In the grand scheme, can Tech afford NOT to fire Paul Hewitt?
Is Paul Hewitt pointing to the NCAA tournament -- or the exit? (AJC photo by Hyosub Shin)
My longstanding belief has been that Georgia Tech cannot afford to fire Paul Hewitt because it doesn’t have $7 million in ready cash. But recent events have subjected that belief to recalibration, and now the issue, at least in this feeble mind, has become: Can Tech afford not to fire him?
Dan Radakovich has been supportive of the coach whose oppressive contract this athletic director inherited. (Quick recap: Hewitt’s contract has an automatic six-year rollover that calls for a full buyout if he’s fired at any time.) But D-Rad isn’t stupid, nor is he blind. He has to see that interest in Tech basketball is at a low not seen since the few folks who deigned to grace Alexander Memorial Coliseum in the final days of Dwane Morrison wore bags on their heads.
Bobby Cremins arrived from Appalachian State in 1981, and soon Tech was winning the ACC tournament and even reaching the Final Four. It got bad again in the late ’90s — Cremins’ teams missed the Big Dance six of his final seven seasons — and he announced his resignation in February 2000. Four years later, Hewitt took Tech to the national championship game.
It has, sad to say, been downhill since. Tech finished with a losing record three times in four seasons. When it made a run to the ACC title game last spring and won its first NCAA game since 2005, the team didn’t exactly become the talk of the town. And now most Atlantans seem to have forgotten Tech even has a team.
For a home game against Georgia, Tech drew 6,725 to a gym that seats 9,191. For North Carolina the crowd was 8,125, but a photo of the highest-priced courtside seating area showed almost an equal split between Tech gold and Carolina blue. For Tuesday’s game against Virginia Tech, the announced attendance was 5,794.
Loading ...This mounting apathy comes at a perilous time. In April, Tech will begin a $45 million renovation of Alexander. Next year’s Jackets will play 10 games at Philips Arena and the rest in the Arena at Gwinnett. How many among a diminishing number of Tech patrons will be willing to make the trek to unfamiliar buildings? And how, if interest doesn’t pick up by November 2012, will it be to unveil a refurbished coliseum that few care to visit?
Granted, $7 million is a lot of money, but Radakovich must weigh that outlay against the price of standing pat. Down the road, how much more than $7 million would it cost Tech to keep an unpopular coach whose teams can’t be said to have overachieved since the golden run of 2004? At what point must an AD, hat in hand, call on donors and ask, “Can you spare a million to help us make a fresh start?”
There is, however, a fairly massive complication: The season isn’t yet over. Tech started horribly, losing non-conference games to Kennesaw State, which is 5-15; to Siena, which is 7-12, and to Charlotte, which is 9-10. Even after winning three of its past four games, Tech has an RPI of 136, second-worst among ACC teams. That said …
Tech is playing better. Its victory over Virginia Tech on Tuesday broke a trend. The Jackets had lost five of the past six against the Hokies, but on this night Iman Shumpert fashioned a triple double and overpowered the estimable Malcolm Delaney and, in a total departure, Hewitt outcoached Seth Greenberg.
Eleven regular-season games remain. Given the softness of its schedule and the weakness of the ACC, it’s not inconceivable that Georgia Tech, which is 10-9, could enter the ACC tournament 17-13 and 9-7 in league play. Would that be enough to save Hewitt? And now the bigger question: If you’re a Tech fan, are you rooting for a furious finish if it means keeping this coach?
Flash back to Nov. 24, 2007: Tech played Georgia in football. The Jackets were 7-4 and it was clear Chan Gailey’s time as coach was near its end. But what if Gailey, who was 0-5 against the hated Bulldogs, had beaten Georgia that day? Would Radakovich have fired a man who’d finally done what his constituency demanded?
Nobody will ever know the answer. Georgia won 31-17. Chan was canned two days later. Two years later Paul Johnson won the ACC title with Gailey’s players. In the grand scheme, that last loss to Georgia was worth it. In the grand scheme, one more losing hoops season might be the best thing for Tech.
By Mark Bradley
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273 comments Add your comment
Navigator
January 26th, 2011
7:15 pm
GTech fans are no different than a lot of other schools that don’t want success to get rid of the coach. The difference for most of us are we are Tech fans and aren’t used to firing basketball coaches. Whack Hyder (long run, and too long for Kentucky as they despised him), Morrison (a few years), Cremins (long run) and now Hewitt (too long of run). That is not a lot of coaches over the last 40 plus years.
Jacket Hoops
January 26th, 2011
7:16 pm
GA_TECH_92 – The ACC has won 5 National Titles and lost 2 others in Finals in Hewitt’s 10 years. Probably the best 10 year stretch in ACC history. No other conference even close to these records over the last 10 years. No shame in finishing middle of pack in ACC. I would like to be, but we are not Duke or UNC. Outside of those 2 and maybe Maryland, who has had a better last 10 years in the ACC?
BravesFan79
January 26th, 2011
7:19 pm
Im rooting for GT to finish around .500, and somehow make the NIT. I used to be one of Hewitts last supporters 2 years ago when i knew he was gonna sign Favors, but i also said he needed to bring in a TOP level assistant… someone who is a ex college coach.
That did not happen, Hewitt did not swallow his pride, and we wasted having the best combination of big men in the country. Hewitt is better off up north. Cya Hewitt!
Jackets2010-11
January 26th, 2011
7:21 pm
Dodd (in 1957 to Texas), Cremins and Hewitt should have left us when they were hot properties.
Had they done so maybe we would be more aware of where we are in the college sports food chain.
BravesFan79
January 26th, 2011
7:22 pm
Could GT possibly just demote Hewitt to “recruiting coordinator”, or another position in order to make him quit on his own? I would like to see him stay in GT’s program.. just as head recruiter, not head coach!
mcdavidastro
January 26th, 2011
7:24 pm
Georgia will come up very short on monay this year because of no firing Richt. The loss of contributions over the last two years and now in 2011 will make the money to get rid of Richt look like nothing. It’s a business and bad coaches at Georgia or Georgia Tech should be fired along with the people who create these outragious contracts. This contract at Tech is one of the worse I’ve heard of. Woe be if Georgia gives Richt any kind of extension, not out of the question (it happened at Tenn).
Fran Tarkenton
January 26th, 2011
7:27 pm
What is Paul Hewitt’s religion..???
OldTimer
January 26th, 2011
7:30 pm
Hewitt has made Georgia Tech basketball irrelevant and without passion. That is quite an accomplishment. As long as Tech is in the ACC recruiting will not be a problem. Yes, his contract is a problem. However, just wish him well and pay the man, let him walk. He doesn’t do his home work. Tech is better than that. That’s the word Dan. Step up. Please. What do you think we’re paying you for?
SnappyNappy
January 26th, 2011
7:31 pm
I’ve Got It ! Pay (or bribe) somebody, anybody, $4 million to hire Hewitt away from us! They get $4 mil. and we save $3mil to use as a signing bonus for a REAL coach!
McBubba
January 26th, 2011
7:36 pm
I think this situation has lemons to lemonade potential: Chuck Hewitt and hire Nancy Lieberman, currently of D-League Texas Legends fame,and a Basketball Hall of Famer. She is a superior coach, and Tech is a superior school; and being an alum of ESPN, you know she will get loads of positive press, so why not..?
GT 74,76, and 09
January 26th, 2011
7:39 pm
I like Hewitt and his Band of Thieves team this year. These guys have a strategy for getting steals. It is fun. Steals make for an exciting game changer. Some refs are calling fouls on ball slaps that are all ball. Shumpert is All-World in my book, a star and a team player. You can’t ask a kid to do more.
I haven’t gotten to a game in person this year. My trips to Atlanta just haven’t matched up with any home games. I really hope to get there soon to fill up one of those empty seats.
My only complaint with Hewitt is not wins and losses, it is graduation rate. I understand that the caliber of player needed to win in the ACC can make a lot of money in the NBA. So it is just wishful thinking on that point.
I wish more people shared my opinion of Hewitt and backed with him with positive comments.
TW
GssiT
January 26th, 2011
7:46 pm
CPJ won the ACC w/GT football players. DRAD-follow VT’s lead. CSG won’t be back!
Jackets2010-11
January 26th, 2011
8:00 pm
Tech is getting better with every game regardless of what u think of the coach.
Same thing just happened at Maryland with Ralph Freigen, the brains of O’Leary’s best years.
ACC coach of the year but fired after a 9-4 season.
I guess they were so determined to get someone better it did not matter the year he had or what his peers thought of him.
Not exactly like Hewitt’s situation but similar.
I agree with Mark that Hewitt outcoached Greenburg.
Rematch should be interesting.
techster
January 26th, 2011
8:28 pm
I will pull for Tech and watch them but have a hard time going to the games as a result of my dislike for the coach. I had tickets last night and decided not to go. I pull for the team nevertheless but my dislike goes beyond coaching which I feel in the past has been terrible. Hewitt actually coached well last night but I just don’t like him and it would take more games than last night to change my mind on his coaching. Some of his comments also have turned me off and his St John pursuit and then turn it down turned my stomach. He knew he was disliked and then pulled that crap and rubs it in the alumni faces as if look – I got another job and turned it down all you haters. Tech can be great at basketball – make a change and let’s get there.
T-man
January 26th, 2011
8:39 pm
C’mon folks… look at his record. It speaks for itself. He’s in his 11th year at Tech and no matter what excuses he has, no way does he lose to THUGA (again) and more incredibly… to Kennesaw State!!! A well established ACC program should be the dominant basketball team in this state – not third best.
So the question is “Can Tech afford not to fire him?” For someone who should have been let go at least two or three years ago, it’s not a matter of if but of when. Unless he wins the ACC championship or makes a Final Four appearance this should be his last. Anything less is unacceptable. Are you listening D-Rad???
Paul in RDU
January 26th, 2011
8:50 pm
Jacket Hoops
January 26th, 2011
7:16 pm
. I would like to be, but we are not Duke or UNC. Outside of those 2 and maybe Maryland, who has had a better last 10 years in the ACC?
________________________________________________________
ACC regular season records in last 10 years (doesn’t include 2010-11) – only includes teams who were in the conference for all 10 years
MD 96-64 + 1 NCAA Championship
WF 87-73 – they fired a coach with a 27-21 conference record
NCSU 71-89 (even with 4 years of coaching by Sidney) – they ran off a coach with a better record than CPH
GT 67-93
FSU 65-95 – a school that doesn’t care about b’ball
UVA 64-96 – revolving coaches
CU 62-98 – another school that doesn’t care about b’ball
Fed Up
January 26th, 2011
9:01 pm
Why does our idiot AD keep extending Hewitt’s contract? Hewitt is the biggest jerkoff excuse for a basketball coach in the NCAA.
Tar and feather Hewitt and run him out of town on a rail.
spider
January 26th, 2011
9:12 pm
i think we should hire NOODLES away from new mexico. he has been a great asst coach for steve alford for many years and he was one of the more enthusiastic players we ever have had.
Bill
January 26th, 2011
9:17 pm
Best option is if team wins are loses Coach is gone!
Hewitt has lost the fans…..I feel for the players but I hope we lose till Paul Hewitt is gone. I watch but can’t pull for a Hewitt coached team, I’m sorry. I’ve been a GT fan since 65 when my dad took me to games. The Thriller Dome…the thrill is gone! I will no go back till PH is gone and many other fans feel the same. The last couple years you could not give tickets away.
Look at UGA the last couple years with a new coach..Fox. The game against Fla was a sell out and fans were crazy. Then GT’s game came on TV and the fans …half empty..the fans..well the thrill was gone. Is that what Rads and PR dept wants? If so thats what they got. I really pray that “old one and done Bewitt is fired’ that may be wrong but GT deserves better.
Someone said, who would you hire? Rads can get a very good coach. They are out there just waiting for the call. I love GT but this BS needs to stop. Fire Paul Hewitt.
Jackets2010-11
January 26th, 2011
9:19 pm
Fed Up.
Read the article.
Annual renewal contract signed by prior AD.
Not DRAD’s fault.
gtfan
January 26th, 2011
9:25 pm
No Head Coach would keep Hewitt to be a recruiter..BRAVES FAN79
That would be bad business. Just fire him and he will live good on the money he stole from GT.
Paul in RDU
January 26th, 2011
9:28 pm
ACC regular season records, last 5 years – Players off team in NBA
Duke 59-21 3 current players
UNC 55-25 7 current players
MD 46-34 1 current player
FSU 43-37 4 current players
CU 42-38 1 current player
VT 40-40 NONE
BC 40-40 2 current players
WF 35-45 4 current players
UVA 32-48 NONE
GT 32-48 4 current players
UM 30-50 NONE
NCSU 30-50 1 current player
Dawg A
January 26th, 2011
9:29 pm
As a DAWG fan……….. keep him!!!!
RamblinRecluseRoad
January 26th, 2011
9:30 pm
As a Tech grad of ‘73, I think the waste of Tech talent from the Cremins players is why Tech plays without a full identity on the court and in the stands. What if Mark Price or the Barry player, Drew or Jon, I don’t recall which one, or John Salley was the coach? Then I believe Tech would play better. Just pick a player who is still young enough who has had their jersey retired, and ask them to coach if they want. All I remember is last year when Tech could not inbound it, and time expired, turning it over. They could have thrown it up to the rafters with a 50-50 chance as a jump ball that Tech would get it back. Instead they got 0% when time expired. This is the mark of a team with problems, whether coaching or player ability. The one who needs to get canned at Tech is CPJ since he does not run a shotgun ever. He thinks his team can score more points by running than opposing teams can by passing and running, and that just hasn’t been true. I hope CPJ went to the CFB championship game in AZ and saw Auburn with Ted Roof out there, and Oregon both run shotguns. Their short passes and use of tight ends, and screen passes are what Tech never uses. Tech only uses long passes or to the sidelines passes that will never score in that direction, not to mention never gain yards.
North Ave Killer Beez
January 26th, 2011
9:40 pm
I didnt even read the article but why does this guy even write about CPH? It’s obvious they dont get along. I guess when there is nothing good to write about he just pulls this same old dog and pony show out of his @@@ss to write about.
Bill
January 26th, 2011
9:41 pm
Agree with Mark. Brian Gregory Dayton would be great. Make the move Rads. Put Bewitt on the road.
firehewitt
January 26th, 2011
9:44 pm
beez…get a life and go home to your daddy hewitt.
Jackets2010-11
January 26th, 2011
9:46 pm
I hate to bring it up but many don’t like our baseball coach either.
The only coach Techsters like is Machelle Joseph but give it a few years.
We’ll hate her too before u know it.
PaulieOldSchool
January 26th, 2011
9:47 pm
Although I’m a UGA BB fan, I feel for the Tech fans. I said over a year ago that Hewitt must be shown the door, despite this insane contract. When is it a good time to fire a horrible coach? Or, if not horrible, one that no longer inspires anything positive in the hearts and minds of players, fans, and boosters alike? Just ask Bulldog Nation about Mark Richt (whom I also want gone, but that’a another story). To paraphrase the old joke, if I’d fired that SOB when I first had the thought, I’d be out of debt by now.
GT Grad 99
January 26th, 2011
9:55 pm
If Hewitt had any honor, he would step down without the payout. He has grossly underperformed and has done untold damage to the program. Pick your favorite stat. I come back to one winning conference season in a decade.
Jackets2010-11
January 26th, 2011
9:56 pm
Paul Hewitt has indeed lost most of the fanbase.
However he has not lost his players.
They play hard and are getting better with each game.
Ridicule that thought if you must but I am seeing a different game. (like the Sporting News)
I have season tickets.
I wanted Bill Lewis fired in the nineties because he lost his team.
Call me what u want but as long as the team plays with effort, I am not bailing on the program.
It took some effort to be the only ACC team to defeat UNC.
The UNC and VT games were a lot of fun.
I’m older than Hewitt so think up a different insult.
BobDawg
January 26th, 2011
10:05 pm
…Now that the Dawgs are relevant again in BBall… we need for Tech to get with it and become a force again so that our games mean something again…I really liked the teams you had with Salley, Dennis Scott and Mark Price.. that was good BBall… Get your former QB who is now a Real Estate Mogul (Dewberry) to fork over the Bucks and fire Blewitt….
firehewitt
January 26th, 2011
10:06 pm
Jacket2010-11—-the fanbase don’t matter to you? We have no problem with the players..just Hewitt. I also have no problem with any coach at GT but Hewitt. As for the wins…sometimes it better to be lucky than good. I’m older than Hewitt too..so whats the problem? I respect your opinion, respect mine.
Jackets2010-11
January 26th, 2011
10:15 pm
The fanbase does matter to me.
If the 7 mil is there, fine.
All I am saying is this team is getting it together.
Maybe Hewitt has played the fanbase like Lucy does Charlie Brown and now one else can believe it.
Many I’m delusional and everyone else is right.
We’ll find out soon enough.
Anyone surprised Freigen got the boot after a pretty good year and ACC coach of the year award?
GT454
January 26th, 2011
10:28 pm
Unfortunate situation for both PH and Tech, but mostly for the entire Tech basketball team! As an alum, I want our team to win regardless of the coaching situation.
Mark, tells it truthfully that there is no winner on either side, other than PH may depart a rich man in monetary terms, but with a tarnished past. DRad must now do what he should have done last year.
Just looking at all the empty seats should confirm his decision. Hopefully, PH and DRad will negotiate an honorable and mutual departure for both parties involved.
IL Jacket
January 26th, 2011
10:37 pm
Paul in RDU, thanks for the statistics. Overall, given the quality of the ACC over the last ten years( what is it, 5 NCs in the period), these numbers do not look too bad for a small, academically challenging engineering school. How many National Championship games were we
in before Paul came to Tech?
The Anti-BuzzDraft
January 26th, 2011
10:43 pm
You five stick to the partyline and keep the banter flowing. We have more tea to make and plenty of bags. Tech Sucks, Hewitt Sucks, body of work, product on the floor, can’t shoot free throws, can’t inbound, etc….
Most of the negative comments on here are by the same person using different fonts. Now, let’s wait for the go home to daddy Hewitt comments from the “educated” Tech fans.
JustMyOpinion
January 26th, 2011
10:53 pm
Thanks Anti-BuzzDraft. His team plays hard!
same article different day
January 26th, 2011
10:58 pm
How many different ways can you write the same article?
same article different day
January 26th, 2011
11:03 pm
Your agenda is pretty clear Bark. I hope Hewitt pulls it together and denies you access to the team. Your incessant harassment of the man has grown tiresome.
Paul in RDU
January 26th, 2011
11:14 pm
IL Jacket
Look at the stats for the last 5 years in the ACC (since expansion). GT has performed horribly. There are only 2 teams with worse conference records and the better teams include several “small academically challenging schools” (Duke, WF, BC). For a 12 year period under Cremins, GT was the #3 program in the ACC (tied with MD behind the boys in light blue and dark blue). That should be the goal.
Paul in RDU
January 26th, 2011
11:18 pm
I agree with Jackets2010-11 – GT has improved since the beginning of 2011 and CPH has not lost the team. Unfortunately in year 11 of the CPH era, the program as a whole is dying and it’s getting close to the point where GT can’t afford not to fire Hewitt.
Jackets
January 26th, 2011
11:26 pm
Hewitt has 5 ncaas in 10 years in by far toughest conference in America and a title game appearance. Cremins had one final 4 in 19 years and 10 ncaas. Same results last 30 years. tech fans are delusional if they think it could be better. Do not fall for fox and uga. They will not finish with winning record in sec. They may sell out, but Cannot win at home. They did pull off a miracle win against tech so something to hang on.
IL Jacket
January 26th, 2011
11:34 pm
Paul in RDU, I hate to argue with the guy with all the statistics, but sustained excellence over every 5-year period is difficult. Roy Williams has hit a rough patch the last couple
of years, but I don’t think he has forgotten how to coach, the early departures wreak havoc with a program. Duke, I think you will admit is sui generis and Mike for the most part has the luxury of working with his kids for 4 years. The one qualifier you left out of my characterization is “engineering” which is a severe limitation. Finally, I don’t have any contrary information, but #3 behind only Duke and UNC? It seemed to me that the end of the Cremins years were pretty mediocre. And Bobby never got to the NC game.
5150 P.O.A.D.
January 26th, 2011
11:47 pm
FAKE 515O P.O.A.D
I must have a real DAWG FAN that LOVES ME. He has been on every Blog today using my name. What a joke. FAKE POAD everybody knows I am a long time TECH fan and would never say the CRAP you keep posting. GET A LIFE and your OWN NAME.
peytonsdad
January 27th, 2011
12:18 am
I also think Iman Shumpert will make a great pro-in Italy or Israel or Turkey.
peytonsdad
January 27th, 2011
12:35 am
I remember watching the Georgia Tech teams in the 80’s and early 90’s play while I was growing up in Illinois and enjoying what they did. It really was a great era of growth and excitement for all of college basketball. I became a big fan of the team and the school just by that experience.
That being said, it seems difficult to watch them play now. I don’t know if it is because I am older, or I have less time to watch, or if the basketball just isn’t as good anymore, regardless of what statistics are out there. I just know that the Georgia Tech basketball brand isn’t that appealing right now and hasn’t been for a number of years, in spite of the recruiting that has been done. I don’t think the coach has forgotten how to coach and I don’t think he isn’t a good coach- I am by no means an expert in that department, no matter how much basketball I have watched in 40 years on earth. I just don’t think Georgia Tech basketball is interesting or worth investing my time or money into the product.
Bill
January 27th, 2011
12:43 am
Yes, CPH did make it to the NC game. Had one winning season in NCAA in 10 years. Appreciate what he did when he came in 2000. But he has lost his passion. It’s obvious. Look, early defections don’t help any coach. But his ACC road record is very, very poor last 5 years. Tech loses to Kennesaw. In baseball, that isn’t awful. Sure is in men’s hoops. You can’t rest on your laurels. Hewitt hasn’t produced last 6 years. Just as it was time for Bobby to step down, it’s time for CPH to leave. Program needs a change. Just ask all the vacant seats at home games. Honestly, GT should be better yaer after year in the ACC. Atlanta is a great place to go to school. Tech isn’t UNC or Duke, but we should be competing with Md for Top 4 annually in the ACC.
thwg
January 27th, 2011
1:16 am
Couple of ideas: why not simply reassign him to a different position, and hire another startup coach for 800K? It would reenergize the program and I would assume Hewitt may likely finally resign if he was in a position that took him out of coaching and impacted his ability to be hired elsewhere down the road?
TheAntiMe
January 27th, 2011
5:23 am
It’s obvious that Hewitt’s not going anywhere and every passing year makes it more certain that he is here for the duration of his contract. Tech has already written off any hope of being anything more than sorry for the sake of money and they are obviously prepared to just grin and bear it until Hewitt’s albatross contract expires.
Besides, the fact that this enormous mistake of a contract was signed before current AD Dan Radakovich took over makes it that much easier since he can continue to claim, it wasn’t me who did it!