A new list of Tech possibilities, this one including Amaker
Tommy Amaker: A Harvard man to lead Tech? (AP photo)
Last month I offered a list of possible replacements if Georgia Tech fired Paul Hewitt. Today, with Tech actively seeking a head coach, I offer a slightly amended list.
Mike Anderson of Missouri has been dropped because I don’t think the Jackets can afford him. (Having to pay its former coach $7 million doesn’t help in the effort to find a successor.) Scott Drew of Baylor has been dropped because his program just had a player ruled ineligible by the NCAA. And Craig Neal, the Tech alum and New Mexico assistant, isn’t on the list because I’ve discussed him elsewhere. And with that, I give you another six-pack:
Tommy Amaker, Harvard: Has rebounded from his Michigan misfire — he was dumped after six non-NCAA seasons — to make the Crimson an Ivy League power. (Harvard missed the NCAA tournament because Princeton hit a last-second shot in a tiebreaker game.) Played and coached at Duke under Mike Krzyzewski. Did nice work at Seton Hall, his first stop as a head coach. If not atop Tech’s in-house list, he’s probably near it.
Brian Gregory, Dayton: Caused a slew of bubble teams to break into a sweat when his Flyers crashed the Atlantic 10 final. Has had five 20-win seasons in eight years at Dayton but only two NCAA tournament appearances. If he’s on Tech’s list, it’s probably as a fallback.
Gregg Marshall, Wichita State: Did a masterful job at Winthrop, leading that program to six NCAA appearances in eight seasons. Pulled a Bobby Cremins when he accepted the College of Charleston job in 2006 only to recant after the introductory press conference. (Whereupon Charleston hired Cremins, who had in 1993 done a similar thing at South Carolina only to return to Georgia Tech 3 1/2 days later.) Has worked at Wichita for four seasons but hasn’t lifted the Shockers to the Big Dance. Figures to be high on Tech’s list.
Cuonzo Martin, Missouri State: Hot young coach might have cooled because his Bears lost the Missouri Valley Conference final to Indiana State by four points and missed the Big Dance despite an RPI of 44. (Life at a mid-major can be, er, a bear.) Remains an attractive candidate for any opening, though. As noted, former Gene Keady assistants — Kevin Stallings, Bruce Weber, Matt Painter, even Steve Lavin — fare rather well.
Chris Mooney, Richmond: His Spiders have reached the NCAA for the second year running. Played under Pete Carril at Princeton. (Fun fact: Carril told me he thought my description of Princeton — “moves like a glacier” — was hilarious.) Runs the Princeton offense. Surely near the top of Tech’s list.
Mark Turgeon, Texas A&M: Not really sure he’d be interested in the Tech job, having played and worked at Kansas and spent most of his professional life in the Midwest. But he’s a fine coach — his Aggies are a No. 7 NCAA seed — and it would be worth giving him a call.
And that’s it: No Cremins, no Mark Price, no Tubby Smith. (And no Jeff Capel. You can’t hire a guy Oklahoma just canned.) Tech athletic director Dan Radakovich has said he’s open to anything, but financial considerations could leave Tech fishing from the mid-major pond. And there’s nothing wrong with that.
By Mark Bradley
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247 comments Add your comment
jkmckay
March 14th, 2011
2:03 pm
Thats for Mark, not you yellerjacket…
yellerjacket
March 14th, 2011
2:04 pm
Turgeon from A&M would seem like a jump for the coach. Maybe it’s the GT bball arrogance, but if you’re not Kansas or Texas in the Big 12, the ACC seems like a jump to me. I would imagine recruiting would be a little easier. Talking kids in to Atlanta and only in state recruiting against one major program versus College Station and recruting against Texas, Baylor, and Texas Tech seems a lighter load.
dan
March 14th, 2011
2:05 pm
I don’t know much about it but just reading along, it seems like a money crunch to me somewhere…. I mean Techs basketball attendance is down now and lordy when they play next ever how long in some dinky arena, to be named later, it may look like a highschool games followering. So given that football funds other sports, maybe CPJ can sell more seats next year and years ahead. How about a free football with each ticket sold, and or a big mac meal…….Something may work…..Just thinking out loud….But what if CPJ can’t attract a sell out for the exciting running jackets? What if? Just wondering……
Boz
March 14th, 2011
2:05 pm
Chasing after people like Anderson and Grant is a complete waste of time. There is no money to hire them, even for one year. And when they do leave their current jobs, it will be for a big multiyear deal. The last thing–the very last thing–Tech needs right now is to make another huge multiyear coaching commitment.
When Grant–and especially Anderson–leave their current jobs, it will be because they’re upgrading. Georgia Tech is not an upgrade. They might listen, though–good chance to hold up their current schools for more money. But GT ends up looking like chumps.
The best move is to go ahead and hire a proven coach who can build from the ground up. And do it before someone else jumps on the right guy.
So far as Radakovich’s statement that money is no object: are you kidding me? What did you expect him to say?
ron
March 14th, 2011
2:06 pm
Also mr.bradley one of the reasons favors and lawal left last year and they said this is they tired of not getting any calls in the acc. you know and i know the next coach will be fighting to get calls here and the great bobby cremins only won 1 acc regular title so that should tell you.
yellerjacket
March 14th, 2011
2:06 pm
Thanks for clarifying mckay. I do wonder why Stevens name hasn’t really come up. I would imagine he’d be fairly affordable although I know nothing about his contract.
Jeff
March 14th, 2011
2:06 pm
Spiderman – I wouldn’t exactly call inheriting a struggling GA Tech team “greener pastures”
UGA REALLY STANDS FOR JOE DIRT
March 14th, 2011
2:07 pm
@yellarjacket
Stevens has already turned down 2 ACC jobs in WF and BC to remain at butler. He might leave for a kansas or UCLA type job but i doubt it for GT. He is a fine coach. Mark few won’t leave the northwest either. He could have had the arizona job years back and rejected a nice salary and that was a high profile job. Some coaches just won’t leave no matter what carrot you dangle. Grant could walk away with a huge raise from bama for just flirting with GT. It will all be interesting to see what unfolds.
NCAA Bound Dawg
March 14th, 2011
2:07 pm
You GT folks need to face reality and realize, your view of yourselves is vastly exaggerated as regards who you actually are as a program and how you are viewed by others. You are NOT a top tier program in the ACC, nor across the country for that matter. You are a mid to lower tier program in a major conference. You’ve had some nice runs over the last 20 years, however in the ranking of who’s who amongst collegiate basketball programs you are not one of them.
With Arkansas and Oklahoma in the market for new coaches, and with both having significantly more money, fan support, tradition, and overall better facilities than GT, one would conclude both have a better chance at hiring a high profile coach than GT. If Anderson leaves Mizzou it will be for Arkansas which can afford to pay him $2.7 million per year or more. GT’s best chance is going to be a mid-major, and if past history is an indicator, you’ve done quite well going that route. Cremins and Hewitt weren’t exactly household names when they were hired but I’m sure you will agree both brought success to GT basketball like never before. A name I’ve not seen mentioned is Brad Stevens of Butler, I would keep that name in mind, he would be a terrific hire. The GT athletic program is not in good financial condition, that is well documented, paying Hewitt’s contract of $7.2 million plus paying a new coach is going to be a tough nut to crack. The hire may not be made as quickly as hoped for considering the financial situation as well as candidates teams may still be playing and thus they will not interview so long as they are playing.
GT fans should listen closely to Coach Hewitt in his interview with Randy Waters, he made some excellent points on a wide range of items not the least of which was about the tepid support for the program. I wonder how many of you posting actually attended a game. I’m sure DRad will hire the best man he can for the job and I’m just as sure you will be happy with anyone not named Paul Hewitt.
yellerjacket
March 14th, 2011
2:08 pm
I would call a 100% raise and coaching in the ACC, greener pastures.
nickj0321
March 14th, 2011
2:09 pm
please hire someone who can coach offense!
yellerjacket
March 14th, 2011
2:09 pm
Thanks Joe Dirt; I didn’t realize he had been offered Wake and BC. I think it would be worth a call though.
RambleOn84
March 14th, 2011
2:11 pm
Bound Dog (someone call PETA),
Tech is in the ACC and in the middle of Atlanta. The only thing that Tech does not have is recent success. But make no mistake, this is a sleeping giant. Much like Georgia football…
RambleOn84
March 14th, 2011
2:12 pm
Support was down the past couple years because we chose not support Hewitt. And guess what, it worked! The new arena will be packed, you can bet your life on it.
ormewood
March 14th, 2011
2:13 pm
I think Tech potentially is the 3rd best job in the ACC and accordingly should aim in their search. Arkansas and Oklahoma are inferior jobs to Ga Tech because of the fertile recruiting ground right in Tech’s backyard.
Oh, and let’s please move on from the Mark Price idea. Hring an unproven coach, once a player in the program’s glory years does not work. Example: Lowe, Sidney.
Boz
March 14th, 2011
2:14 pm
One other thing. Tech should hire the search firm that found Mark Fox.
Steel City
March 14th, 2011
2:15 pm
If as DRad states money will not be an issue I would like to see Sean Miller of Arizona added to the list of potential candidates. He was very successful at Xavier and has carried over to Arizona. Has turned that team around in two years there. He might listen, I feel the ACC is a notch above the PAC 10 as a league and he is a western PA. guy and played at Pitt.
back atcha
March 14th, 2011
2:20 pm
Break the mold…hire Pat Summit. The best coach in America!
Bob Knight
March 14th, 2011
2:20 pm
Alright alright, for cryin out loud I want the job NOW!!! Hire me quick or else I will start throwin chairs!!! Lots of em!!
Jacketbacker
March 14th, 2011
2:26 pm
I intentionally did not support bball because of Hewitt. That will change for me and I’m sure many others with the right hire. I like the sound of both Mooney and Tyndall. Both should be affordable and will bring some discipline and toughness to our team. As always, Go Jackets!!
RambleOn84
March 14th, 2011
2:26 pm
Umm…no. The difference in the men’s game and the women’s game is that there are more than 10 men in the country actually capable of playing basketball at a high level.
And men can jump.
RambleOn84
March 14th, 2011
2:28 pm
I like Cuonzo Martin. He is very young and has taken his team from the bottom to the top of the MVC, a VERY good mid-major conference.
Nathan B
March 14th, 2011
2:28 pm
That list of candidates–very mediocre. Tech can do a lot better. Some big names will be applying soon.
UGA REALLY STANDS FOR JOE DIRT
March 14th, 2011
2:29 pm
@ boz
Eddie fogler is heading the search for the next GT coach per DRAD.
@HEWITT FAN
Who gives a sh*t about duke assistants and what they did? They are not coach k you idiot! You have the most warped logic i have ever seen on a thread. Kinda like saying why couldn’t UNC ever find a guy as talented as Michael Jordan again? There was only 1 MJ if you can comprehend the logic buddy. Good grief you make no sense! You sure are an ALL-STAR at comparing apples to oranges. Every day that you open your mouth, people yawn. Take it some place else and take a box of tissues with you.
gtforlife
March 14th, 2011
2:31 pm
tech doesnt need another coach who can recruit, but is like helen keller when it comes to coaching. blind to the game and deaf ears when assistant coaches give their input. we need someone that knows x’s and o’s and brings in guys with talent, but will stick around. the one and done’s have killed the program
Born2Buzz
March 14th, 2011
2:42 pm
Wow, HewittFan and I agree on something. We don’t need any Coach K assistants. The loyalty will never be there.
Mooney is the man.
Grant would be a great choice also but I agree that Bama will up his pay to keep him. He might use us to get more $.
Gordon
March 14th, 2011
2:42 pm
NCAA Bound Dawg,
Couldn’t we say the same thing about UGA football?
GTGuy44
March 14th, 2011
2:42 pm
Mark I cannot believe that you do not have Mark Price on your list. He has pro coaching experience and not college, but everyone I have talked to in the business feels he would do a great job. He would bring Craig Neal with him as his top assistant and Craig told Mark he will come if Mark gets the job.
GTGuy44
March 14th, 2011
2:47 pm
Ormewood your logic is illogical. Just because Sidney Lowe did not do a great job has no bearing on whether Mark Price would be a winner. There have been plenty of ex players who with little or no college coaching experience have done really good jobs. Steve Alford and Bobby Cremins are two good examples.
ACC Fan
March 14th, 2011
2:50 pm
Someone describe the features of the Princeton offense.
ffjsisk
March 14th, 2011
2:50 pm
Tommy Amaker??? If you want another fired loser than why not Billy Gillispie?
Jim in Dallas
March 14th, 2011
2:50 pm
I coached five years in the Paulding County Recreational league. I’ll do the job for only a half mil a year.
Jon Adare
March 14th, 2011
2:51 pm
As a Kentucky fan may I suggest The Tubster, aka Orlando “Tubby” Smith. He would do wonders to drive your program further into the ditch. Hurry before Minnesota rewards him for losing 10 of the last 11 games. He will do you proud. By the way, the suggestion is free, no charge.
William Satterwhite
March 14th, 2011
2:55 pm
“It would be tough to recruit against the other ACC teams when you’re pitching that kind of offense. NC State has done it, but look at where they usually end up.”
NC State was arguably the most consistently successful team in the ACC after Duke and UNC when Sendek was there running the Princeton Offense, he finished his run there with 5 straight NCAA appearances. Sydney Lowe scrapped the Princeton Offense when he took over. Also, Georgetown has done very well in the Big East running the Princeton Offense.
black bee
March 14th, 2011
2:56 pm
I would take a shot at Few from Gonzaga, it is a possibility, arm him with an Assistant with Southeast ties and you have a double winner. Few will never get the respect he deserves. Just like the guy at Boise St. in football.
P HEWITT
March 14th, 2011
2:58 pm
Large lot of gold ties for sale
Cheap
MadDaug
March 14th, 2011
2:59 pm
What’s wrong with Billy Gillispie? He had great teams before Kentucky, and he’s had a few years off to reflect. I’d talk to him, if Texas Tech doesn’t snatch him up.
3 at the Buzzer
March 14th, 2011
3:02 pm
Are you sure Mark Price isn’t on the list. The way I read the article with DRad after the firing, something gave me the indication that he might be considering it. Trying to remember now… perhaps it was that he listed 3 categories: Current head coaches, Assistant coaches, and OTHERS. That plus saying they wanted someone to united the Tech base. To me, that sounded like Mark Price. In addition, most likely he would be less expensive than the others. .
Marlon
March 14th, 2011
3:04 pm
Mark,
What have you got against Donnie Tyndall at Morehead State. Most of those candidates are not in the tourney but Morehead State is. He is as good or better than any of those candidates. I can’t believe you don’t have him on this list! Get in the game pal! He has been a top assistant. He has taken a team twice to the dance. He has rebuildt a program from the bottom and graduates kids, What do those candidates have that he doesn’t have. 3 straight 20 win seasons. He recruits GA like no other and has already signed two more from this state. He will be on 790 the Zone tomorrow with Dimino. They talk and promote coaches that are in the dance.
Boobie Bowden
March 14th, 2011
3:08 pm
Imagine roundball commentary from one of herrick’s hounds. Too funny.
Tattoo's for Rings
March 14th, 2011
3:09 pm
Blaine Taylor…Donnie Tyndall…Chris Mack
jsmith
March 14th, 2011
3:10 pm
i think tech should hire an asian born coach who is fluent in ebonics for obvious reasons
Ron Roberts
March 14th, 2011
3:11 pm
Here’s a name I don’t see in the column (not reading through 2 pages of posts to see if anybody’s mentioned him or not), but how about…
….Dip Metress @ Augusta State University?
Now I’m a BULLDOG, so I’m fine if Tech swings and misses with their next hire, but Metress deserves consideration after basically pulling Augusta State University out of Division II basketball obscurity to a national power, year-in, year-out.
They’ve been a top 20 power the last four years, the last two making it to that level’s “Elite 8,” and once all the way to the DII championship game. This year was supposed to be a re-building year after losing NBA player Garrett Siler and others to graduation, and instead, they’re the 3rd ranked team in the nation, playing for the southeast region’s championship, and another “Elite 8″ berth, along with their conference regular season and tournament championship.
Dude can coach.
Mark in ATL
March 14th, 2011
3:12 pm
Oh god no….we might not get another Celtic…the word is going to end….
Tech Man
March 14th, 2011
3:13 pm
Whoever even mentioned Bobby Knight’s name should get their head examined. Who in their right mind would ever think about hiring this old kog. He would probably kill someone before it’s over.
Ron Roberts
March 14th, 2011
3:15 pm
http://jaguarsroar.com/sports/mbkb/coaches/index
Jim in Dallas
March 14th, 2011
3:16 pm
O.K., I’ll do it for $400K.
WTF
March 14th, 2011
3:17 pm
Hey Yeckies,
Just saw in another article that Kenny Anderson wants to coach at Yech and has the necessary college degree. Is St. Thomas University a part of the Yech system that prides itself in its academic prowess? Why didn’t he come back to Yeck to get his degree. Oh wait, he was too busy blowing $60 million after he bailed on his school from greener pastures. Pleae hire Kenny Anderson!
ormewood
March 14th, 2011
3:18 pm
GTGuy44, your examples defeat your argument. I’m not saying former players can’t be good coaches. I’m saying hiring an alum with little to no head coaching experience is risky. Lowe is an obvious example. The two examples you cite, Alofrd and Cremins, did not and have not coached at their alma mater, unless you count Bobby’s two-day dalliance with South Carolina. Also, both earned their chops coaching at the mid-major level. Price is a poor idea. It’s like saying UNC should hire Michael Jordan or James Worthy, Duke hiring Christian Laettner.
Supersize that order, Mutt
March 14th, 2011
3:20 pm
First of all the “Supersize that order, mutt” posting at 1:21 is NOT the original; I AM. Secondly, I would NEVER suggest that Bobby Knight should or would be hired or even considered. Thirdly, DRad said in his original statements that the 7 million being paid CPH would not be a factor in negotiations with a new coach. That says to me that the 7 million is coming from someplace other than the operating budget at Tech. Finally, I agree with Ron Roberts the Dip Metress should at least be considered. I doubt that any division 1 school would hire a head coach out of division 2, but as Ron said, “Dude can coach.” There is no doubt about that, and he can recruit too, in circumstances actually more difficult than recruiting in division 1. It won’t happen, but Dip should at least be on a long list of candidates.