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
Jim in Dallas
March 14th, 2011
3:20 pm
$250K ?
5150 UOAD
March 14th, 2011
3:29 pm
Chris Mooney from Richmond. I like. Add Mark Price to his staff & I would like Price in that role.
Pete Alday
March 14th, 2011
3:30 pm
What about Johnny Dawkins? How is he doing anyway?
Tattoo's for Rings
March 14th, 2011
3:30 pm
I’m down with Dip!! http://www.hiredip.com
5150 UOAD
March 14th, 2011
3:36 pm
Please HEWITT FAN go to another blog. You have said the same thing for a month now.
You are making me change my name to P.O.A.H.F or maybe P.O.A.A.C.
If you don’t know the P.O.A part I will not repeat the Tech Cheer against UGA, but now you can add the beginning the name Hewitt Fan or Atlanta Celtics. I really don’t think you kids are that great. So far most have proven to be a fit for the NBA style game (ME ME ME type of BALL) but they have not been all that great in the NBA either.
Please take All your ATL CELTICS and head to ATHENS, PLEASE go to the DAWGS. STFU and get on the DAWG Blogs and sell your Bag-o-Crap.
5150 UOAD
March 14th, 2011
3:42 pm
Mr GT Basketball
and in all that BIO what says he is a PROVEN HEAD COACH that is ready to take on the ACC? I love the guy, but he has done NOTHING to be a Head Coach. He has never put a staff together. Never had to deal with NCAA compliance, Never had the time demands on his personal life like the TV and Radio stuff.
MARK PRICE is not ready to be a HEAD COACH in the ACC.
Eli Palmyre
March 14th, 2011
4:10 pm
I agree with another post. Break the mold. Hire Pat Summit.
GT hulk
March 14th, 2011
4:30 pm
Get a Duke assistant–someone thats been with a winning program and has had academics and gets player that stay 4 years.
ga tech 92
March 14th, 2011
4:31 pm
Hire the best X’s and O’s guy. Get Mark Price for our shooting coach. ATL, the ACC, the coach and Mark Price will all be good recruiting factors and unit the GT fan base in a balanced way.
Chris
March 14th, 2011
4:35 pm
I would go after Steve Lavin from St. John’s. This guy knows how to recuit, and win. He has proven himself in the Big East. If you get him, we could compete with Duke, UNC
JacketBacker
March 14th, 2011
4:41 pm
Please let it be the Richmond coach…we’d have an unusual basketball offense to go with our football team. I for one would welcome the change back to fundamental basketball and would instantly purchase season tix wherever we decide to play. Haven’t been but to 2 games the past three years simply because I could not understand the direction of our play while the game was underway. Run up the court and shoot regardless of defense. Why pass? Why learn foul shooting? I do realize we finally improved free throw shooting but little else.
IL Jacket
March 14th, 2011
4:52 pm
Wow!! I was wrong in backing Hewitt for so long. Bloggers on this site were right! I can’t believe these superstar coaches that are coming out for the Tech job and apparently at very reasonable amounts-only $1.8 mil. a year. Let’s see, over 5 years that is only $9 million.
Dunwoody Don
March 14th, 2011
4:52 pm
Ditto the above. GT will never out-recruit UNC and Duke for one-and-done prospects; D-Rad knows that. As he did with Paul Johnson, he needs to look for a coach who has a system in which second echelon players can thrive. Chris Mooney is the obvious choice.
T-Bone
March 14th, 2011
5:00 pm
Steer clear of the Princeton offense. It is too slow–”moves like a glacier.” It won’t attract the talent.
Jim in Dallas
March 14th, 2011
5:04 pm
Final offer: $7.25 per hour and a wardrobe allowance.
dcp
March 14th, 2011
5:05 pm
How about the coach from Belmont? Everyone seems very enthralled with the style and tenacity that they play. I am sure if he wins an NCAA game via upset, his stock will go up.
IL Jacket
March 14th, 2011
5:07 pm
T-Bone is absolutely right. Princeton offense will not be attractive to talent needed to play in ACC.
dcp
March 14th, 2011
5:10 pm
Jacket Backer – you forgot to add that we call meaningless time outs at spots that make no sense – after a made basket to set up a defense, right before a media timeout. I’ve had season tickets for the past 6 years and it has been awful these past 3 years, including last year with Favors and company. Hewitt was unbelievably predictable, most times in a bad way.
mario
March 14th, 2011
5:19 pm
I say bring Bobby Cremins back!!!!!!
atlhoopfan
March 14th, 2011
5:22 pm
Sidney Lowe isn’t the only ACC alum to struggle at his alma mater. Does anyone remember Matt Doherty at UNC?
Mountain Dawg
March 14th, 2011
5:23 pm
BFD !
headley lamar
March 14th, 2011
5:24 pm
Why would anyone take the Tech Job?
Its not like its Duke or Kansas
You guys better take what you can get.
William Satterwhite
March 14th, 2011
5:27 pm
T-Bone and IL Jacket- That’s kind of the whole point of the Princeton Offense, you don’t need elite McDonald’s All-American-type talent to be successful. Again, look at Herb Sendek at NC State and John Thompson III at Georgetown, you can be successful in a major conference running it (and if I’m not mistaken, JT3 has nevertheless had some good success in recruiting).
headley lamar
March 14th, 2011
5:27 pm
Steer clear of the Princeton offense. It is too slow–”moves like a glacier.” It won’t attract the talent.
Sort of like Paul Johnsons offense.
Einsteindawg
March 14th, 2011
5:37 pm
If Tech wants to win quickly, hire Jim Harrick, sr. He’ll even bring along Jim jr., so you’ll have a top notch recruiter. With Tech’s admission requirements, I’m thinking NCAA final four in ‘12.
mrincredible
March 14th, 2011
5:44 pm
Don’t post here unless you can tell who should be contacted. Anyone can talk who shouldn’t be the coach. This article is about who should be the coach. If not Tommy Amaker, who? If not Chris Mooney, who? I’m watching.
Not A Hewitt Fan
March 14th, 2011
5:46 pm
Mark your new list SUX!
Hewitt Fan…why are you still here?
Skeezix
March 14th, 2011
5:53 pm
The Butler coach is the best available but he has been very firm in stating that he loves where he’s at and has already turned away other lucrative offers. I doubt any current or former Coach K. assistant would want to coach in the ACC….. but if one of them would, Quin Snyder might (now an NBA assistant coach for the 76ers). I like everyone on Mark’s list-especially the Texas A&M coach. I also really like Anthony Grant-the current Alabama and former VCU coach; but don’t know if he’s available. One more name who is definitely available and had Wake Forest ranked #1 about two years ago–Dino Gaudio. Dino was mentored by the late Skip Prosser.
IL Jacket
March 14th, 2011
5:54 pm
WS-JT3 seems like a wonderful man and a good coach, but 8th out of 16 teams with barely a conference winning record does not sound like great success to me. Georgetown is a tough place undoubtedly, but at least they have the Catholic recruiting angle. Apparently, the Wolfpack didn’t think much of Sendak’s offense either-and that is a large state school with a rich basketball heritage.
Princeton Offense=NIT Champion
tech-fan
March 14th, 2011
5:57 pm
Mark:
Can’t be serious about someone running the Princeton offense at Tech!!! Look at JT 3 and the kids he sends the pros. Not many skilled guys getting drafted running the Princeton because it doesn’t feature the things NBA needs to see.
We have always been able to recruit here at Tech and the implemenation of the Princeton offense will set us back further. Let’s keep that system out of ATL
Thx
Skeezix
March 14th, 2011
5:57 pm
Of course if Tech can get Cremins back they should – he still has the touch having done great work at the College of Charleston.
I thought they should have gone after Lavin last year–probably too late to get him now.
IL Jacket
March 14th, 2011
6:13 pm
Calipari is not coming to Tech. No inside information, just insight.
Paul in RDU
March 14th, 2011
6:15 pm
I thought Sendek did a good job at NCSU but the Princeton Offense was extremely unpopular with the fans by the end of his tenure.
Typical Tech Fan
March 14th, 2011
6:22 pm
I’ll tell you who should be the next basketball coach at Teck……Paul Johnson. He’s the best coach in the country and wants to play for championships. He always gets the top talent in the country and all the boys major in engineering, not the easy stuff. He’s a great gameday tactician and would welcome the chance to show up some of the pretty boys. Roi Williams at NC is a dud. Same with Mike Kreyschegffk…..Kruzcheffski…..Shu-chef-ski. He’s better than all of them. Turn him loose….he’ll show the rest of the country he’s the best coach in the world.
D
March 14th, 2011
6:24 pm
Enter your comments here
Mark Bradley`s Booster
March 14th, 2011
6:27 pm
Mark: Still your booster but I do not believe your list or and other suggestions made by the media and fans will influence DRad and his search team in making their decision.
Larry
March 14th, 2011
6:28 pm
Any body but Amaker, never has , never will
Dollar Bill
March 14th, 2011
6:29 pm
I am not sure Mooney runs the full Princeton offense.. he may run parts of it. I am quite sure Mooney can adapt his offense up a couple of notches if he has the personnel. Plus I bet our recruits played with Anderson of Richmond and can get the low down on the coach. Amaker. We can watch Amaker Tuesday at 6:30pm and then he will be available to talk right after the game UNLESS he is a really good coach. Butler coach – can he be enticed? Byrd from Belmont?. I would like to see Mooney here but as soon as Harvard lost against Princeton I thought Amaker will be the next coach at Tech.
devildog0300
March 14th, 2011
6:31 pm
We don’t need anymore Dayton aholes in Atlanta.
Typical Tech Fan
March 14th, 2011
6:35 pm
Why not get the kansas coach? Who would want to live in Kansas when they can live in the heart of peaceful Atlanta, GA. The kansas program is in a wreck and I’m sure the coach would love to coach at tech for what, $1 or $2 million a year. I guarantee he’d come just to be in the ACC.
GTFAN
March 14th, 2011
6:35 pm
I like Mark’s list except Amaker. Anthony Grant..He!! Yes…. really like–Gregory, Mooney, Marshall any order. Get it done..Thanks Drad for moving JH out.
Typical Tech Fan
March 14th, 2011
6:37 pm
Go get the Navy head basketball coach. We’ve had great success with their football coach so I’m sure the guy would be successful in Atlanta. And here’s the biggest perk, he would be coaching very intelligent, top-quality kids rather than the deadbeats in Annapolis.
Jackets 2011
March 14th, 2011
6:41 pm
Mooneeey, Mooneeey, Mooneeey from Richmond, Please.
GTFAN
March 14th, 2011
6:43 pm
thats PH not JH
William Satterwhite
March 14th, 2011
6:45 pm
IL Jacket, 8th in a loaded Big East is nothing to sneeze at and that’s ignoring the fact that he’s been in the postseason every year at Georgetown and been to a Final Four. Regarding Sendek, I don’t think the stupidity of NC State fans who think a bit too highly of their basketball heritage should really be used as a knock against a coach who had nothing but solid results.
Sic'em
March 14th, 2011
6:46 pm
MARK PRICE IS THE MAN FOR THIS JOB. DENNIS SCOTT CAN BE THE SHOOTING COACH, BRIAN OLIVER CAN BE THE STRENGTH AND CONDITONING COACH, AND KENNY ANDERSON CAN BE THE ASSISTANT.
W Reid Whitaker
March 14th, 2011
6:51 pm
What about Mike Rice from Rutgers. Coached a scrappy team, has energy, young, and appears to be a class guy.
Typical Tech Fan
March 14th, 2011
6:55 pm
What about Joe Hamilton? Great QB at teck.
FullMetalJacket
March 14th, 2011
6:55 pm
Thanks for kick-starting the replacement chatter, Mark. It’s the most fun we Tech fans will have this basketball season. I like your list, though I’d have to say Mooney and Neal are my clear favorites, depending on how Fogler and Radakovich like them, of course. I don’t care for Amaker because of his difficulty before the Harvard gig (which I don’t think is a good indicator for ACC performance, personally). I’ve heard that Grant from Bama has made some overtures, but we can’t afford him and I’m not sure we want him. Neal and Mooney both seem to have the youth, energy, and experience that we need, and should be affordable though not cheap.
Dawg 1
March 14th, 2011
6:57 pm
UGA took their time and paid “good, but not rediculous” money to get CMF. (Granted that’s coming). Tech has a fine A.D. They’ll make a solid decision here.
For what it is worth, CPH has been ‘nothing but class’ from what I can see. But I guess if I had $7MM coming to me and I could go play golf – I wouldn’t have too hard of time with it either.
New building coming, new coach – the alumni should see this as a time to re-energize. Might cost you a recruit or two in the beginning, but ‘long-term’ should be the mentality.