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
FullMetalJacket
March 14th, 2011
6:58 pm
Always amusing to see UGA fans who’d rather follow Ga. Tech blogs and athletics than their own teams. Do they even realize that they are in the NCAA tournament? IF they know it, they still seem more interested in Tech’s administrative issues than in their game vs. Washington.
Typical Tech Fan
March 14th, 2011
7:02 pm
Why not Stephon Marbury? He knows what it takes to be a teck man and he knows the value of an engineering degree.
FullMetalJacket
March 14th, 2011
7:02 pm
Cuonzo Martin is too much like the Hewitt hire: successful but limited experience. No significant ACC ties or NCAA Major Conference experience. I would question his ability to recruit here, also. Marshall got a long look from NC State before they hired Lowe in 2006, and has done well since. He should get a call from Radakovich because I’m sure he’ll be getting one from NCSU soon. (I am surprised no announcement about Lowe has been made by today. Have you heard anything Mark?)
FullMetalJacket
March 14th, 2011
7:04 pm
TTF: you’d better get off your momma’s computer before she gets home from her shift at the Waffle House.
FullMetalJacket
March 14th, 2011
7:06 pm
Mark: I just saw that Eddie Fogler once coached for Wichita State, so there might be a little connection there to Marshall.
Typical Tech Fan
March 14th, 2011
7:07 pm
FullMetalJacket
March 14th, 2011
7:04 pm
The Waffle House? So you’re the jerk co-worker she talks about all the time who harasses her.
Typical Tech Fan
March 14th, 2011
7:08 pm
How ’bout Jack Bolton as head coach?
Typical Tech Fan
March 14th, 2011
7:14 pm
Yeah, FullMetalJacket, do like supersize asks and get off the Tech board please.
Ty
March 14th, 2011
7:34 pm
I’m sure it’s been said (not going to spend an hour reading the whole blog) . . but, my ‘wild theory’ is to go after Bobby Knight for a 2 year gig!! Reasons are simple: 1) He definitely knows how to coach (both players and the game management), 2) He builds character and programs, 3) He’s afraid of NOBODY (I relish the idea of Bobby at Cameron when his protege starts his antics with the referees!!!), 4) He’d see the challenge to return the program to the elite tier with no pressure long-term (who CARES if he calls the ACC refs jack#@@es and gets disciplined . . he’s not looking long term anyway and we’d back him like our best friend!), 5) He’d fill EVERY arena during the transition, and 6) We’d let Bobby get to steer who takes his place after Tech moves back onto the Flats . . . with the only exception being we wouldn’t let him put his son in as coach.
Why not!?!?! . . he’d see the challenge, the ACC would quake in its boots, the fan base would be energized, and we’d be proud of the program he left us with when he re-retired . . . . just sayin’
Bogus
March 14th, 2011
7:38 pm
Typical Tech Fan = supersize that order, mutt = FullMetalJacket
All same person, blogging to himself
NYJacket
March 14th, 2011
7:38 pm
We need to get someone who has proven the ability to win with good players when he is playing other schools with similar talent. The problem with mid-major candidates is that they can win simply by out recruiting their opponents as opposed to X’s and O’s.
COACH1
March 14th, 2011
7:44 pm
He cant be no worse than the awful coaching in Atlanta. braves. Birds, Thrasher, u name it
Paul in RDU
March 14th, 2011
8:04 pm
William Satterwhite
Regarding the “stupidity of NC State fans who think a bit too highly of their basketball heritage” – when Valvano left in 1990, NC State had 10 ACC tourney championships (1 less than UNC at the time; 2 more than Duke) and 2 NCs (same number as UNC, 2 more than Duke). NC State fans have plenty of basketball heritage to think highly of.
FullMetalJacket
March 14th, 2011
8:23 pm
I would be appalled if Tech tried to hire or approach Calipari and amazed if he was interested in the position (unless UK is about to can him for more improprieties). We don’t need a slick, ethically dubious coach, and I doubt that DRad would even consider it.
FullMetalJacket
March 14th, 2011
8:30 pm
I am obviously not a UGAgger, nor am I “supersized…mutt.” Clearly, however, Bogus IS bogus. Like other Tech posters here, I enjoy sharing ideas, picking up the occasional insight, and even getting or giving a rare inside tip every now and then. As I stated previously, I respect and enjoy MB’s analysis, and I find the pitiable UGA bloggers who pollute such sites amusing at best, absurd usually, and occasionally offensive. Likewise, while I may check out the competition by reading UGA blogs, I don’t stoop to waste their time or my own by posting there. Good natured ribbing is one thing; impetuous stupidity and vapidity is quite another thing.
FullMetalJacket
March 14th, 2011
8:37 pm
Paul in RDU is right on about NCSU, my bro in law’s alma mater. NC State is the recently forgotten member of the Tobacco Trio due to a few down years, but their athletic heritage rivals any in the ACC. They pretty much “invented” the ACC Tourney (notice how the first dozen or so were in Reynolds Colesium?) when their coach drew on his previous experience in Indiana. O’Brien has their football back on track, and I am sure they will bounce back quickly with a good hire after Lowe. Marshall from WSU and the coach at Arizona are among their likely targets. Their new chancellor and AD are loaded for bear and very proactive in supporting athletics.
Mike Oxbig
March 14th, 2011
8:39 pm
What about that computer who beat those guys on Jeopardy? I think his name is Watson. He seems to be the perfect fit for you nerds
William Satterwhite
March 14th, 2011
8:56 pm
Paul in RDU and FullMetalJacket, I didn’t mean to down NC State’s basketball tradition, my main point was that NC State had a good coach who was doing as well as could be expected and they ran him off mostly because they thought big time coaches would jump at the chance to coach there and not because he wasn’t successful. If people are going to be worried about a guy like Mooney running the Princeton Offense because it supposedly can’t be successful in the ACC while pointing to Sendek as an example, my argument is that’s simply not true.
Bitter grassy knoll
March 14th, 2011
9:09 pm
how-bout BOBBY COX—–beeesssss—–dream on—-majic coach therory
Peter in Scottsdale
March 14th, 2011
9:11 pm
Mark,
Do some research on Dip Metress and see what you think. A poster earlier mentioned him but he will be a coaching star somewhere. He’s got fire, enthusiasm, is great with a quote and the man just wins. Tech should get him while he is available (coming from a Dawg fan, what am I thinking?)
Paul in RDU
March 14th, 2011
9:27 pm
William Satterwhite
No harm, no foul.
Brian
March 14th, 2011
9:32 pm
Anyone know if Julian Royal is going to de-commit becaue of the firing??
Tokyo jacket
March 14th, 2011
9:33 pm
Mark, do you see any opportunity for two of the names on this list? It doesn’t happen often in basketball, but assistants REALLY drive the football bus. Could you see Tech going after a guy like Grant, but then also going after Price or Anderson as an assistant to help rebuild the brand?
Delbert D.
March 14th, 2011
9:38 pm
Dip Metress’ work has been in Div. II. He was Whack Hyder Georgia Coach of the Year for 2008-09. Googled, of course.
messin with sasquatch
March 14th, 2011
9:52 pm
well i guess we won’t be hiring a final four coach since the decision will be made before the game………crap…..
GssiT
March 14th, 2011
9:57 pm
With the financial situation and no building next year, why not go out I-20 to Augusta State and offer the job to Dip Metress? He has both a system and a network. Step up, DRad.
jomo
March 14th, 2011
10:01 pm
Why not Cremins ?????? he can still coach. he can still recruit. everyone in Atlanta loves him ????
cattle dawg
March 14th, 2011
10:01 pm
Mark, are you and jeff going to have a texas death match?
Dubious
March 14th, 2011
10:23 pm
Grant would be great; Mike Davis at UAB is worth considering…..But how about John Thompson III at Georgetown? He has deep D.C. ties but , who knows, he might consider a move…. If Tech is going to consider coaches like Jeff Capel, I offer up these:
Craig Esherick
Larry Eustachy
Chan Gailey
Mark Gottfried
Mike Jarvis
Pat Knight
tech86
March 14th, 2011
10:29 pm
Mark, you and everyone are missing the boat, you need to look at Donnie Tyndall. 29-3 at home last 2 years, 2 trips to NCAA in 3 years from OVC, raised Morehead State’s RPI from 321 to 84, beat Bobby C by 20, beat Indiana State, Competitive against Florida and Ohio State, has an All American and Wooden Finalist on his team, the guy can Coach. We need a guy who has the enthusiasim to win and work hard for this program. Th guy can coach as well if not better than those other guys and he recruits Georgia.
Robert
March 14th, 2011
10:34 pm
One name to think about is King Rice at Vanderbilt. King Rice has been assistant with Kevin Stallings for multiple years.
Robert
March 14th, 2011
10:37 pm
King Rice was a point guard at UNC and played for DeanSmith.
perk
March 14th, 2011
10:37 pm
I’m a Dawg – still interested in the hire. How bout Bobby Hurley? Heard him speak this morning – Coach K disciple. Good Fit for GT…..just sayin!
IL Jacket
March 14th, 2011
10:43 pm
Brian, I read the comments of Julian Royal and his father in the AJC yesterday and my clear take is they were going to wait to see who the coach is, still liked Tech, but wanted to see how Julian fit into the new coach’s system. To me, it sounds like if it is Mooney they will be looking to reopen the recruitment and I would imagine he is gone.
intheknow
March 14th, 2011
10:46 pm
Add Billy Kennedy, Murray State, to the mix that tech hasn’t officially announced…
jimmy
March 14th, 2011
10:49 pm
Donnie Tyndall from Morehead State should be the next GT Head Coach. He’s straight shooter, hard working young coach who is driven to WIN. Look up his record and you’ll realize he’s the guy for tech
Charles
March 14th, 2011
10:50 pm
Tech wants Anthony Grant. If they can afford him, he’ll listen because he’ll always play second fiddle at Bama. I don’t think they can, but Grant would be hell recruiting in Atlanta.
Guys like Brad Stevens and or Mike Anderson were always pipe dreams. The Jackets are broke and the job isn’t top shelf. Good but not great due to the financial limitations of the AD.
IL Jacket
March 14th, 2011
11:01 pm
William Satterwhite, to pick up the thread I guess you have drunk the Kool-Aid. I just don’t believe the hype of the Big East. They seem to underperform in the Big Dance. Additionally, the bottom of the Big East had some really weak sisters this year-Seton Hall, Rutgers, Providence, South Florida and DePaul were easy wins for the rest of the conference.
Typical Tech Fan
March 14th, 2011
11:01 pm
Charles, “he’ll always play second fiddle at Bama.”
If Grant comes to tech he’d play second fiddle to paul johnson, the greatest college coach in the land.
GTFAN
March 14th, 2011
11:02 pm
Charles, Rads said money was not a problem……just get the right man.
Typical Tech Fan
March 14th, 2011
11:03 pm
Tubby Smith would be interesting, but he’d be playing second fiddle to paul johnson.
T3
March 14th, 2011
11:04 pm
Once again, the TOP candidate is not even on this list.
Typical Tech Fan
March 14th, 2011
11:04 pm
Nero would definitely set the program on fire, but he’d play second fiddle to….um….to….never mind.
Typical Tech Fan
March 14th, 2011
11:06 pm
Gene Hackman……now THAT guy can coach a team to play waaaaay above its talent level.
GTFAN
March 14th, 2011
11:06 pm
and who would that be T3?
Typical Tech Fan
March 14th, 2011
11:08 pm
GTFAN
March 14th, 2011
11:06 pm
Pat Summit….she’s probably tired of the UT gig.
Hire the General
March 14th, 2011
11:09 pm
Bobby Knight is available and ready to turn this sorry program around. He will not come cheap, but will be worth all the millions Tech would have to pay. He’ll clean house, revamp the roster and get his type of players on board. In a few years, tech would be in the final 4.
GTFAN
March 14th, 2011
11:10 pm
Hell she’ll die there..one foot in grave now!
IL Jacket
March 14th, 2011
11:10 pm
TTF, that was hilarious.
Typical Tech Fan
March 14th, 2011
11:15 pm
Charlie Daniels. He has no coaching experience, but he would play second fiddle to NO ONE.