rollovers, at least without a performance clause. Hewitt’s contract would have been fine if he had to get into the NCAA for it to roll over. If he had done it every year, we would owe him what we do now but no one would be complaining. As it turned out, we would have only owed him 2 years at this point.

FullMetalJacket

March 23rd, 2010
3:23 pm

Jacket fan that I am, I still think that objectively the Tech job is attractive to many coaches on several counts. It would be a mistake to offer the same contract we hopefully are about to escape, however. Better to pay more annually, but no more automatic 5-year rollovers and self-destructive payouts. Tech is in the ACC, in a major city and recruiting hub, is getting even better facilities ($30M worth of renovation), a top-shelf AD, and a respectable (albeit not elite) modern history in basketball. They should be able to lure a good coach, and for financial reasons they may go after a younger coach or one from a smaller school (hopefully not Siena however, haha).

NoCoach Blewitt

March 23rd, 2010
3:23 pm

FMJ …. heck I am too … It is hard to try to remain calm and not get my hopes WAY up right now

FullMetalJacket

March 23rd, 2010
3:24 pm

Gordon, I agree re: not repeating mistakes of the past. I think the omission of milestones and performance metrics in the previous contract was the single biggest problem with it. Bonuses make more sense than guarantees.

oldfart

March 23rd, 2010
3:26 pm

Fool’s Gold – “Since 1967 tech averages 4.5 years and gone with football coaches and that includes Bobby Dodd.”

UGA degree? Bobby Dodd retired in 1967 so how can your stat include him? He was the head coach from 1945-1967 which if I remember my math is 22 years and would greatly skew your numbers. Apt name btw.

GT is a joke

March 23rd, 2010
3:26 pm

I hope Hewitt stays because he is a terrible coach! Keep GT down Hewitt, so UGA basketball can rise under Mark Fox!

BuzzBelle

March 23rd, 2010
3:27 pm

COACH MARK PRICE! :)

St. Christopher

March 23rd, 2010
3:28 pm

St. John, you might want to talk to Bobby Jones up there to hook you up with Masters tickets. You can find him in that throne where God sits when Bobby is out on the links.

85' Bears

March 23rd, 2010
3:30 pm

We need Tubby Smith or Jamie Dixon. Come on alums open the checkbooks and donate!!

St. Christopher

March 23rd, 2010
3:31 pm

oldfart: Fool’s Tool should be forgiven for his poor math skills. He used to be able to count to 20, even to 21 when he was naked, until he had that little (very little) scooter accident while drunk on the sidewalks of Athens. Now he can just count to 20 even when he is naked.

FullMetalJacket

March 23rd, 2010
3:34 pm

Can anyone here please give me Mark Price’s coaching resume? I wasn’t aware he had much of one. I consider him the greatest Tech player ever, but I would need to see some coaching credentials and success before handing him the keys to the Ramblin Wreck. No way we want Tubby Smith or that he would come…we couldn’t afford him and I question his effectiveness now. D-Rad will go with a young, rising star, I think.

GA Tech Insider

March 23rd, 2010
3:35 pm

If this mess can get cleared from his desk and he can start fresh, I can assure you, “Lifetime” contracts that automatically rollover, and have huge payoffs if a coach is fired by GA Tech, will never see the light of day by DRad.

It’s not about how the team is playing as to whether the buyout would be waived; it’s all about the money, and how the current contract is structured. Regardless of whether DRad and Paul are happy or unhappy, if Paul wants to go, I can assure you, it will be made quite easy for him to head up north to take the new job.

It’s not personal, or even professional at this point, it’s all business.

T.O.

March 23rd, 2010
3:37 pm

I wonder does Russ the temporary mascot have any opinions on this subject?

FullMetalJacket

March 23rd, 2010
3:37 pm

Craig Neal has more coaching experience and success than Price, but he has never been a head coach. Neal’s boss, Steve Alford at UNM might be a consideration, bringing a little Knight-esque discipline to bear, if he is enticed by the ACC possibilities.

Mark Fox

March 23rd, 2010
3:39 pm

I hear that Dennis Felton is available should Paul leave for NYC.

RussthePaintedMascot

March 23rd, 2010
3:39 pm

As long as they don’t try to paint my a$$ white and gold I’ll be happy with whoever they bring in.

RussthePaintedMascot

March 23rd, 2010
3:41 pm

Of course it’s all business with DRad, always has been. THat’s why I transferred to Tech, they won’t spend the money to buy a$$ paint…so I’m safe.

Tech 1990 National Champs

March 23rd, 2010
3:43 pm

Let’s go hire Mark Fox. He was impressive taking uga to the cellar of the SEC east, and he almost had Stegman filled up when Kentucky came to town.

FullMetalJacket

March 23rd, 2010
3:44 pm

Poor Russ, you can’t help it. Like most UGA people you’re the victim of inbreeding and a$$-painting. A diet of Auburn players, UGA cheerleaders, and daily dates with Sonny’s leg can’t have been very pleasant for you. You might head over to Starkville, where, if you can stand the damm cowbells you can be assured they’ll never paint your a$$.

Not Disappointed

March 23rd, 2010
3:48 pm

Interesting! Coach Hewitt should be somewhere we he can produce and be happy with the problem. I hope he makes the right decision. Ramblin Wreck!

FullMetalJacket

March 23rd, 2010
3:49 pm

All the Hewitt-lovers can breathe a sigh of relief now that their man has employment options. He’s already POTUS and he won’t become a saint for a few more years, so landing on his feet in NYC is a real boon. Frankly, those of you who worshipped Hewitt over the program won’t be much missed.

CoachJRB

March 23rd, 2010
3:49 pm

From Wikipedia RE Mark Price experience:

Mark Price began his coaching career during the 1998-99 basketball season as a community coach under head coach and friend Joe Marelle at Duluth High School for the varsity boys team. After Marelle discovered he had non-Hodgkins lymphoma, Price became a primary factor in the team’s return trip to the final four of the class 5A GHSA state tournament. It was the first time Duluth High School returned to this point in the state tournament in 16 years. Price then went on to be an assistant coach to Bobby Cremins at Georgia Tech during the 1999-2000 season.[9]

After Cremins retired from coaching at Georgia Tech, Price then went on the following year to be the head coach at Whitefield Academy in Atlanta for the 2000-01 season leading the team to a 27-5 record and the final eight teams of the state Class A tournament, a 20 win improvement over the prior season and 27 win improvement two seasons before Price arrived.[10] NBA player Josh Smith also played at Whitefield Academy the same season Price was coach.[11] [12]

In 2003, Price was a consultant for the NBA’s Denver Nuggets before moving on to become a NBA television analyst and color commentator for both the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Atlanta Hawks.

In March 2006, Price was named the inaugural head coach of the Australian NBL’s South Dragons, a new franchise for the 2006–07 season, for a short period of time before the position was taken over by player Shane Heal, in a controversial decision made by majority owner Mark Cowan. Heal was fired the following year after the Dragons finished last in the NBL for the 2007-08 season.[13]

Price was the shooting consultant for the Memphis Grizzlies for the 2007-08 season and named the shooting coach for the Atlanta Hawks at the beginning of the 2008-2009 season.[14] Price helped to improve the Hawks offensive output in their first return to the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals in nearly 10 years during the 2009 NBA Playoffs.[15] Price also trains other NBA players in partnership with the Suwanee Sports Academy, one of the largest basketball training facilities in the United States, during the basketball offseason in Atlanta specializing in shooting and point guard skills.

Price was a key factor in developing the overall teaching philosophy for On Court Player Development [16] – a basketball skill development and character building program – in 2006 held at the Suwanee Sports Academy. The academy is also home to the Mark Price Shooting Lab.[17]

FullMetalJacket

March 23rd, 2010
3:50 pm

Those of you who supported Hewitt but love the Jackets are always welcome, once he is safely on the plane.

FullMetalJacket

March 23rd, 2010
3:55 pm

CoachJRB: Thanks for the info. I can’t say I am very impressed, however, and wonder why he pursued coaching in Australia(?!) to a Division I job. I would be willing to give him a shot at the Tech job, but only after a competitive recruiting effort by DRad with other candidates. Price’s contribution to Georgia Tech as a player is tremendous, I know his character is solid, and his rapport with the Tech faithful should be great. Running an ACC hoops program is a major leadership and administrative endeavor, however, and a horse of a completely different color.

Decatur Tech Fan

March 23rd, 2010
3:55 pm

LOL, Mark I called this YESTERDAY at 4 pm…am I good or what?. Okay, I predict he leaves and St johns pays aprrox .30 on the dollar to Ga Tech. After all, he wasnt their first choice…..Donovan @ UF was. He said thanks but no thanks. And they threw 3 million at him. Its a great day to be a Yellow Jacket.

RAMBLE ON!!!

March 23rd, 2010
3:56 pm

CoachJRB, but Price can’t teach free-throwing shooting like Hewitt can.

Gordon

March 23rd, 2010
3:56 pm

CoachJRB,

I love Mark Price as much as the next Tech fan, but you have to admit you wouldn’t even consider him if he hadn’t played at Tech. This hire is too important to give to someone who has never been a head coach at the collegiate level. There was talk of hiring Bill Curry as the AD when Braine left, and that would have been a mistake too. Love the guys (Curry and Price), but they aren’t the right hires.

NY is Paul's kind of town

March 23rd, 2010
3:57 pm

Do it Your Way, Paul, baby. Take a bite of the Big Apple and get the hell out of Atlanta.

Big Al

March 23rd, 2010
3:58 pm

This is GREAT news!!!

NY is Paul's kind of town

March 23rd, 2010
3:58 pm

Gordon: ditto that. Price ain’t right this time.

DEFCON 5

March 23rd, 2010
3:58 pm

If you believe this video……IT’LL ALL BE FREE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Listen for the: “I don’t have to worry about putting gas in my car or paying my mortgage!”

hoopslover

March 23rd, 2010
3:59 pm

Don’t be lured, coach. Our guys need you here, and us real fans appreciate you and the job you do. You are a great representative of the I, lead on!

why NOT mark price?

March 23rd, 2010
3:59 pm

first things first is to get rid of phew so we can out from underneath that albatross of a contract. the best scenerio is for st john’s to pony up a portion of the 3.5 mil buyout. what a turn around that would be eh?

personally i would look long an hard at mark price. when you compare the resume of phew 10 years ago vs the resume of mark price the only thing that phew has over mark is ’some head coaching experience’. how many years did he coach at sienna? 2-3? yet we signed an inexperienced phew as our coach. why not mark?

reasons why mark price would be a great hire…..

-he loves gt as does bobby (unlike phew)
-he played at gt (did phew even play bb ever?)
-he is a gt man
-he is a coaches son (phew stayed at the holiday inn express)
-his whole family has been involved with bb their entire lives
-he has been around the best coaching minds in the world (phew had coach raveling… lmao )
-he would come cheap and we could structure the contract to be insanely incentive laden (its a shame that phew had no incentive to win at gt)
-he is an nba all star
-he knows how to shoot field goals an free throws superbly and coaches that now.
-he wouldnt limit himself to recruiting only long tall athletic and black kids
-he would be able to recruit white blue chippers (phew couldnt recruit a white blue chipper to save his soul)
-he would be able to actually identify a good point guard prospect
-he would elevate the performance of our guard play. most would concur that the ncaa is guard driven. this is something phew could never do….. develop good guard play. this is evidenced by the pitiful numbers we have had wrt the to::ass ratio we have had for 10 years.
-he would not try to put round pegs into square holes
-he would get away from individual instruction an go more with team play.
-he has major name recognition
-his ego is no where near the size of our current coach’s ego.
-he knows more than just one offensive an one defensive strategy
-he cant be any softer than phew is now. our team’s play mimics phew to a T. unfocused, excuse laden. soft mentally. soft physically. LOW EXPECTATIONS!
-he knows what it takes to win an acc championship, to win more than one ncaa game, to play in the nba. (phew has none of that going for him)
-he would surround himself with talented assistants
-he has every bit the reputation of being a good man that phew has an than some.
-he would help our graduation rate. it cant get any worse than it is now. we are AGAIN not in compliance with the ncaa an will probably lose more scholarships.
-he is not connected to the BCA and has no hidden agenda.
-he is not apt to want to coach anywhere else but at gt.
-he likes mark bradley ;o)

AND…

-he never disrespected the gt program like phew did a few years back by saying things that one would expect out of the mouth of dave “low expectations” braine. simply put … we are where we are as a program because it is phew’s vision of what gt can accomplish. that is why he thought we had a great year. to phew gt is a middle of the road program that had a hard time finding a coach until he was good enough to accept our offer even though he could have gotten more money elsewhere.

paul, you are such a nice guy for gracing us with your presence for all of these years. NOT!

reasons why mark price would NOT be a great hire…..

-no head coaching experience

*******************************************

i know i know, that is a biggie. i am sure there are other fine candidates out there who do have the right kind of experience but they cant match mark price wrt all the things he brings to the table. besides why NOT give mark a shot and see what happens. i can guarantee you that he will sign a contract for next to nothing to get the opportunity.

if he is successful ala paul johnson we can upgrade the contract without mortgaging the house. if he is NOT successful we can part ways a few years from now in no worse shape than if phew had stayed. make no mistakes about it folks but next year is set to be a disaster.

we will be losing gani, favors, bell, peacock and possibly schumpert . we will probably lose sheehan. we have recruited only ONE player this year. (sound familiar?) . we will be put on probation again for academic violations an possibly lose more scholarships. 2 of our starters in the front court will be red shirt freshmen. we have no other big men. folks, we are NOT poised to have a great year next year imo.

imo even a mark price with NO head coaching experience is a huge upgrade over what we have now.

Thirty Points To Your Twenty-Four Points

March 23rd, 2010
4:00 pm

HAHAHAHAHA!!!

I smell a basketball program in turmoil!!!

Plus your football program will not be able to recruit top talent to continue their High School Football career…..

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HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!

HOT OFF THE PRESSES!

March 23rd, 2010
4:02 pm

It’s Official! Now EVERYONE wants Hewitt to leave.

HOT OFF THE PRESSES!

March 23rd, 2010
4:03 pm

Thirty points… is that your IQ, or the IQ of your entire family?

Tony

March 23rd, 2010
4:05 pm

Mark

Do you have Larry Hartstein’s email address. I would like to send him some comments about his article on the Fly Over at the Wake Forest game and that Lower Rear Admirel that made that dumb ass grounding of the pilots.

Decatur Tech Fan

March 23rd, 2010
4:05 pm

“Excuse me Mr Radakovich, could we pretty please talk to your BB coach, pleeeez?”
“Well YOU sure can…here…use my office, Ill be down the street, Happy Hour just started…..WOO HOOO!”
“Thank you Mr Radakovich”
“Oh NO….THANK YOU!!!!!” :-)

Ga Tech Fan

March 23rd, 2010
4:12 pm

I got an idea lets pay PJ more to coach both!!! I think Bobby Cremins would love to come home!!!!!!

Blewitt agian

March 23rd, 2010
4:13 pm

Why not look at Wojo or Collins at Duke?

JDM

March 23rd, 2010
4:14 pm

Take Bradley with you.

DEFCON 5

March 23rd, 2010
4:14 pm

If you believe this video……IT’LL ALL BE FREE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Listen for the: “I don’t have to worry about putting gas in my car or paying my mortgage!”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P36×8rTb3jI

Taco

March 23rd, 2010
4:20 pm

I agree let him go if they will have him. This is a plum job!

GT in CT

March 23rd, 2010
4:20 pm

St. Johns to interview Hewitt on Wed, according to NY Post.

Geori

March 23rd, 2010
4:25 pm

If Chan Gailey can get a head coaching job in the NFL, then Paul Hewitt deserves a job in the Big East!

Geori

March 23rd, 2010
4:25 pm

Mark Price was a crappy coach in the NBA, why would we want him?

CatsFly

March 23rd, 2010
4:27 pm

UNC and Kentucky were battling to see who got to 2k wins first. UGa and Tech and battling to see who can hire and fire the most bb coaches. The turnstile in their gyms were installed to count fans, not coaches.

heartofdarkness

March 23rd, 2010
4:29 pm

Can’t see Hewitt leaving Tech and MB’s blog behind.

Mark Bradley

March 23rd, 2010
4:30 pm

Well, there’s always the World Wide Web, heartofdarkness.

[...] Tech grants permission: St. John's can speak with Hewitt Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) – Mar 23rd – 13:08 [...]

CoachJRB

March 23rd, 2010
4:32 pm

Full Metal – I was just making the point that Mark Price is not just an ex-player with no coaching experience. Just my opinion, he is the exact opposite (coaching style) of Hewitt. His focus would be on fundamentals and players being here longer than 1 year. I would just like to see him get a shot. He is a Tech guy that we could all rally around. That is important, because I think the next few years are going to be tough no matter who is the coach. Starting next year, we have NO big men…..

RAMBLE ON!!!

March 23rd, 2010
4:33 pm

It’s all a cruel joke folks. He has planted his roots here, even moved his dad down.

He’s waiting for that glory day of getting fired so he can get his 7 million. It doesn’t matter how much the Alumni loathe him.

It’s all about the money.

GT in CT

March 23rd, 2010
4:35 pm

NY Post: “Radakovich described Hewitt’s contract as a unique situation, and that because of financial concerns, the university has decided it would look for candidates at the mid-major level.

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Tech Man in Dawg Country

March 23rd, 2010
5:19 pm

I am sure that Tech would waive any buyout that CPH would owe Tech. My question, and I sure CPH’s agent’s question will be, how much of the 7.1 M will Tech pay him to leave? Sort of like Nardelli at Home Depot??? Face it, if his agent was smart enough to get the rollover contract, I am sure he is smart enough to ask for a “severance package”. Do you think DRad would be willing to pay some to get CPH to leave? Otherwise, I still can’t see CPH walking away from the rollover contract. He will never get another contract that good. I think he might be willing to call DRad’s hand. Mark, what do you think?

Paul in RDU

March 23rd, 2010
5:38 pm

Guys – I love Mark Price as much as the next Tech grad but he has ZERO experience as a college HC; ZERO experience recruiting players; ZERO experience building a staff; minimal experience dealing with AAU and HS coaches
HC of an ACC b’ball program is not an entry level position and that’s what you’d be getting with Price – someone who would have to learn on the job.
We need a coach who can compete with Coach K, Ole Roy and Gary W (3 guys with NC’s, by the way) not someone just because he played PG at GT. NC State hired one of their “all time great PGs” as HC, a guy with coaching experience in the NBA, and it hasn’t gone well.

uberVU - social comments

March 23rd, 2010
7:08 pm

Social comments and analytics for this post…

This post was mentioned on Twitter by EricStirgus: St. John’s must be betterRT @MarkBradleyAJC: #Georgia Tech grants permission for #St. John’s to speak with Paul Hewitt. http://bit.ly/a1PqnF…

Benjamin

March 24th, 2010
12:58 am

Even though I’m not a Tech fan, I didn’t mind Hewitt so much; he did a serviceable job when here. Honestly, from my perspective, he was the victim of his own early success.

GT’s basketball program, outside of a couple brief periods, has never been an ACC elite program, which isn’t something to find shame in because the ACC has traditionally been the most powerful basketball conference in the land over the last 20 years or so. Even aside from UNC and Duke, Maryland’s got a national title, Wake’s got a good tradition, etc.. Minus this year, year in and out the conference is loaded. To say that Hewitt only took three Tech teams to tournaments or only had one winning conference record is a bit of a loaded statement, in my opinion, for a school that really hadn’t done much otherwise prior to his arrival. (One Final Four…)

If he goes, I wish him well. I think he’s the one who deserves better, not Tech alumni and fans….

Benjamin

March 24th, 2010
1:02 am

That’s not a shot across the bow at Tech fans, either — though I consider myself a Georgia athletics fan, generally speaking, it’s just me being honest. I even like most of the Tech guys that post here.

GT just isn’t — and, really, has never been — a basketball program that most would deem “as good as advertised.” Outside of 2004 and Lethal Weapon III, I can’t think of a team that ever really stood out as a national title contender. A solid program, yes… a standout program? Not so much…

[...] Post – She Got Game Too: Is the NBA Dance Bracket’s Time Up? 2 Tweets Tech grants permission: St. John's can speak with Hewitt | Mark Bradley Georgia Tech has granted a St. John's request to approach Paul Hewitt about its coaching [...]