Hewitt is staying: Tech fans, how do you feel? UPDATED
Georgia Tech has now confirmed that Paul Hewitt has turned down St. John’s. Here’s the school’s official statement:
Georgia Tech head basketball coach Paul Hewitt said Thursday afternoon that he will remain at the Institute and is no longer a candidate for the head coaching position at St. John’s University.
Hewitt, 46, just completed his 10th season at the helm of the Yellow Jackets’ program, guiding Tech to a 23-13 overall record. The Jackets advance to the championship game of the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament and earned a berth in the NCAA Championship for the fifth time, where it defeated Oklahoma State in the first round before being eliminated by Ohio State.
“My family and I have developed deep ties to Georgia Tech and the city of Atlanta,” said Hewitt. “I strongly believe in what Georgia Tech can do for young people, and I am committed to returning the Tech basketball program to the level of success our fans have come to expect. We took a step in that direction this past season, and I fully intend to continue on that path.”
Hewitt, who has record of 177-144 at Georgia Tech, ranks third among active coaches in the ACC in games coached and fourth in career victories. He ranks 18th in career victories all-time. He has taken the Yellow Jackets to six post-season berths, including one NIT appearance, twice to the championship game of the ACC Tournament and the championship of the 2003 Preseason NIT.
“I think what has transpired over the last few days speaks volumes about Paul Hewitt and about Georgia Tech,” Tech director of athletics Dan Radakovich said. “Paul’s credentials as a human being, a family man, a leader and a builder of character are impeccable. All of us at Georgia Tech are committed to assist him in providing an outstanding men’s basketball program.”
If you’re a Tech fan, how do you feel? Relieved that your coach is staying? Disappointed that he’s staying?
My thoughts on what Hewitt staying would mean for him and Tech will be forthcoming, but I’d be obliged to hear yours. Thanks in advance.
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538 comments Add your comment
Andy
March 25th, 2010
2:22 pm
so Tech has 2 above 0.500 seasons in the ACC over the last 20 years. Do you think the expectations are alittle high for the program?
Tim Tebow's Tears
March 25th, 2010
2:23 pm
Wait wait wait. Is this an early April Fools Joke? If so well played
Phil Fly
March 25th, 2010
2:23 pm
As a Tech student who made it to over half the games, including the ACC and NCAA tournament, I was initially elated with the prospect of Hewitt leaving. Then after a little thought, I started to fear the unknown. What if we can’t get a coach who is capable to recruiting top notch players? What is we can’t get a coach who at least gives us a ride for our money every once in awhile.
I’m glad he stayed, and will continue to try and support him!
Technophobia
March 25th, 2010
2:23 pm
I have mixed feelings about this. If Hewitt takes the criticisms to heart and doesn’t just dismiss the complaints and works hard to improve the obvious shortcomings of his recent teams then I think it will be OK. But if we continue to see a lack of discipline, sloppiness and no attention to detail then I’ll wish he left. Hewitt has become a very polarizing figure. I’m just the lonely moderate, lol.
Corch Meyer's Hissy Fit
March 25th, 2010
2:23 pm
I can’t believe whoever said GT is a mid-tier program is actually a Tech fan. I’m a UGA fan and even I don’t believe they are mid-tier. They have everything they need to be a perennial tournament team with occasional deep runs. Tech will never be Duke or UNC (Yeah, they sucked this year but they’ll be back)but they should be at the top of the next group of teams just behind the big 2.
Mark Bradley
March 25th, 2010
2:23 pm
I’m monitoring, KevinM. As we say in psychotherapy, this is your hour.
Dawg-Hatin' Jacket
March 25th, 2010
2:23 pm
Jackets2010, you are an idiot and probably not a real Yellow Jacket. Kansas fans aren’t calling for Bill Self’s head because he WINS. Yeah, they got beat. But they are a helluva better team under Self than we’ll ever be with Hewitt.
SANFORD STADIUM IS A DUMP
March 25th, 2010
2:24 pm
And we havent been this amused sinse , well! Since uga choked starting at the beginning of there football and sports program history. Rednecks!!!
Jackets2010
March 25th, 2010
2:24 pm
If we are this angry with Hewitt and his 1.3 mil a year, I’d have expected some of you to run out on the field at the Ted and smack Hampton for ripping us off for 17 mil a year. (one of those rare times he wasn’t injured)
I am not thrilled but maybe I am more used to making he best of things.
Next year’s team will not be terrible.
Rice and Oliver will surprise and be more consistent.
The red shirt might be decent.
and I believe the program brings in 5 mil a year if not more.
critic
March 25th, 2010
2:25 pm
I think I am now in favor of blowing up the program from within.
We don’t give any scholarships anymore, don’t put a dime into a renovation of the coliseum, refuse to allow any assistant coaches, they can go by the cheapest means possible to away games.
Who cares anymore, just do whatever it takes to kill it.
SANFORD STADIUM IS A DUMP
March 25th, 2010
2:25 pm
All i have to say….Uga-1 GT-4 . National titles…hate it but eat your heart out.
Jackets2010
March 25th, 2010
2:26 pm
You miss my point.
These blogs often give vent to panicked fans and I’ll bet the farm it would have been funny to listen to Kansas folks panic.
That’s all I’m saying.
TomB
March 25th, 2010
2:27 pm
I predict before March 15, 2011 Hewitt will be fired. He will take his 7 million and then be named the new head basketball coach at Georgia State. And he’s doing this all because his family wants to stay here? Arghhh!
Ornery
March 25th, 2010
2:27 pm
I think whatever rich boosters there are out there, should go and fork up the cast, and escort Mr. Hewitt out of the building. with that contract, will be a continued bone of contention until whenever. I wish we could sue No Brain Braine to recover the funds.
We may get periods of luster, but the fact is continued winning is simply not in the cards..
AndyC
March 25th, 2010
2:27 pm
As a Dawg fan, I am glad Hewitt is staying because I just don’t think he is very good coach. I would rather he stay at Tech and continue their poor play. He had one of the most talented teams this year in which the ACC was down and turned in a lackluster performance. If I were the Tech AD I would have wanted him to go. Oh well, we can look forward to more years of poor coaching at Tech.
Jackets2010
March 25th, 2010
2:27 pm
Kansas fans during meltdown in greater agony than Dawg fans last year losing to hated Kiffen?
That’s a question.
Close call.
Duke Blue
March 25th, 2010
2:28 pm
nickj0321……..BUT they whipped your sorry butts.
crap!!
March 25th, 2010
2:28 pm
First of all I am only a casual GT fan. I have loyalties to another school but have admired this program since Mark Price came here. I do however, hate all things UGA. I agree with jason…GT football fans do have their season made when they beat UGA in football and that speaks to the consistancy of their program just like your getting all giddy like a school girl when UGA beats GT in bball. This is a sad day for GT. Hewitt is overwhelmingly mediocre. In his mind he will forever ride a 5 game winning streak 6 years ago to justify his job. And by the way, UGA bball plays in a toilet.
ACC Hoops
March 25th, 2010
2:28 pm
More importantly, can we get rid of Bradley??
Paul in RDU
March 25th, 2010
2:28 pm
Andy – GT has 2 trips to the Final Four in the last 20 years – that would be 2 more than UGA and tied for 3rd in the ACC with MD.
The expectations are not for GT to be equal to UNC and Duke but to be in the upper half of the conference
2HLLWGA
March 25th, 2010
2:29 pm
I am neither happy nor sad. I think Hewitt is a very good coach. I think he has many players that do not put out for him. I was in the upper level in Greensboro – you could see one player everytime stop working on the in bounds – that was the player that should have been open.
When we would press, nobody could beat us. That was the same in 2004, as well. In between, we ahve been without an experienced point guard to be able to lead the press. If Shumpert hangs out, it should be very interesting next year…
Do the math
March 25th, 2010
2:29 pm
All Tech has to do is get all 3500 football season ticket holders to give $2000 each…$7M and your done.
But wait, there's more!
March 25th, 2010
2:29 pm
Disappointment is an understatement.
jasont13
March 25th, 2010
2:30 pm
Sanford is a dump, I thought you had to be smart to be a Tech graduate? If that was the case you need to do some research because UGA has 5 football national championships……..1927, 1942, 1946, 1968 and 1980.
But wait, there's more!
March 25th, 2010
2:30 pm
Hewitt coming back is like having your doctor tell you that your cancer is coming back, but at least you can cut out the cancer.
Jackets2010
March 25th, 2010
2:30 pm
You guys may be right and I may be wrong about our rich alums paying for a byeout at some point.
All I can be sure about is that I will not make a contribution.
So maybe I’m not that great a Tech fan.
I can accept that.
Ya’ll don’t need me anyway.
Justin
March 25th, 2010
2:31 pm
Tech needed to get rid of him instead of giving him an extension.. terrible decision.. he has such talent and doesnt know how to coach it..
But wait, there's more!
March 25th, 2010
2:31 pm
Hewitt is not welcome here. That will be abundantly clear next year in the half-empty dullerdome. We don’t want him, and if his family is the reason he stayed, we don’t want them either.
No word from St Johns yet
March 25th, 2010
2:32 pm
Any comment from St Johns or the New York papers yet? Just looking for a glimmer of hope.
No word from St Johns yet
March 25th, 2010
2:33 pm
I guess St. John’s got lucky after all, and they don’t even know it.
OSU Buckeye
March 25th, 2010
2:33 pm
It’s funny that all you Hewitt haters can do is regurgitate Mark Bradley comments in your posts. Not an original thinker among you.
I was hoping Hewitt (and Mark Bradley) would leave so Tech could go ahead and hire their Mid-major coach, maybe run a HS offense like the football team and really get their butts handed to them. GO Buckeyes!!
Jackets2010
March 25th, 2010
2:34 pm
Maybe I’m being selfish guys.
DRAD has promised me a different cheerleader every game to get me to renew.
So heck yea I coming back.
lol.
GT21
March 25th, 2010
2:34 pm
dawgfan you are such an idiot. Yes we would take a gimmick offense in bball if it got us a ACC championship and a trip to the elite 8. BTW our gimmick offense has rolled up over 700 YARDS in 2 years against yalls 5 star pro style defense. Do us all a favor and get off moms computer go outside in the trailer park and play with the rest of leg humping friends and STFU!!!
oldfart
March 25th, 2010
2:34 pm
It is real simple. His players don’t play as a TEAM. They act as if they are just on exhibition for the NBA and play street ball.
RAMBLE ON!!!
March 25th, 2010
2:35 pm
MY HEAD IS GOING TO EXPLODE!!!
I loathe this man and his wife, with every amount of loathe in my body, if that’s possible.
I will not feel sorry this obstinate clown next year when the 900 folks who show up for the game are booing and jeering him.
Talk of pouring salt in the wounds.
TomB
March 25th, 2010
2:35 pm
Mark, can you at least confirm these rumors? Is ESPN always accurate?
Mark Bradley
March 25th, 2010
2:36 pm
Tech just issued a statement of confirmation, TomB. It’s included in the post now.
No word from St Johns yet
March 25th, 2010
2:36 pm
Among the tears and disappointment and curses and insults and threats and frustration and exasperation from Tech fans, we’ll see how many of us actually renew our season tickets or our Tharpe fund contributions or ….. Everytime we refuse to give money to pay for Hewitt’s contract or for other athletics that indirectly benefit Hewitt, make sure you write down “because of Hewitt” on your form or voided blank check.
Not Disappointed
March 25th, 2010
2:37 pm
Well, Coach Hewitt, some of Tech fans wrong and win! Ramblin Wreck!
SEC Football
March 25th, 2010
2:37 pm
He is staying because of his family not because he is happy with the job. The GT alum need to step up with the money and end this!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
AndyC
March 25th, 2010
2:37 pm
Paul
I made no comparison between Tech and UGA’s programs. Tech clearly has a more established basketball program but I think Coach Fox is going to work on changing that. Tech’s record over the last 5 seasons under Hewitt is 77-75. Not good enough. I think they would have fired him after this season but couldn’t because of his contract.
No word from St Johns yet
March 25th, 2010
2:38 pm
Jacket2010: he’d have to promise me a new car, at least, I already married my cheerleader.
Buzz is Wiser
March 25th, 2010
2:38 pm
Ha! Mr. Bradley, you may have been capable of slinging enough mud to run Cremins off years ago, but you won’t get CPH! In your eyes, Hewitt can’t do anything right except win a national championship, and even then you’d say it was a fluke.
Personally, I think a coach that gets his team to the ACC championship and 2nd round NCAA tourny during a “mediocre” year is fine to keep on the payroll. Yes, he needs to work on keeping his “one and done” NBA wanna-be players around for at least 3-4 years. And half of what is wrong with the team can be fixed by ditching his lame assistants and getting some better assistants who can actually run a bball practice.
Tech fans are really bad about the “what have you done for me lately” attitude. We just need something to complain about. I’m glad Hewitt is staying. I’m sad that his assistants aren’t going.
Techster
March 25th, 2010
2:38 pm
Terrible news. Please leave coach. We don’t want you
rainman
March 25th, 2010
2:38 pm
I don’t know who Tech could land as a replacement for Hewitt if he were to leave, but the haters don’t ever think about the downside.
I have been as critical of CPH as most, but he does have his positives, and we could certianly end-up with worse.
Since he apparently is staying, we should support the team and hope some of their shortcomings can be improved upon (especially turnovers). The defense was pretty solid this year, and if they could protect the ball & score a few more points – things might be different.
With recruiting supposedly Hewitt’s forte, I am worried about our 4,5 positions next year. Maybe he has a couple of JC ‘bigs’ in mind – I hope so. Most of the quality players have already committed, and so far, we only have one 6′4″ swingman.
Miller and Holsey do not equal Gani, Derrick, and Zack.
We need some ‘MEAT’!!
Not Disappointed
March 25th, 2010
2:38 pm
typo. show the Tech fans that we are wrong and win! Win the games that count! Ramblin Wreck!
Disappointed Beyond Words
March 25th, 2010
2:39 pm
…
T-Bone
March 25th, 2010
2:39 pm
When I saw the report that Coach Hewitt is staying, my heart sank. Let’s see if his actions match his words. With Favors gone for sure and Lawal probably to follow, it will be interesting to see if he can deliver on his statement. History says he won’t.
Bruce Wayne
March 25th, 2010
2:39 pm
I never want to hear again that Hewitt “is a great guy that represents Tech well.” This decision on his part is the furthest thing from that. Bobby Cremins knew when it was time to go and resigned for the good of everyone, now he is beloved for what he did at Tech. Hewitt could have something similar (somewhat similar) and we would welcome him back on anniversary’s of 94. He is a whiner as well so drop it with the Hewitt a great representative b.s.
Jackets2010
March 25th, 2010
2:40 pm
Did Auburn just sign UTEP’s coach?
With a new palace, that was the best they could do.