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
TomB
March 25th, 2010
2:40 pm
Thanks Mark. Looking forward to your thoughts on this. Its going to be a tough environment for Hewitt to work in, but I guess best of luck to him.
Paul in RDU
March 25th, 2010
2:40 pm
jasont13 – I love your claim that UGA won the MNC in football in 1968. UGA went 8-1-2 that year and were picked by someone called Litkenhous. Every poll you have ever heard of picked OSU.
Thee Ohio State University was the only unbeaten, untied team in the nation, going 10-0, blowing out Michigan and then USC in the Rose Bowl. The 1968 OSU team was probably Woody’s finest and is on most lists of top 10 teams ever.
Keep telling yourself that UGA has 5 NC’s.
GT72
March 25th, 2010
2:41 pm
I am thrilled!!! People that know basketball know that Hewitt is a great coach!!!
Captain
March 25th, 2010
2:41 pm
Whew, now we all can exhale…….Thank you Paul Hewitt. Glad you are staying. If only Reggie Ball could come back for another season as GT QB? That would be the answer to another prayer.
Disappointed Beyond Words
March 25th, 2010
2:42 pm
…as I said….
StingerSplash
March 25th, 2010
2:42 pm
This dithering is reminiscent of the offense his basketball team runs — the what, where are we going, you mean now? offense.
I feel like I’ve been stabbed in the back — by his decision to stay!
It’s obvious he’s lost the fan base. It’s looking like even the administration is cooling toward him. You know, the writing is on the wall, Coach. Maybe you’ll figure that out just after you figure out how to execute/defend an inbounds play.
RAMBLE ON!!!
March 25th, 2010
2:42 pm
Put the pipe down GT72, please for you own good.
kenbud
March 25th, 2010
2:42 pm
Tech will really suffer next year with no inside game. They lose a majority of their big men, and they don’t have much of a recruiting class coming in …. I’m not sure he will be around after that. Unless there’s something in his contract that stipulates Tech has to pay him if they void the contract. But I don’t want to talk contract because Hewitt might take that to mean I have an agenda to get him fired.
Here’s there recruiting class for next year (so far)
http://insider.espn.go.com/ncb/recruiting/tracker/school?schoolId=59
Buzz is Wiser
March 25th, 2010
2:42 pm
PS- Can you think of a good replacement for him? Nobody would want that job. Recruiting is rough and Hewitt has done about the best job possible at Tech. No big-name coach is going to want to beg players to come, when academics are so tough, a fan base is grumpy, and you have a local reporter that is constantly going for the coach’s jugular because he doesn’t wear red and black.
Go Tech
March 25th, 2010
2:43 pm
Does Mark Bradley actually think that random, anonymous internet comments, most written by sad dawg fans who don’t have a men’s basketball team to follow, constitutes some sort of consensus by fans?
Bradley needs to go badly.
GT
March 25th, 2010
2:43 pm
@jackets2010… What is a byeout?
Ben
March 25th, 2010
2:43 pm
He’s here, we’re stuck with him, so I’m gonna support him and the team and hope for the best. I used to love the guy, it would be great if he could turn things around and make me love him again. Since there’s nothing I can do about it, I choose to be optimistic.
Jackets2010
March 25th, 2010
2:43 pm
rainman that’s about how I look at it, my joking about cheerleaders aside.
I think Rice and Oliver will only get better and more consistent with time.
Schumpert may surprise us at some point and learn how to play like Jarrett Jack.
And we have a big red shirt, don’t we?
Maybe there will be other recruits.
T3
March 25th, 2010
2:43 pm
Government taking over healthcare.
Public UNions demanding a takeover of ALL private retirement plans and 401ks.
White House wants Amnesty(Citizenship) for 15 Million Illegals in country.
And now….the lowest of blws……Hewitt is staying.
And the hits just keep on coming.
God and Grayhound
March 25th, 2010
2:44 pm
This reminds me of when Gailey interviewed with some NFL teams the year before he was Canned. Can Hewitt not see the writing on the wall? Better to take an offer now, before his stock goes down to zero. It’s already on life-support.
Tech Man
March 25th, 2010
2:45 pm
Damm, we can’t even give him away. Where are all those insiders that said it was a sure deal and he was gone.
Andy R
March 25th, 2010
2:45 pm
poop
GTsupporter
March 25th, 2010
2:46 pm
Sad day for GT..I wish the GT players the best!! I truly wish them the best!!!
No Favors No Lawal and possibly no Shumpert.
Fans need to promote GT as a baseball/football power at this point.
GT basketball has killed itself. This is sad……..very sad.
Jackets2010
March 25th, 2010
2:46 pm
How tall is the red shirt?
HSV Jacket
March 25th, 2010
2:46 pm
Look at what DRad 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.”
Nothing about his coaching ability. Maybe they can “assist him” with some new assitant coaches.
Sugar Hill Dawg
March 25th, 2010
2:47 pm
After watching the ACC tournament, I’d be on suicide watch if I were Tech ‘75 rather than UGA ‘75. While a win’s a win, that had to be the most abysmal basketball I’ve seen in some time. (Don’t forget, I watched some of the most horrific basketball ever played in the Stegasaurus when I was an undergrad.) This was a once in a lifetime opportunity for Coach Hewitt to exit gracefully – he blew it bigtime. I hope my Tech buddies enjoy that never ending contract! Hard to believe, but I think the future in Athens is brighter than that of the Jackets. Go Dawgs!!
Wilson Dunkit
March 25th, 2010
2:47 pm
I was among many who wished that Hewitt wasn’t our coach the past couple of years, but who trusted Radakovich to make the best decision for the Institute considering all things, including the finances. It was getting to the point where the diminishing crowds and growing antipathy (along with apathy) were making it clear that soon the financial cost of keeping him would outweigh the cost of paying him to leave. But once this deux ex machina called St. John’s offered to deliver us from him I really can’t brook his coming back another year. Do what it takes, DRad, just get him the hell out of here.
srschirm
March 25th, 2010
2:48 pm
This is crap. Thanks for getting our hopes up, Hewitt.
leland
March 25th, 2010
2:48 pm
Dear Mr. MB–I didn’t know exactly how I felt about Hewitt staying at Tech since I keep track of basketball in only a casual way, have no relation with Tech(other than the fact that my son graduated from it), and don’t know a thing of any significance about Hewitt, but since you asked, I decided to stop what I was doing (diagramming sentences) and think about it for a bit to see what I could find out.
I guess I could say that, in a way, I’m completely indifferent. I think first that it might be pleasing to some people but not to others. Fifty-fifty, I guess; so I can’t decide on those grounds. Then I considered what it might mean for Tech basketball; decided I didn’t have the foggiest. Maybe, I thought, it might matter a great deal to his family, but then I realized I don’t know whether he even has a family. So, who can tell? What does it mean for Georgia, as a whole? Who knows? America? Not much, I guess. That’s about it, I guess.
I was about to make some Vichyssoise before I got sidetracked on this, so I had better get back to it. Also, it’s started raining.
Thanks for asking; I hope I’ve been some help to you and your readers.
Your pal, Leland
Small Johnson
March 25th, 2010
2:49 pm
I DONT BLAME HEWITT
I MEAN WHERE ELSE ARE YOU GOING TO GO GETTING PAID OVER A MILLION AND A HALF A YEAR AND NOT HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT JOB SECURITY.
I MEAN CMON TECHIES YOU HAVE NO FAN SUPPORT SO THERE IS NOT ENOUGH PRESSURE FOR HIM TO LEAVE FOR PROBABLY ANOTHER DECADE.
REMEMBER CHAN GAILEY
IT TOOK YEARS FOR YOUR 5 FANS TO SIGN A PETITION A MILLION TIMES TO GET RID OF HIM
SO I FIGURE WHATS ANOTHER DECADE AT A DUMP LIKE TECH FOR HEWITT
Pago Flyer
March 25th, 2010
2:50 pm
You’re talking Final Four next year. Bank on it!
The Dude
March 25th, 2010
2:50 pm
Hey Doug, how about a poll?
Matt
March 25th, 2010
2:50 pm
Never has there been a Coach saying he was going to stay at a school which was met with such indifference or anger. I really thought he would go as it would have been in both parties best interests for fresh start. CPH has Tech over a barrel and he knows it.
Bob Huggins
March 25th, 2010
2:51 pm
Hewitt doesn’t have the onions to hang in the Big East. What a Mary!
OldRat
March 25th, 2010
2:52 pm
I was surprised at my own feelings, when I thought CPH was leaving. I have mentally quetioned his qualifications on the bench, died with every turnover and more so with every in bound play.
Then I got out the scales. On one side, as Dan Radakovich said, “Paul’s credentials as a human being, a family man, a leader and a builder of character are impeccable”. No one can question the talent of the recruits he brings in. Many of the most admired coaches and managers in sports bring those traits AND some excellent subordinate coaches to their teams. I am glad he didn’t leave. Hope he finds some good assistant coaches that can teach basics and energize the players.
Mrs. Hewitt
March 25th, 2010
2:52 pm
My husband is a fine strong independent free black man and he did exactly what I told him to do. Now all you crackers and rednecks and peckerwoods back off so he can complete his mission. I hate your guts as much as Paul does, but I really like Atlanta so we’re staying.
football fan
March 25th, 2010
2:53 pm
to the poster (sorry i cant remember her name) that said tech had 4 championships in football and uga 1 . remember backdated and WWE championships dont count so its really uga 2 tech 0
Buzzzed
March 25th, 2010
2:53 pm
Hewitt (and his immigrant family) want to get fired next year, pocket 7 mil and then go to St. Johns. Hewitt has some steel balls to step in AMC again. I may come to a couple of games armed with eggs in hand if next season sucks. Hewitt may be holding out for a higher offer. I think 1.8 mil for 10, not 6, years would do the job. Come on Johnnies.
Gordon
March 25th, 2010
2:53 pm
“I am committed to returning the Tech basketball program to the level of success our fans have come to expect.”
That’s what we are afraid of, Paul.
Hewitt's father
March 25th, 2010
2:54 pm
Now son, these people around here don’t like you and they don’t want you to stay.
But, daddy, that woman just won’t let me go.
Paul, that woman gonna mess you up. She’s gonna mess us all up.
But, daddy, she’s bigger than I am.
aztec
March 25th, 2010
2:54 pm
morning jacket you must be kidding, this newspaper is all about UGA and will always be
Tech Fred
March 25th, 2010
2:54 pm
Tech dodged a bullet! Paul Hewitt is a good man and a good coach. He is an outstanding recruiter and I can understand St. John’s or any other school wanting him. The big surprise is that he is willing to put up with the boorish Tech fans. Tech will be the winner in this affair. [Now, Coach, convince Lawal and Favors that they should stay, too, and lets see what you can do when you have a chance to work with a team for more than one year.]
TomB
March 25th, 2010
2:55 pm
Hewitt should have never agreed to listen to ST. JOHN’S if he wasn’t prepared to take the job. If he’s happy here and his family wanted to stay then why even listen. All he’s done is open up an old wound with Tech fans especially in light of his recent twitter comments and then his criticism of the AJC. Tech fans must feel like they been on an emotional roller coaster. Most Tech fans were excited at the possibility of landing a new coach.
'Dieux
March 25th, 2010
2:55 pm
Amen, Gordon.
Mark
March 25th, 2010
2:55 pm
you can thank that idiot Dave Braine. here’s to another 2-14 ACC record
Small Johnson
March 25th, 2010
2:55 pm
FOOTBALL FAN
JUST A LITTLE INSIDE FACTS THAT YOU CAN LOOK UP
IF YOU COUNT TECHS CHUMPIONSHIPS LIKE THEY DO, THEN TECHNICALLY UGA HAS 5 IN FOOTBALL
jaxjacket
March 25th, 2010
2:55 pm
His picture at the top of the story is how I feel. The final disappointment to another disappointing season of Jacket hoops.
GTBOB45
March 25th, 2010
2:56 pm
What a disappointing day. The only thing that was more disappointing was the day Hewitt was hired. He was not qualified to be coach then ,he has shown over 10 years not qualified to be coach now. I an through with GT Basketball until he is gone.
GT Man
March 25th, 2010
2:57 pm
We’re screwed again, took Gailey forever to be fired, now we’ve got to pay Hewitt all this money to keep us at the bottom of the ACC
Jackets2010
March 25th, 2010
2:57 pm
That’s funny “No Word from St John’s” about your cheerleader wife.
Since we are up to our necks in debt along with the rest of the world, this gives us something else to obsess about.
I think we need to lighten up about it and I have.
That’s my advice to take or ignore.
Small Johnson
March 25th, 2010
2:57 pm
A POINT I MADE EARLIER TODAY
WHO WOULD WANT ANYTHING THAT COMES FROM THE DRUNKEN WRECK FROM GA TECH
ST. JOHNS SURE DOESN’T
BLAH HA HA HA HA HA HA AH AHA HA HA AHA H
hoopslover
March 25th, 2010
2:58 pm
Proud that coach Hewitt is staying. He is a class act all the way. Nice to know that Bark doesn’t get to call all the shots!
East Cobb Jacket
March 25th, 2010
2:58 pm
My first reaction is disappointment…. but, you know what? The grass isn’t always greener on the other side. There is no guarantee we’d be better off with Hewitt gone… although most of us really wanted to find out!
Since he’s staying I hope the man will change how he does some things. He needs to lose some of his stubborn streak (what you’ve been doing since 2004 isn’t working, Coach…. it’s okay to admit that), clean house with the assistant coaches (ball handling and free throw shooting are killing us and this is where you get the help to make it better), and don’t be afraid to chew some player butt on the sidelines. Anyone notice how he went off early in the Maryland game in the ACC tourney? It turned into the best half of basketball we played all year.
aztec
March 25th, 2010
2:58 pm
ga tech athletics, THE HITS JUST KEEP ON COMING
Mark Price
March 25th, 2010
2:58 pm
This makes me mad as heck. I may even curse!