Mark Bradley

By Hot Sauce

January 30, 2009 12:13 PM | Link to this

If he is going to be around, can he please coach the kids to not turn the ball over as often, shoot free throws and hang on to a lead (dependant upon the first two)? If he can do these things going forward, I’m on board with Coach. However, he hasn’t coached these things well during his tenure.

By Tech Man in Dawg Country

January 30, 2009 12:17 PM | Link to this

Dan Radakovich is a great AD. He understands the GT attitude as well as realities, all while striving to put the best teams possible on the field and/or court. We need to lock him up for the long term here also.

By WreckHornGoesTHWUGA

January 30, 2009 12:22 PM | Link to this

So, essentially we are stuck with Hewitt because we are poor. How depressing. D-Rad is absolutely delusional in basing everything on one mediocre season and exceptional tournament run (2004). His infatuation with CPH obscures the reality of eight bad seasons and the current embarrassment. It may save us money to keep him, but you have lost this season-ticket holder and will continue to lose more.

By WreckHornGoesTHWUGA

January 30, 2009 12:25 PM | Link to this

So, essentially we are stuck with Hewitt because we are poor. How depressing. D-Rad is absolutely delusional in basing everything on one mediocre season and exceptional tournament run (2004). His infatuation with CPH obscures the reality of eight bad seasons and the current embarrassment. It may save us money to keep him, but you have lost this season-ticket holder and will continue to lose more.

By Tron5000

January 30, 2009 12:29 PM | Link to this

“These kids are going to get an education,” huh? How much has GT class time affected Chris Bosh, Javaris Crittenton and Thaddeus Young? Will Favors “get an education” in his lone year on campus? He’ll likely only be at Tech long enough to know how to get from his dorm room to the gym and the cafeteria. Don’t hand us this junk about an “education,” CPH. If you were concerned with educating your players, you’d shy away from signing the one-and-dones.

Not that I don’t want Favors to play for Tech in the 2009-10 season. But that kid ain’t coming to GT for an education. Don’t blow smoke, CPH. Just win basketball games.

By DontBrakeForBulldawgs

January 30, 2009 12:34 PM | Link to this

Thank you for the revelation, Mark. One question to CPH: How are you helping kids get an education when they “drop out” after a year or two for the NBA and when you have abysmal graduation numbers among those who “stay”? No wonder he is happy to be at Tech, knowing whenever they DO fire him he will pocket a neat $9 million, regardless of how bad he does. The contract was irresponsible for Braine and Tech to agree to. Here’s hoping some wealthy alum bails us out.

By Mark Bradley

January 30, 2009 12:40 PM | Link to this

Let me note that Dan Radakovich didn’t hire Paul Hewitt or negotiate this contract. Dave Braine did.

By GPBandPBR

January 30, 2009 12:43 PM | Link to this

I agree with Tron, Don’tBrake, and WreckHorn: Hewitt doesn’t care about educating young men or winning basketball games. No wonder he’s gotten more lazy and removed from the hardwork of coaching: he’s got a 10 million dollar parachute waiting for him. For shame on Braine, DRad, and GT for throwing away money so carelessly and without sufficient basis or expectations. And for shame on CPH for not being a man about it and at least doing his job.

By Mark Bradley

January 30, 2009 12:44 PM | Link to this

And let me also note that Tech would not be inclined to fire Hewitt today even if it wasn’t obliged to pay $9.5 million. He is universally liked and respected, and there is the considerable matter of that recruiting class.

By 3 Rivers jacket

January 30, 2009 12:47 PM | Link to this

Hewitt is the man for the job and with the class coming in next year I am confident he will turn it around. i think he really got burned by Young and Crittenton but I think he learned from that and will never put his eggs in one basket. Of course Favors and the one and doners make the idea of a student athlete a hoax but do not blame Favors for doing what is in his best interest and do not blame hewitt for this situation. it would be much more honest to just let the guys go to the pros right out of high school but we like the myth of student athlete. In short Tech has a good man and good coach in hewitt and they need to stick with him irrespective of the money issues.

By Hurricane in GA

January 30, 2009 12:53 PM | Link to this

WreckHorn,

D-Rad didn’t give Coach Hewitt the contract, Dave Braine did. Like Mark illustrated, it basically means Coach Hewitt has a lifetime contract unless he has a Kelvin Sampson or Larry Eustachy type episode.

I do agree that Tech needs to display better consistency with there style of play. More and more I respect what Bob Knight was able to accomplish because unlike Dean Smith, Coach K, and Lute Olson, Knight never had top recruiting classes and large numbers of NBA draft picks. He had a system and stressed disciplined play.

I’m sure Favors is a great talent, but I think a School like Tech needs to focus more on kids that aren’t going to be one and done.

By TechBuzz

January 30, 2009 12:55 PM | Link to this

Giving any coach a 6 year deal with an automatic rollover is the dumbest thing I’ve heard in 2 years, and I write and negotiate contracts. Every year, his contract automatically rolls over another year???? Unbelievably dumb. The Tech AD should be on the block along with Hewitt for this dumb strategy. I’m still amazed at the incompetence at high levels of business.

By WreckHornGoesTHWUGA

January 30, 2009 12:56 PM | Link to this

Mark, while I agree that CPH is liked by some, he is hardly “universally” respected, even among the Tech community. Many senior administrators and alum have tired of his Obama-esque eloquence-without-substance. He (and his true record on player graduation/academic performance) does not represent Georgia Tech well with his actions, only his words.

By Barry

January 30, 2009 12:56 PM | Link to this

I like Hewitt, but his teams have underachieved in (arguably) every season since the tourney run. I agree that Tech cannot afford and should not pay two coaches that are no longer with the school. That being said, Hewitt needs to go out and get some new assistants. I believe Dean Keener (an assistant from 04) is currently available. I hope things work out with Hewitt, because he is a good representative for GT. I hope his teams will become a good representative again as well.

By THWG

January 30, 2009 12:57 PM | Link to this

But surely they will not allow the contract to rollover after this year! That would leave him with a 5 year contract starting next year - not six. Then if next year is NCAA first or second round ouster or less - another non-extension would leave four years. Then we’d be in a position to fire him after next season and we’d be finished paying off Gailey. Hewitt’s recruiting like Cremins’ is very good. But at least Cremins was good for challenging the ACC elite every two to three years. Hewitt has only once. Get better results or face the empty seats at AMC for the first time since when? the early 1980’s?

By ga_tech_92

January 30, 2009 1:01 PM | Link to this

The buy out is the entire issue. The recruiting class means nothing, because he’s had pleanty of great recruiting classes…with the same results. If the buyout is really 9.5, that’s the most insane thing I’ve ever heard!

By Tech Grad '93

January 30, 2009 1:01 PM | Link to this

Yawn…. Who cares? When does spring football practice begin? Basketball sucks.

By Big BCH 99

January 30, 2009 1:03 PM | Link to this

The big reason that they don’t fire him is b/c of the recruiting class, how can U fire a guy when he has a top 10 recruiting class coming in. If U fire him, U will definitely lose some of those guys & U can’t afford to do that.

By Tech Grad '93

January 30, 2009 1:03 PM | Link to this

Yawn…. Who cares? When does spring football practice begin? Basketball sucks.

By gpb

January 30, 2009 1:04 PM | Link to this

I think it’s more on the assistant coaches that we are struggling. Hewitt is a great coach at game time and it appears that he is a great recruiter. But I do wish we would stop picking up one-and-dones. It is just infeasible to build a program with these players. UNC and Duke manage just fine to maintain many talented players for 3 or 4 years. Why the hell can’t we?

Free throws should be something that players are always working towards. I wish we wouldn’t recruit players that can’t make 70% or better but I don’t think the many of the players that fit into Hewitt’s system are capable of doing so. But during the summer and fall, there should be no excuse for continued independent practice. The guys should be wanting to push themselves harder to succeed and I just don’t think anyone on the roster that has the work ethic to succeed.

Turnovers will improve as the team ages but we were really hurt by point guard problems. After Jack left, we didn’t have a starting 1 guard so we got Zam. And then JCrit came and left. MoMiller had to step up as a freshman, not an easy task. If we can stay on a schedule of keeping a good rotation on point, I think this will go away.

Those two will fix the keeping a lead. The team just gets frustrated by continued mistakes and their energy wanes. There’s definitely hustle as you can see it in any close game we have. Just when things go to hell, everything falls apart.

Maybe Hewitt can get Mario West or Jarrett Jack to talk some sense into the kids and get them fired up. And hopefully Hewitt can find a recruit with their level of work ethic to push everyone else just as hard.

By Mark Bradley

January 30, 2009 1:08 PM | Link to this

TWHG, the way the contract reads is that, if Tech should decide not to roll over the contract, the contractual agreement with Hewitt “shall be deemed terminated by the [Athletic] Association without cause.” And Hewitt would be fired and Tech would have to pay him $9.5 million.

It is, as you’ve already grasped, one heck of a contract.

By Big BCH 99

January 30, 2009 1:09 PM | Link to this

The big reason that they don’t fire him is b/c of the recruiting class, how can U fire a guy when he has a top 10 recruiting class coming in. If U fire him, U will definitely lose some of those guys & U can’t afford to do that.

By confused

January 30, 2009 1:09 PM | Link to this

I don’t know what to think about Hewitt. He is very likeable, one heckuva of a recruiter, and seems well respected amongst the college basketball world. But then I look at some of his in game calls and look at the standings and see GT at the bottom with a big 0 - fer in the win column and makes me sick. I want GT to do well and I want Hewitt to do well at GT, but come on, we’re becoming the joke of the conference when we were once considered a “basketball school” and “Point Guard U”. Something went wrong with the Morrow, Smith, Dickey, Frederick class of 2005 because GT basketball hasn’t felt the same since, and I can’t put my finger on it. Here’s to hoping next year’s class changes the attitude of the program.

By THWG

January 30, 2009 1:10 PM | Link to this

Automatic rollover… great call. NOT. Perhaps we can keep Hewitt on as a recruiting coach, and use all that extra cash we’ve got (ha!) to hire a nuts and bolts head coach. Or at least someone who can teach these guys free throws and in-bounds passes. Just a thought.

By BuzzBitesDawg

January 30, 2009 1:12 PM | Link to this

Good article, Mark. I was aware of the buyout but not the amount. I do take issue with the follow-up that CPH is “universally liked and respected.” I travel extensively throughout ACC country for my work, and I am consistently asked why Tech keeps Hewitt. I used to make excuses, but now I am more truthful and confess that I don’t know. Winning games is important but if CPH was promoting character and academics sufficiently, I could settle for occasional mediocrity on the floor. Now, Tech is not getting acceptable results from the program on or off the court. Time for him to go.

By TG

January 30, 2009 1:13 PM | Link to this

I think Hewitt needs to get better assistant coaches. Since Warren & Keener have left, the program has taken a downturn. I know these 2 guys had a huge hand in the X’s & O’s on the offensive & defensive sides of the ball.

Hewitt also needs to get some of the GT B-Ball alumni involved…he missed on Mark Price but Kenny Anderson, Dennis Scott etc want to help out. Hewitt needs to reach out to these guys and bring them in to help.

By Mark Bradley

January 30, 2009 1:14 PM | Link to this

Confused: I don’t know what to think about Hewitt from year to year, either. I don’t know that any other coach could have done what he did in 2004. But I know a lot of coaches who could have done more since.

By gt fan

January 30, 2009 1:16 PM | Link to this

hey mark he is NOT universally respected. your wrong.

if you read the blogs…. if you read the internet sites… if you talk to fellow alum…. if you listen to bb analysts… if you talk to the students… if you look at the fannies in the seats etc

that is NOT what you hear. yeah he is a nice guy but so freakin what. im a nice guy but im not taking down MY school’s bb program to the path of ruin.

if ph is such the coach… why arent other schools lined up to hire him away from gt.

anytime you hear ph’s name mentioned on tv now… its not because of his coaching ability but rather it is because of his oration skills (that is a code name for bullsh*t). folks thought bill clinton was slick well slick willy has nothing over on phew.

of course you dont hear coaches speak badly about phew. matter of fact you dont hear coaches speak badly about another coach period.

maybe the fans can accomplish what the administration can’t do. shame phew into leaving.

By WreckHornGoeTHWUGA

January 30, 2009 1:19 PM | Link to this

With all due respect, gpb, I don’t think anyone really believes CPH is a “great coach at game time.” He recruits a certain type of player very well. Even though he was once considered a great role model and leader off the court, his decline in those areas is making the Tech administatopm and alumni weary. If he truly does represent Tech well, then that means that Tech is all about talk and money, and not about action or character.

By ga_tech_92

January 30, 2009 1:20 PM | Link to this

Not rolling over the contract is the same as firing the coach? Since when? Not rolling it over, means let it run it’s course and potentially renegotiate, or not. Is that even legal? That’s the most retarded thing I’ve ever heard in all of sports. I find it hard to believe.

By JWO

January 30, 2009 1:25 PM | Link to this

Any more hidden land mines out there that Dave Braine left us?

By sidewalk74

January 30, 2009 1:28 PM | Link to this

Question for Mark Bradley. SO, NO MATTER WHEN hewitt GETS FIRED HE IS GOING TO GET THE 9.5M BUY-OUT? THAT’S THE STUPIDEST THING THAT I HAVE EVER HEARD. THANKS dave BRAINELESS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THWG

By Clemsonjoe

January 30, 2009 1:28 PM | Link to this

There aren’t many school in the country that can/would pay out $9.5mm. That is an outrageous buyout and I feel bad for you guys.

By Clemsonjoe

January 30, 2009 1:30 PM | Link to this

There aren’t many school in the country that can/would pay out $9.5mm. That is an outrageous buyout and I feel bad for you guys.

By gt fan

January 30, 2009 1:32 PM | Link to this

mark i think your a bit confused.

here is a pop quiz for you…

aside from the players what is the main difference about the gt bb team of 04 and the bb team since?

its the assistants. phew is nothing more than an empty suit that cant coach. but for his assistants 04 would NOT have happened.

want another example? look at the gt fb program during the early 90’s. we hired bill lewis away from wcu and totally devistated our fb program.

what we learned from that mistake was that it was NOT bill lewis that made wcu a good team it was his assitants. his attaining the postion of gt’s head coach job was a perfect example of the ‘peter principle’.

bill lewis >= phew

i do not believe in phew. i did but not now. the fact that he is taking our program down with him makes me hate him as a matter of fact. despise is a good word.

one can only hope that phew does the right thing and bows out gracefully like bobby cremins did.

unfortunately….

phew is no bobby cremins and couldn’t even carry his jock.

By Rags

January 30, 2009 1:33 PM | Link to this

Mark,

Enlightening article, thanks. A couple of points. It might be interesting to actually see the NCAA statistics on how the Tech basketball program stacks up against the Tech student body in general, and against other ACC and NCAA basketball teams on academic achievement. I know the AJC printed it, I just don’t remember the numbers.

Second, although it is clearly one of Hewitt’s better recruiting classes, can you tell me why it is referred to as a “top five” class so often? Who rates it that way? I looked on scout.com and it wasn’t even the top five in the ACC.

Finally, speaking for myself, I am not worried about Favors being one-and-done. I am worried that Hewitt will fail to coach up and improve the others in the class. I am worried that he will not recruit ALL the parts he needs for a successful basketball program. What about the players on the team now? Don’t we have players that came to Tech with highly regarded talent? Hewitt has shown no real ability to convert talent to skill. What is it in his now-lengthy body of work that makes you - and DRAD - believe he will suddently become a good coach instead of just a good recruiter?

He does seem to be a fine man and probably represents Tech very well. He just cannot coach.

By billgt69

January 30, 2009 1:33 PM | Link to this

OK, lets get real. To reach the Final Four, you must have great , dedicated players, good coaching, outstanding teamwork and one hell of a lot of lucky breaks and calls. We are missing more than one thing, it is not just poor coaching. Put the blame on the players for not living up to expectations and coaching. Put the blame on selfish one and dones, put the blame on lack of concentration, put the blame on not having the Harpings of the past. It ain’t just the coach; firing him does not change the players attitudes; bench time does.

By Gordon Pfeiffer

January 30, 2009 1:34 PM | Link to this

Why in the world would you have an AUTOMATIC SIX YEAR rollover in the contract? What incentive does the coach have to maintain or improve performance? Why should he make staff changes? I thought Hewitt’s contract ran out in 2011. I also thought he was only making about $1.2M per year. I CANNOT BELIEVE HOW OVERPAID HE IS. No matter when he leaves, we will owe him $9 million or so. What is Hewitt going to say when Radakovich calls him in for his review? “Go ahead and fire me, see if I care”. I can tell you one thing - if we don’t improve significantly next year I won’t be paying any of his salary any longer.

The was the first of two incredibly stupid moves Dave Braine made. The other was giving Gailey a 5 year extension right before a new AD was coming in. I know how hot Hewitt seemed after the 03-04 season, but this is a terrible contract for Tech. I’ll bet there isn’t even a buyout for Tech if Hewitt leaves for another job. We’re stuck with this lousy coach and contract for the forseeable future.

By azcat225

January 30, 2009 1:34 PM | Link to this

I think you need to put the renegotiation of Hewitt’s contract in perspective. If memory serves (and I will be the first to admit mine doesn’t nearly as well as it used to), the contract was redone right after GT’s run to the title game. He was one of the hottest coaching commodities in the country and there were several big-time programs with openings. The only thing that doesn’t make perfect sense is the automatic rollover—-even with his success that season, I don’t think he had risen to the stature of a coach who could demand that kind of provision. Chalk it up to Hewitt having a great team (of agents and lawyers) and Braine already having one foot out the door.

I do believe that if he generates no marked improvement next season, even acknowledging that he may be playing a lot of youngsters, the seat he is sitting in will get much, much warmer.

By ga_tech_92

January 30, 2009 1:36 PM | Link to this

phew is no bobby cremins and couldn’t even carry his jock

AMEN - AND HIS NAME BETTER NEVER EVER BE ON THE COURT AS A TRIBUTE TO THE HELL KNOWN HAS HIS TENURE!!!!!!!!!!

By RAMBLE ON!!!

January 30, 2009 1:38 PM | Link to this

9 million!?!, that’s as bad as Wall Street Bankers getting a year end bonus!

1.9 million for this 0-6 ACC year!?! I just lost my lunch!

We need some of these 100 Million dollar players like Kevin Brown, Mark Texerica, Calvin J, Jason V. Stephon, Kenny A. Dennis Scott, etc…to step up to the plate a give a little back to the AA so we can dump this Snake Oil Sales Man.

1.9 MILLION!!!!!! ARGHHHHHHHHHHH, I didn’t know it was that much

By 2004Tourney

January 30, 2009 1:44 PM | Link to this

Mark…Let me ask you this. Tech struggled mightily in the first 2 rounds of the ‘04 Tourney and nearly lost the first round game to Northern Iowa. Had they lost that game, does Hewitt still have his job now???

By Eric

January 30, 2009 1:45 PM | Link to this

To those that want Hewitt out who would you prefer to coach the Jackets? Think about it. Besides Mike Kryszewski or Tom Izzo or some other guy Tech can’t afford comes up think about that question. Hewitt has a great recruiting class coming in. If he was fired they would decommitt. Just get behind Coach Hewitt now before the bandwagon gets full next December.

By Gordon

January 30, 2009 1:45 PM | Link to this

A few days ago I posted saying that the AD shouldn’t tell the coach how to do his job, including what staff changes to make. In light of this contract information, I think Radakovich should demand staff changes since he has absolutely no leverage. Our players are not well coached, especially offensively, and the assistant coaches are the biggest difference between the early Hewitt years and now. Hewitt can recruit and help coach defense for his ridiculous salary if we must keep him.

By Dressherinwhiteandgold

January 30, 2009 1:47 PM | Link to this

Paul Hewitt is the reason that the smallest colesium in the biggest city in the ACC can not consistently sell out. He (and his contract) are also the reason Tech can’t even consider building a better colesium. The only thrill in the Thrillerdome these days is when Hewitt gets a paycheck (approx. $160,000 a month or about $100,000 per win).

By ga_tech_92

January 30, 2009 1:49 PM | Link to this

Eric,

Have you been paying attention? He gets a great recruiting class almost every year, but he can’t coach, so we stink!

Why do you think we call it “Ground Hog Day”, because everyone “gives him a break” each year because of recruiting. Recruiting isn’t the problem…and clearly has not been the solution.

Wake up!

It’s ONLY about the most assinine contract ever created by anyone…anywhere..>EVER<

By Zach

January 30, 2009 1:51 PM | Link to this

If you read between the lines of DRad’s statement, it’s pretty clear that he would fire coach Hewitt if not for the ridiculous contract but his hands are tied. Gatech92 - how is it that you still don’t get this? This is not a contract like any other you’ve ever heard of. This contract AUTOMATICALLY rolls over, and that’s why NOT rolling it over is a BREACH of contract and thus makes the whole contract invalid and as GT is the violating party, Paul gets the full contract without having to fulfill “his obligations”. Since Braine was so creative in screwing us with this contract, perhaps we can get creative in undermining it. We could hire a SECOND head coach from a small school for far cheaper than firing him, let Hewitt recruit and let a better X and O guy coach. If we can’t do that, Tech students, it’s time to get even more creative. Any GT coeds willing to take one for the team and seduce Paul Hewitt into a tawdry affair while another GT student films it - welcome to “just cause for termination” city!

By Ted Striker

January 30, 2009 1:51 PM | Link to this

I’m Switzerland on this issue. I’m not a Tech fan, but I’d like to see them do well. So, as a neutral observer, here are some overviews on a few Tech fan’s responses.

To the guy ‘hoping some wealthy alum bails us out’ : Wouldn’t it be more realistic — and more supportive to hope the team improves? I don’t follow your claim that Hewitt has failed individual players in furthering their education when those particular players leave early for the NBA. Hewitt failed them? Can you name someone who did more for those kids on an educational level during that time? More than Hewitt? Who?

To the guy who said Hewitt ‘doesn’t care about educating young men or winning basketball games’ — Doesn’t care? In other words, he’s just as happy when kids don’t graduate as when they do, and he’s just as satisfied when a game is lost as when it’s won? You went on to say ‘shame on him for not being a man about it…” Would you say that to his face? If so, why don’t you?

To the guy (maybe even one of the same as above) complaining that Hewitt is Obama-esque: Maybe you think you phoned in to Rush Limbaugh, you lost me on that one. You say only Hewitt’s ‘words’ represent Tech, not his actions. Fair enough. But here’s a question. What are you, personally doing to improve the things you complain so strenuously about — poor graduation rates for students, etc? Have you volunteered lately as a tutor in your local school system? Have you helped mentor a kid? Have you worked with the gifted program? What are you, personally doing?

By JBee

January 30, 2009 1:52 PM | Link to this

The layers of the Dave Braine onion continue to be peeled back and the more we see we realize what a complete and utter disgrace that man was as Athletic Director at Georgia Tech. He gave Gailey that parking lot handshake on his 5-year extension and gave away the store to Hewitt. Both shockingly mediocre coaches. Dave Braine was and is an incompetent jerk.

By 2HLLWGA

January 30, 2009 1:54 PM | Link to this

Confused, it appears to me that the difference is conditioning. I went to the game at Maryland and the team seemed tired when they blew the lead. When Hewitt first started, there were articles talking about hwo hard the off-season conditioning was (much like with footbal and Johnson). I don’t remember seeing any articles talking about the conditioning. I think they were running three or four miles per day, in addition to practice.

Mark, Ken, Larry, Do you know what they ahve been doing here?

By Gordon

January 30, 2009 1:56 PM | Link to this

Maybe there is something in the “stimulus” bill to help get us out of this contract. Think of all the jobs that will be created if AMC was full each game.

By Paul Westerdawg

January 30, 2009 1:56 PM | Link to this

I find it interesting that Tech fans call UGA a “Football Factory” because we sign kids who they think “have no intention of ever graduating.”

Yet it’s Tech that signs all the one year wonders who publicly state they have no intention of getting a degree.

The fact that Tech fans don’t see that double standard humors me.

By Frozen Cave Man Lawyer

January 30, 2009 2:00 PM | Link to this

Tech really needs to get a Law School. That is ungodly awful. I bet the sucker even gives Hewitt a cost of living adjustment or guarantees him a weighted salary in line with the top coaches in the country. Congrats, Tech.

By gt fan

January 30, 2009 2:00 PM | Link to this

more rant….

phew and recruiting:

how do we know that phew is such the recruiter? was he such a prolific recruiter at sienna? i dont think so.

could it be that phew became a ‘good recruiter’ when he came to gt? imagine that.

bobby c recruited well until he burned out leading to his demise.

the recruiting advantages at gt are immense. i dont think that phew had a hand in any of them… ACC, atlanta, state of ga is loaded with talent, tv exposure, nba exposure, great education, gt has a great rep, chance to meet plenty of nba stars etc…

exactly what does phew bring to the table? a silk suit an he can talk well? give me a break.

when bobby c was ‘on’ he was able to recruit with anybody including dean smith. phew is at best the 3d best recruiter in the acc.

bobby c knew a good pg when he saw one. phew is unable to id a good point guard let alone develop one. see chan gailey and qb’s for a parallel. we are NO longer pgu.

bobby c knew how to put a team together chemistry wise. phew doesnt have a clue.

why is it that bobby c accomplished his best seasons with 7-8 players. yet one of phews’s top excuses now is a lack of a bench.

when you compare some of bobby’s talent with what phew has to coach with they are on par with one another. yet…….. 0 for 6 is the result.

when we hired phew i thought the idea was to hire a coach to take us back to bc’s best days or take us to a different level.

it seems to me that phew has de-elevated our program back the days of dwayne morrison and the bags.

phew stinks to high heaven.

By DontBrakeforDawgs

January 30, 2009 2:02 PM | Link to this

It seems common sense that the performance of the assistant coaches is the sole responsibility of the head coach. Good info., Mark, and thanks for opening the eyes of many of my fellows “who drink their whiskey clear” to the absurd financial situation re: CPH. If, like the airlines, we declare bankruptcy, can we renegotiate Hewitt’s contract? Ha, ha, just a thought.

By Zach

January 30, 2009 2:02 PM | Link to this

Yes, frozen cave man lawyer makes a good point. As much as I’d like to fire Hewitt, we need to fire the lawyers who helped us make this insane contract first.

By ACC

January 30, 2009 2:05 PM | Link to this

Rags, the basketball recruiting rankings on most sites haven’t been updated for the addition of favors. Unlike football rakings that get updated often, basketball ratings do not. Rivals recently updated their basketball rankings and Tech is now #4. Scout has not updated basketball rankings since we got Favors and therefore Tech is still 23rd (same ranking we had before Favors announced). Tech likely will jump to #3 to #5 with favors.

By the real Old Gold

January 30, 2009 2:05 PM | Link to this

Duke and North Carolina recruit great athletes, but one key ingredient is missing at Georgia Tech… We have to also recruit kids that want a degree. Even if it means finding a different talent pool and searching nation wide. We need people that want to play and want to play for at least 3 years. Bring up some junior college transfers or small school recruits and give them a shot.

By RAMBLE ON!!!

January 30, 2009 2:09 PM | Link to this

Paul Westerdawg, I think it’s interesting that HEWITT signs the kids who “have no intention of ever graduating” NOT THE FANS.

The fact that you have your head stuck up your butt humors me.

Prehaps if you bothered reading any of the post, you’d realize we “fans” are not at all happy about these kids not graduating or being One-and-dones.

Stupid fleabag.

By Tech 79

January 30, 2009 2:09 PM | Link to this

Mark, Ugghh…..In the span of 2 days, you have me thinking that UGA is in a better situation than we are. At least they have the ability to address their issues.

By ga_tech_92

January 30, 2009 2:12 PM | Link to this

Zach - I ‘get it’ now, I just can’t believe it.

By WreckHornGoesTHWUGA

January 30, 2009 2:13 PM | Link to this

To Ted Strikeout: In addition to a Swiss-cheese argument (i.e., full of holes), you seem to be missing the point that Hewitt is a bad coach (perhaps, like yourself, CPH is “neutral” when it comes to Tech). In the meantime, I would suggest that you fly the plane instead of trying to write while intoxicated.

By Gordon Pfeiffer

January 30, 2009 2:19 PM | Link to this

Paul Hewitt - the Charlie Weis of basketball.

Mark, does Paul Johnson’s contract have a ridiculous rollover clause as well, or does he actually have to produce results to get an extension?

Couldn’t you have waited to Monday to print this and not ruined my weekend? I could have waited another year or two. I hope Paul Hewitt can turn it around, I really do, but his coaching has been spectacularly bad since 04-05. Good years will be like 06-07, with lots of talent making us a bubble team and bad years being like this one. This situation will feed on itself - the longer Hewitt stays the lower attendance will be. The lower attendance is, the less able we are to buy him out. Again, I hope I am wrong. He is a good man and represents Tech well, but he needs help coaching.

By Change

January 30, 2009 2:23 PM | Link to this

Some sort of change should be mandated. The head coach can’t focus on every aspect of the game. Some new assistant coach’s is surely warranted

By JoeBiden

January 30, 2009 2:24 PM | Link to this

Paul Hewitt is articulate. Dave Braine hadn’t one. D Rad is only making nice b/c he can’t afford to fire CPH. Mark is right on. WreckHornGoesTHWUGA blows true. gpb blows false. Hewitt just blows. TedStriker, if all the points you counter are irrelevant, doesn’t that make eyours even less so? Ramble On, be kind to Westerdawg and the mangy masses, they know not whatof they bark.

By GT66

January 30, 2009 2:25 PM | Link to this

Radacovich is out of his damn mind. Hewitt is quoted as saying “The results speak for themselves”. They certainly do, the results are pitiful, embarrassing and inexcuseable. Also Hewitt is quoted as saying “We are doing it the right way”. You must be kidding. Both academically and athleticly are a total failure. Also, how does Bradley come up with his math. I do not see how he gets the $9.5 million. If that a* hole Braine gave him in effect a six year contract that keeps adding a year each year so in effect we are stuck with a permanent contract he needs to be shot.

By RamblinRed

January 30, 2009 2:26 PM | Link to this

To respond to a couple of the comments.

On this year’s recruiting class. it is currently ranked #4 on Rivals. Dave Telep has said it will move to between 3-7 when Scout updates its rankings in the Spring. Top 5 seems about right.

I agree with others that find the contract ludicrous but we are stuck with it.

Not to speak for Bradley, but his comment about being universally liked and respected I don’t think is in relation to fans, internet sites, alums etc. I suspect it is more inline with other coaches and administrators- who the ones i’ve interacted with do seem to hold him highly.

On the education comments. I am not naive enough to think some of the young men are coming to GT to get an ‘academic’ education. When I asked Hewitt once about his goals he said that when a player leaves GT he should either have a degree and a job or be playing professionally. So far pretty much every player that has left (excluding transfers) from GT have fallen into one of those 2 categories.

I wrote a letter to DRad last Spring advocating Hewitt’s dismissal. I now completely understand the response I got back. it was clear DRad would give Hewitt time to turn around the program, now we know more than ever why.

I would agree with others that a change in some assts would help, as the level of performance has dropped off significantly since coaches Keener and Warren left for HC jobs. I would say he overachieved in 3 of his first 4 years and underachieved in 3 of the last 4.

By Skeezix

January 30, 2009 2:27 PM | Link to this

Your probably right Mark; but in the meantime, for $2 mil a year, can’t he at least teach them how to shoot free throws?

By fred

January 30, 2009 2:30 PM | Link to this

Given Hewitt’s track record at Tech, excluding ‘04, would you hire him to run/build our program?

NO!

Is there a “next” question?

We are stuck in the gear “mediocrity”.

Thanks, Clough/Braine.

THWG!!!

By jabster

January 30, 2009 2:30 PM | Link to this

Gailey’s K is worse than described. We have to pay him the money, all of it, whether he coaches elsewhere (like KC) or not. No “make up the difference” or “pay to sit out” here. Every nickel even if he gets a $10MM/year K at Notre Dame or Green Bay tomorrow.

Dave No-Braine was an epic fail as AD and I appreciate DRad for what he has done with what he has had.

By Gordon

January 30, 2009 2:32 PM | Link to this

GT66,

Hewitt has (and will always have) 5 years remaining on his contract. 5 times 1.9M = 9.5M. Tech will always owe Hewitt at least 9.5M, more if there are COLAs in the contract. I can’t believe Clough signed off on this.

By sidewalk74

January 30, 2009 2:34 PM | Link to this

Give me a Coach that teaches Defense and fundamentals. How about a Duke assistant. Coach Wojo sounds good to me. I would love to see a team play as hard as he did. Not to mention he would bring some x’s and o’s knowledge. BITE THE BULLET AFTER NEXT SEASON AND FIRE HEWITT THEN WE CAN MOVE FORWARD. The longer he is here the longer it will take to get the program turned around. AND THE RECRUITING CLASS IS RANKED #23 BY SCOUT.COM. NOT TOP 5 OR TOP 10.

By iBuzzBitesDawgt

January 30, 2009 2:36 PM | Link to this

What the hell does “volunteering to tutor disadvantaged kids in your local schools” have to do with basketball? It is admitted duty of the coach to see that his players graduate and develop as human beings on and off the court. Bottom line: GT BASKETBALL IS THE WORST IN THE ACC. Deal with it, by which I mean, fire the coach and start over.

By RAMBLE ON!!!

January 30, 2009 2:38 PM | Link to this

913.46/hr (If Hewitt worked a 40hr week per year)

HAH!, he only works (can we call this work?) 5-6 months a year.

I just lost my lunch again.

Hewitt better never, ever take Braine off his XMas Card list!

By CanHewitt

January 30, 2009 2:38 PM | Link to this

I’m literally sick to my stomach. I need to go throw up.

By Rags

January 30, 2009 2:50 PM | Link to this

Thanks to those who suggested that scout.com had not updated their records (and that others have the Tech class rated much higher) so I went back and looked. I am not kidding, Tech is ranked #23 and that DID include Favors as a commitment. Just interesting, that’s all. I realize they’re just one source - and who really knows which recruit will really be the all-american - but they have Tech as only the 7th best class in the ACC.

By MrsGPBurdell

January 30, 2009 2:51 PM | Link to this

I agree with Coach Hewitt that his job is to help educate young men and that the results speak for themselves. I disagree absolutely that he has succeded in his job or that he has even tried to do it the right way. As for DRad’s arguments, 1.CPH no longer represents the program well (losses, one and doners, excuses, poor grad rates); 2. The program is not in a “down cycle”, rather it’s in a 4-year free fall; and 3. From a business perspective is it wise to let the program and revenues tank even further, especially in this economy. Solution, fire Hewitt. Hire a hungry assistant (not one of our own, obviously), gut it out till we get lucky or pay off CPH.

By DunwoodyDawg

January 30, 2009 2:58 PM | Link to this

**Hewitt’s agent is Mark Carmony - UGA Class of ‘91.

Georgia Tech, home of the self-professed greatest minds in the Universe, got taken to the contractual woodshed by a Dawg. Gotta love it!!**

By Paul Westerdawg

January 30, 2009 2:59 PM | Link to this

**Hewitt’s Agent is Mark Carmony. A Bulldog.

You guys are taking it in the fiscal shorts because a UGA man out-negotiated you.**

By GPBandPBR

January 30, 2009 2:59 PM | Link to this

$9.5 Million? I be truly ill. I am losing my lunch, my religion, and my checkbook for GT Athletic contributions.

By TJ

January 30, 2009 3:00 PM | Link to this

Dave Braine has officially replaced George Constanze as Lord of the Idiots

By GT66

January 30, 2009 3:01 PM | Link to this

Mark Bradley could you please give us Hewitt’s APR. For those not familiar with it it stands for Academic Progress Rate. The NCAA passing grade threshold is a score of 925. I would be shocked if his is above that threshold. USA Today had a big article about last week and Hewitt was not listed. As you might expect most of the better coaches were well above the 925. Williams (995), Wright (990), Coach K (984), Sean Miller (976), Brey (971), Howland (968), Izzo (963), Boeheim (955) and Sendek (952).

By BuzzBitesDawg

January 30, 2009 3:08 PM | Link to this

If Hewitt’s agent really is a Dawg, then there is bound to be a loophole or ommission allowing for breach of contract re: housetraining, doggie biscuits, bestiality, etc. If we were really cheated by a UGA grad, then we deserve it. Fire Hewitt anyway, sue the hell out of him, and during negotiations bring in CPJ to scare the dogs**t out of ‘em.

By ga_tech_92

January 30, 2009 3:15 PM | Link to this

DunwoodyDawg - no doubt about it. EPIC FAIL JACKETS … now do we walk around with our leg half cut off … or do we cut it off and get it over with? PLEASE CUT THE LEG OFF AND GET ON WITH PROGRESS…END GROUNDHOG DAY!

By gtman

January 30, 2009 3:17 PM | Link to this

Mr. Bradley: I like Paul Hewitt.I believe he is a good man and great for Tech’s image. I also liked Cremins and felt the same for him. Here’s the facts though: Hewitt’s ACC record overall is 58-76 and since 2004, 19-35. Would this record cut it at any other ACC school? In addition, attendance levels are down to levels I haven’t seen in years maybe pre- Cremins numbers.Strangely enough if Hewitt was coaching football he would have been long gone.

By gtman

January 30, 2009 3:18 PM | Link to this

Mr. Bradley: I like Paul Hewitt.I believe he is a good man and great for Tech’s image. I also liked Cremins and felt the same for him. Here are the facts though: Hewitt’s ACC record overall is 58-76 and since 2004, 19-35. Would this record cut it at any other ACC school? In addition, attendance levels are down to levels I haven’t seen in years maybe pre- Cremins numbers.Strangely enough if Hewitt was coaching football he would have been long gone.

By AlabamaRamblinwreck

January 30, 2009 3:29 PM | Link to this

It will take a miracle at this point to convince me to support GT basketball in any way…I will not even watch them on TV.

Maybe something will change, but I would not bet my last dime on that scenario. I did not really give up on Hewitt until last year, and even this year I wanted to give him a chance, but all we get is the same ol’ same ol’. It is embarrassing.

By GT66

January 30, 2009 3:33 PM | Link to this

gpb you are crazy. You say he is a “great game coach” and a “great recruiter”. Chris Bosh and Young are his only players that have done anything in the NBA. As far as college performance I am hard pressed to name any of his players that made first or second team all ACC. And GTFan said Hewitt is the 3rd best recruiter in the ACC. The results do not back up your statement. See above comments regarding NBA and ACC performance. As we look at the ACC today NC, Duke, Wake, FSU, Miami,Clemson, Va Tech all have better players than we do according to Vitale and several other commentators. That would let him rank 8th at best.

By StingerSplash

January 30, 2009 3:36 PM | Link to this

We have Dave Braine to thank for this, once again, it appears, and D-Rad’s return to prominence under Hewitt statement is almost as ludicrous as Braine’s plea that Tech will never be a 9-10 win a year football program. What prominence is D-Rad talking about? One national runner-up finish? Terrific. That was great. But what has Hewitt done since, other lose ACC games at a rate that usually gets you fired at Clemson, Florida State and Virginia — because that’s what happened at all three schools to coaches Shyatt, Robinson and Gillen. Are their expectations greater than Tech’s? At this point, it looks like they are.

By season tix

January 30, 2009 3:45 PM | Link to this

As a season ticketholder since Hewitt came on board, it’s easy to see that the issue is his offense.

He HAS NO offense. Watch UNC or Duke. They run plays that involve screens which lead to back door layups and wide open J’s.

GT does NOT do this. Ever. Watch Hewitt. He calls “33” all the time. It’s basically a weave at the top of the key.

Also: the Jackets miss WAY too many shots inside the lane.

By SuperDawg

January 30, 2009 3:50 PM | Link to this

The UGA trained attorney who negotiated that one sided deal for Hewitt should wear a cape to work with a big red S, instead of a suit. That is the sweetest contract I’ve ever heard of in coaching—an automatic rollover for 6 years, forever, and if they don’t roll it over in one year, even if he loses every game, he immediately gets $9.5 million! Dave Braine—-you don’t have one!

By WorthlessHewitt

January 30, 2009 3:50 PM | Link to this

Hewitt is a simian who recruits nothing but simians. His playcalling is limited to “3-3-3!” and “Motion-Motion-Motion!” He recruits well in Senegal and (sometimes) DeKalb county. His failure to recruit Al-Farouq Aminu is a prime example of his incompetence in his so-call areas of expertise.

Hewitt should be recruiting undersized, intelligent, and possibly white kids. Anything but the current course to failure.

By Mark Bradley

January 30, 2009 3:52 PM | Link to this

A correction: Because I’m not good at math — I didn’t go to Tech — or at reading contracts, the original numbers I used for Hewitt were incorrect. (I was adding ancillary stuff — TV/radio, deferred compensation and speaking fees — on top of salary, when actually those numbers were already included.) He’s making $1.3 million this season, not $1.9, and the total buyout would be $7.175 million, not $9.5 million.

Sorry for being an idiot.

By Captain

January 30, 2009 4:00 PM | Link to this

By all accounts Paul Hewitt is a class act. As a Georgia alum you must realize how difficult it is for me to acknowledge that. Hewitt is a victim of his own success. He successfully goes after the ‘elite’ talent, and if those players are as good as they are supposed to be, they quickly move on to the NBA. Derrick Favors is such a talent.

In Hewitt’s defense, GT hasn’t exactly committed itself to excellence. GT is one of the few programs in the ACC, or SEC for that matter, which has maintaned a modicum of success yet has substandard facilities. It’s true. GT’s A.D. within the past six months had to scrap plans for a basketball practice facility. It seems you GT supporters were not willing to pitch in and help Coach Hewitt. Rad cut the initial project back from $15 million - which included both men’s and women’s courts, locker rooms, coaches offices, lounges, medical facility, weight training, etc, to a more modest $5 million for a spartan, cut down facility. Then, that facility was abandoned due to lack of support. What’s up GT supporters? You complain about Coach Hewitt but you won’t financially support the program’s attempts to build a practice building. That is pitiful GT supporters. You have two teams having to share practice time. That’s second class all the way. As bad as we are at Georgia, and we are BAD, we do have a great practice facilility which is generally regarded as one of the finest in the country. It cost $35 million, yet you guys can’t come up with a $15 million and you pretend to ‘care about basketball’? Put the money up.

With the facility we have, you guys need to understand, when our new coach comes on board in March, Georgia basketball is going to take off and pass you by rather quickly. Everything will be in place…Coach, Facilities, Great University, Talent in the state coming to Athens to play…. 3 yrs from now you GT fans are going to hate our success. The question is, will you have broken ground on a practice facility? Or, will you have fallen behind Auburn?

By Zach

January 30, 2009 4:01 PM | Link to this

Someoone scour that contract. Does it specify currency? Can we pay him in Mexican pesos, or better yet Bolivianos or defunct Italian lire? The only hope that Tech basketball has is if the US economy collapses further and hyperinflation runs rampant. Only when $7.175 million buys you a loaf of bread will Paul Hewitt not be vastly overpaid.

By Jack G

January 30, 2009 4:02 PM | Link to this

PH can only be fired for cause. In my book loseing is defined as cause. Maybe there is a different defination of cause in the contract. If there is, I would like to know what it is. I dont want to hear anymore critizem of UGA being dumb. Anyone who would write a contract like CPH has is about the dumbest SOB alive.

By Gordon

January 30, 2009 4:02 PM | Link to this

You’re not an idiot Mark. You didn’t sign a coach to a 6 year rollover contract that has no performance stipulations whatsoever. The new numbers are better, but we are still in the same position.

Do you think Hewitt will do anything to improve this situation other than hoping the talent of the incoming class will solve the problem? Do you think he thinks there is a problem with his staff? What really disturbs me is that I saw him on TV last night and he said “we are playing great, we just don’t have the results to show for it”. That is a scary statement if you care about Tech basketball.

By rankings

January 30, 2009 4:05 PM | Link to this

Rags,

I originally thought the same thing but scout in fact hasn’t updated their rankings. I know that is shows Favors as committed but that is not reflected in the rankings. Rivals just updated their rankings and we bumped up to #4. ESPN hasn’t updated theirs yet either but they did have an article a couple of weeks ago saying GT and a couple other teams could push UNC for the #1 spot when the rankings get updated.

By RAMBLE ON!!!

January 30, 2009 4:05 PM | Link to this

It is true, we were out-smarted by a UGA grad who represented Hewitt. A UGA lawyer took us down hard!

By Captain

January 30, 2009 4:12 PM | Link to this

Captain,

Obviously a new facility is not hurting our ability to attract good players. Coaching, not facilities, is our problem, as it was yours until yesterday. And thanks to Dave Braine, we will have to fork out $5M more than you did to correct the problem.

By Reply to Captain

January 30, 2009 4:17 PM | Link to this

Thanks to Braine and the well-educated agent that represented Hewitt.

By Mark Bradley

January 30, 2009 4:19 PM | Link to this

I think Paul Hewitt is a smart and honorable man. I think he’ll do what he believes is necessary to turn things around.

By E

January 30, 2009 4:24 PM | Link to this

I think everyone is getting caught up in Paul Hewitt’s contract (rightfully so), especially in light of the current 0-6 record in the ACC and 9-10 record overall. However, I really believe the DeAndre Bell injury has killed this team. His man defense and midrange game on offense is sorely missed. I think his lost has had a direct reflection on this year’s win/loss record. I can think of at least 5 games (3 ACC games and 2 non-conference games) that if we had him healthy would have gone our way, despite the poor free throw shooting and turnovers. Instead of the current 9-10, 0-6 ACC we could be….say 14-5, 3-3 ACC? This season would look totally different. (but alas, could be, would be, doesn’t count in the win column)

By GT66

January 30, 2009 4:26 PM | Link to this

Mark we would like to have his APR. Could you please give it to us. Thanks.

By Mark Bradley

January 30, 2009 4:29 PM | Link to this

In Braine’s defense, a lot of Tech people were terrified that Hewitt would jump to a bigger school for more money after the Final Four. Radakovich just redid Paul Johnson’s contract to keep him happy at Tech; Braine’s intention was, I feel certain, absolutely the same regarding Hewitt.

By gt fan

January 30, 2009 4:32 PM | Link to this

gt66 you need to reread my post bud. i said ‘at best’ ph is the 3d best recruiter in the acc.

i did not say that being a good recruiter equals good results.

what i was trying to point out was… gt made phew the recruiter that he some people think he is.

i think that over the last 4 years gt indeed has been around no 3 in the acc on the ave recruiting wise. notice in my post i also said that gt made phew into a great recruiter not the other way around.

i agree 100% with you.

where are the results?

By Concerned

January 30, 2009 4:36 PM | Link to this

9 seasons

1 winning conference record in 9 seasons! Please inform me why anyone thinks this guy should still be coaching at Tech? How can anyone think that the Finals run was anything other than an aberration? Groundhog day year after year and game after game!! You know what, Tech will still owe him 7.5 million next year…and the year after…and the year after. So why shouldn’t he be fired now?

By George P. Burdell

January 30, 2009 4:37 PM | Link to this

I’m starting to wonder if Hewitt’s success at both Siena and early on at Tech were due to having players that went all out, especially on the defensive side of the ball. That 2004 team just hustled. Now, with a higher calibre of recruit coming in, the teams since 2004 just don’t seem to play with the same intensity, probably because they believe in their own self-worth and don’t feel the need to prove themselves. Given his style, if this is the case, he’d probably be better off getting lower rated players that feel they have something to prove.

If I remember correctly, part of Braine’s thinking ( those two words may never have been put in the same sentence) was that Hewitt desired to be an NBA coach and this was the only way to keep him around. The bad news is if he has trouble coaching prima donnas, he won’t ever get to the pros. Given that we are apparently stuck with him unless we want to shell out a huge chunk of change, I’d rather he find a way to work with his skill set than to keep trying to have great recruiting classes as rated by others. No matter what, if the attendance woes continue next season, DRad may have no other choice in the matter.

By gt fan

January 30, 2009 4:40 PM | Link to this

mark what if he does NOT turn things around like you seem to think he will?

8 and 8 at best in the acc and 4 one n dones every 8 years is not what i would call turning it around.

phew has indictated by his comments that he is OK with the results over the last 4 years. not my kinda coach.

so mark, do you think that phew is honorable enough to step down without costing us a bundle like bobby c did… like tommy bowden did?

i dont.

By DecaturTechFan

January 30, 2009 4:42 PM | Link to this

WAKE UP GT PEOPLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 51-71 in ACC Play under Hewitt. Fire this SORRY Sack o’ ——. Have fund-raisers to pay the payout….. Has the whole world gone mad?

By Mark Bradley

January 30, 2009 4:44 PM | Link to this

If Hewitt doesn’t turn it around … well, Tech would face a very difficult decision. And Hewitt have to ask himself some hard questions.

By Tech75

January 30, 2009 4:54 PM | Link to this

I think two things need to be better understood, to really assess this situation….

By gt fan

January 30, 2009 4:57 PM | Link to this

so what can we do as fans…

if your happy with phew and the results you see than by all means attend the games and continue to tickets.

if your NOT happy than i suggest a number of things….

• email drad and phew as i have done numerous times.

DRadakovich@at.gtaa.gatech.edu phewitt@at.gtaa.gatech.edu

(please keep it civil)

• during the call in shows let phew know how you feel… civilly.

• stop attending games and contribute the money you would use buying tickets to the AA fund with a note explaining your decision to no longer accept the lack of a quality product. this way the fund does not suffer.

• if you go to the games you could wear a paper bag over your head. its obvious to me phew is oblivious to the stance that we who fund his salary have.

• continue to blog and post on the boards letting folks know of your displeasure.

complacency never fixed a single thing.

By Meanwhile...could you clarify Mark?

January 30, 2009 5:11 PM | Link to this

Perhaps karma is paying me a visit for the Junior Samples comment but I’m feeling a tad slow here Mark.

Are you really saying, that as sidewalk @ 1:28 said, that no matter WHEN Hewitt was fired, he’d still get the buyout?

Can that really be true?

What else did Braine put in there; that God wasn’t allowed to let Hewitt die as long as he wanted to coach at Tech?

By E

January 30, 2009 5:14 PM | Link to this

Penn State L 85-83 Illinois-Chicago L 66-60 Virginia L 88-84 OT North Carolina State L 76-71 OT Boston College L 80-76 OT

Five losses by a total of 21 pionts, three in OT, its funny how IF (that’s a big if) these games had turned out in our favor, we wouldn’t be talking about getting rid of Hewitt, instead everyone would be talking about how we could knock off Wake Forest tomorrow, crack the Top 25 and make a run at the NCAA tournament.

That being said, its frustrating to see the season go down in flames….

By Mark Bradley

January 30, 2009 5:17 PM | Link to this

To Meanwhile: Yes, it’s true. He’d get $7.125 million were he fired today. Tech cannot NOT roll over his contract without breaching it and being obliged to pay him in full.

By BravesFan79

January 30, 2009 5:24 PM | Link to this

TechGrad 93: spring football? whats the fun of rooting for a team that has 0% chance at a national championship anyways? (just like 95% of all D1 teams) We all know the football (BCS) champ next year will be either USC, Texas, Oklohama, Ohio State, or the SEC champ…. can u say BORING!!

Face it…your just jelous NOTHING in college football even comes CLOSE to the greatness of March Madness!!

College Football…where all the little kids get a trophy at the end of the year and get to jump up and down like monkeys yelling “were #1!” “I mean 31!”

Im a GT and UGA football fan, but NOTHING it offers compares to the excitment of the Braves and Falcons in the playoffs, or GT in March Madness.

Face it…. your sport is like boxing… old , lame, and outdated. The BSC SUCKS, and fools like you that support it are the reason things havent changed yet!

By gt fan

January 30, 2009 5:27 PM | Link to this

if i was drad i would have lawyers going over those contacts with a fine toothed comb looing for loop holes.

maybe not for the right now but for the eventuality that phew does NOT turn things around.

• could we bring up the possibility that our former AD was stricken with a life threatening illness and was not of sound mind when the contracts were negotiated? would that negate a contract?

could drad give phew other responsibilities or make changes to the program in order to embarass phew or make the working conditions so unpleasant that phew couldnt take it anymore? i know for a fact that has happened elsewhere.

— hire a coach in waiting much like oleary and tell phew that said coach in waiting will be the game day bench coach.

— hire a coach like zak said… to coach the team and let phew be the head of recruiting

— make phew wash the floors and the restrooms at the t** kiddin hehe but that does sound funny

at the least we should fire all of the lawyers who represented us and allowed this contract to happen if we havent done so already.

they are probably back in athens making french fries and delivering pizza’s.

we were probably screwed either way you looked at it. phew had attorneys from uga rep’ing him and we probably had attorneys from uga rep’ing us.

By Meanwhile...thanks Mark.

January 30, 2009 5:40 PM | Link to this

Wow.

I think this is definitely evidence that reincarnation exists; I wouldn’t be the least bit surprised if Braine, under hypnosis, could provide details on the life of Neville Chamberlain that only the most astute historian or Chamberlain family members could know of.

Wow.

By BravesFan79

January 30, 2009 5:46 PM | Link to this

Like ive always said, i like Hewitt, but think his assistants are clearly not doing their jobs. They should be perfecting their coaching skills at a smaller school like Samford, or a crap basketball school like UGA. Heck…. with the job theve been doing…. perhaps they should be instead perfecting there real future job at the local KFC….

Bring back Dan Keener!!!

By GT

January 30, 2009 5:51 PM | Link to this

Derrick Favors came to Tech because it was in Atlanta his home and he plans to spend one year there. It is a major league city and he is going to be in the major leagues in two years so he might as well get familiar with it and not waste time in Athens or Raleigh, he is an adult now. Calvin Johnson came to Atlanta for simplier reasons and he was close to his mother and sister. Neither of these guys came because of the coach. When a kid goes to Georgia or most SEC schools he is going because of the coach, because a black guy in these mostly white cow town colleges would be lost. That is why Georgia and most SEC schools have poor basketball teams and if football ever turns into a one year and you are out those schools will suffer in that sport too. We have finally picked up a football coach that is as good as his players, now maybe one of these days not unlike Bobby Cremins we will find that other coach. Cremins knew how to use that big city and big time sports to his advantage. Never had a Bobby at Tech I didn’t like.

By gtman

January 30, 2009 5:58 PM | Link to this

Mark: Can you address his performance numbers. I hate to state the obvious, but coaches are fired for not winning.Hewitt’s ACC record overall is 58-76 with one winning ACC season in 2004(9-7). His ACC record since 2004 is 19-35.In nine seasons at Tech he will have no ACC CHAMPIONSHIPS and only four trips to the NCAA’S.I like Paul Hewitt and like you believe he is a good and honorable man, but the numbers tell a different story. The run in 2004 now looks like an aberation;the right team chemistry can do that including a few key players that were Cremin recruits.I hope he proves me wrong, but I’m also pretty sure Kentucky fans would be showing him the door if he were their coach.

By Gordon

January 30, 2009 6:10 PM | Link to this

Mark,

Regarding your 4:29: Reworking a contract to keep a coach happy is fine. I personally think they overdid it a little bit with Johnson but at least his contract eventually ends if he doesn’t perform. Hewitt’s NEVER ends well for Tech. Eventually either a coach is going to retire, decide to move on himself, or be fired. In none of those 3 situations is it advantageous from the school’s point of view to have a contract like Hewitt’s. In one of the three, it is a distinct disadvantage.

I used to be able to tell you when the next game was and who it was against, listen to the pre-game, post-game, and call-in shows, and generally acted like a lot of UGA people do about football. Today I can’t give away my Wake Forest tickets.

By typical hard question

January 30, 2009 6:11 PM | Link to this

What will I purchase today with my $812/hr pay? (1300000/52/40)

By RAMBLE ON!!!

January 30, 2009 6:27 PM | Link to this

Mark…so after next years stinker season, which it will be, how much will it cost GT to fire him?

Do we have to wait till 2011 for this contract to end?

Please don’t predict anything other than failure for next year. Remember, you fully expected us to beat BC a few weeks back.

By ContractBlues

January 30, 2009 6:29 PM | Link to this

There is absolutely no incentive for hewitt to perform, because even if he wins 4 games each year, he will eventually get $7 mil plus when he’s fired. It’s insane—-what idiot AD would draft that kind of ridiculous contract? Did Dave Braine ever take a business course or a course in negotiating? What a total moron.

By Mark Bradley

January 30, 2009 6:40 PM | Link to this

The contract does not end in 2011. That’s the thing — it keeps rolling over unless/until he’s fired. Or he leaves of his volition.

As for there being no incentive: Hewitt is a proud man; he hates losing, same as every coach. I don’t know any professional in any field who would want to fail publicly.

By mike

January 30, 2009 6:49 PM | Link to this

roll the dice for next season but i do wonder why tech can’t go 40 minutes like say, MOST EVERY OTHER ACC TEAM! today’s elite players can compete with one another easily in a relaxed y.m.c.a./street ball arena but why can’t tech’s coaching staff get them up to snuff in the big arena? it’s not the players so much as it’s the coaching staff and their routines. time for a change after next season and yes g.t. has hidden gold to buy hewitt’s contract out.

By RAMBLE ON!!!

January 30, 2009 6:55 PM | Link to this

I JUST LOST MY DINNER!!!

My Goodness, so if we fire him after next year, it’s going to cost us more?

Then we need to do it NOW!!!!

By Mark Bradley

January 30, 2009 7:14 PM | Link to this

Were Tech to fire Hewitt next year — or in 2012, say — it would still owe him roughly the same as it would today — $7.175 million.

The contract doesn’t grow in length. Nor does it get reduced. Tech would always have to pay him for the remaining five seasons.

By RamblinRed

January 30, 2009 7:17 PM | Link to this

Scout team commits reflect Favors commit to GT, but this haven’t updated their team rankings since the November signing period. So while the commits show 5 - the team ranking does not include Favors. Most basketball recuriting sites only update their rankings after the Fall and Spring signing periods - Rivals is an exception.

FWIW, this team is also suffering from last year’s recruiting misses. Shumpert signed, but that was it. GT’s class was ranked either 10th or 11th in the ACC last year.

One other note, at the time it was made a pretty big deal at the time that it was a two-way buyout. Maybe Mark knows for sure - but unless that lapsed Hewitt would owe GT a large sum of money if he left for any coaching job other than the NY Knicks (which was excluded from the 2-way buyout).

Bottomline though is he needs to do better over the next couple of years or eventually he will leave - either on his own or with a push.

By Gordon

January 30, 2009 7:18 PM | Link to this

RAMBLE ON, this isn’t that difficult. It won’t cost us more or less next year. Unless Hewitt quits or moves on to another job, we will pay him $7M when we fire him. He always has 5 years remaining on his contract.

I agree with Mark that Hewitt wants to win, and will do everything in his power to do so within the rules. He is a good and honorable man - a man I would like to succeed. I just question his coaching ability, and his judgement about the condition of our program. Any coach or program can have a bad year, but he has had 4 bad years in a row. We haven’t won a tournament game in 4 years. His record isn’t that much better than Felton’s, especially considering he has had more to work with. I know recruiting is part of the job, but I think it is easier to recruit for Tech than UGA in basketball.

By cleetis

January 30, 2009 7:30 PM | Link to this

Mark - please get a copy of Hewitt’s contract from DRad or Wayne Hogan and post it on the ajc. i think your readers(me included) are stupified and shocked by the terms of the contract which you have described. i’m praying that the rollover provision you describe is not accurate. seeing it for myself would be great. while you’re at it, please post a copy of coach johnson’s new contract. hopefully, there are no bombshells in his contract, but in light of what has been disclosed today, it would be better to get it out in the open. thx

By blue fox

January 30, 2009 7:35 PM | Link to this

I’m so nauseated after finding out the details of Hewitt’s contract I’m turning my remaining BB season tickets into the Thorpe Fund to get points credit. DRad is in an untenable position, and I hope DBraine is enjoying his trout fishing, he reeked unbelievable harm on the GT program with the Gailey and Hewitt contracts as he waltzed out the door!

By Meanwhile...what's their leverage Mark?

January 30, 2009 7:47 PM | Link to this

Since they have absolutely no leverage with the contract, what will Tech do if Hewitt doesn’t turn it around?

Will they blast Hee-Haw reruns through the loudspeakers at Alexander Memorial, a la` Gitmo to force him to leave?

This revelation about the contract makes me think even more that they may be willing to force his hand via his assistant coaches, if things get worse. I am assuming Tech still controls that, right?

I’m mean really, what else can they do? Surreptitiously leave a fake AJC article with a Mark Bradley headline that reads “Why IUPUI Will Be The Next Basketball Goliath” in the hopes that he’ll take the bait?

By RAMBLE ON!!!

January 30, 2009 8:18 PM | Link to this

I agree with you 100% Gordon.

I also think Felton would be winning more at GT than Hewitt.

By retired engineer

January 30, 2009 8:33 PM | Link to this

That is a dumbfounding contract!

Now we know the definition of infinity.

By Nerd Herd Guy

January 30, 2009 8:58 PM | Link to this

Techies,

The fact of the matter is that Hewitt is one of the worst bench coaches in the ACC, if not America. He has done NOTHING with the big time talent he has brought in, is the MAN at the institution in youth basketball rich ATL, and stands, er sits, on the sidelines with mouth agape and hands on head. Hell, Felton owns a winning record head-to-head with Hewitt- now THAT is bad! Ga Tech will never be a prominent program with Hewitt as coach. If yankee boy Rad hadn’t burned the bridge with Mark Price, they could of had him for a steal! ALSO, THE LACK OF SUPPORT FROM THE FAN BASE AT tECH IS ABSOLUTELY embarrasing! (backwords for a reason, Smart a’s). They have a 9000 set arena that is, hands down, the smallest and worst of any in the ACC (&SEC for that matter)…pump some moolah into the program and get sopme support. The Nerds just do NOT care about their athletic dept like they should!

By Mark Bradley

January 30, 2009 9:14 PM | Link to this

Hewitt would have to pay Tech $3.5 million if he leaves for another college job.

By that is funny, Mark

January 30, 2009 9:29 PM | Link to this

like it’s gonna happen!

Ever.

By billcanoe

January 30, 2009 9:44 PM | Link to this

Paul Hewitt is a class act and an excellent coach. I hope he will be at Tech for many years to come and with great success in the furure. He is doing things the right way.

By Gordon

January 30, 2009 11:06 PM | Link to this

The real cost to Hewitt if he left Tech for another college job would be 10 million dollars - the 7 million he wouldn’t get from Tech and the 3 million he would have to pay. You have to give it to Braine. His goal was to keep Hewitt at Tech and he succeeded. Hewitt will pass Cremins as the all-time winningest coach in 2029, assuming he can maintain the 10 wins a year pace.

By Frustrated Jacket

January 30, 2009 11:56 PM | Link to this

When Coach Hewitt came to the Institute he was young, hungry and he wanted to win because his job depended on it. Now… No pride. No heart. No desire. Never demonstrates that he is dedicated to us…just a paycheck Coach Hewitt?? Let’s face it, this man’s teams have had issues with turnovers, free throws, and inconsistant leadership since the beginning of his tenure. He hasn’t addressed any of these issues, and frankly has deflected and dismissed all who critisize his style. That is just poor coaching and COMPLACENCY. The fact that he still doesn’t know how to call a meaningful timeout is too painful to even mention.

The man can do better, and as fans we need to demand that he make some serious changes. He is our employee and he answers to the administration.

And to all you mutt fans posting on this forum…no one cares what you have to say about your hilarious “university.” UGA basketball is a complete joke! Hilarious!! Here are a few hilarious questions for you to ponder in between your really hilarious hard classes…

1) How many goals are on a basketball court? 3) In what league do the Georgia Bulldogs compete? 5) How many halves are in a college basketball game? 8) How many points does a 3-point field goal account for in a basketball game?

UGA is awesome and hilarious! National Joke!

THWG and despite my negative post…GO JACKETS.

By TJ

January 30, 2009 11:57 PM | Link to this

If you can’t fire him, drive him out. Fire his assistants, reduce his expense account, make him go to all of the alumni meetings for the next 18 months, in short make his life hell so he will quit. Maybe we should start gathering real estate for sale signs and put them in his front yard after every Tech loss. I just wonder if there are enough signs in Atlanta for all of the losses he is racking up. The program is an absolute joke and it appears there is nothing that can be done. When you are looking up at the likes of Clemson and Virginia Tech, it says a lot of where you have fallen. Yeah those are real basketball meccas.

Paul has ruined a once proud program

By blackprix

January 31, 2009 12:59 AM | Link to this

If GT really wants to be a player in college basketball, Rad needs to step back and take a look at the big picture under Hewitt.

Nice guys aren’t always the ones that can coach and have great results.

Just like the football program was wallowing and in malaise, so is the basketball program and ONLY ONE THING could change the atmosphere - fire the current coach and find someone else.

I use to hear while we suffered through 6 years of Gailey that GT didn’t have the money to fire him and pay him out and get another (who we would also have to pay big bucks to).

I never believed that baloney and still don’t. IF the alumni really want to do something and if Rad grasps what the future is really going to be like - you bet your last dime, the MONEY WILL SHOW UP PRETTY QUICK.

Hewitt has had very good recruiting classes in the past and since 2004 but has done absolutely nothing with them AND the program is worse!

Hewitt can recruit but he can’t coach and that will never result in great success!

By chuck allison

January 31, 2009 6:38 AM | Link to this

Eight miserable years and a losing record in the ACC. Since we can’t afford to fire him, maybe Hewitt will have a shred of honor and just resign? Nawww! No honor either.

By Born2Buzz

January 31, 2009 9:08 AM | Link to this

I believe Paul Hewitt is a good and honourable man. I believe Paul Hewitt is more sick about his teams failings than any of us. No coach wants to fail. No coach wants to be fired. Paul Hewitt is trying his best and would like nothing better than to produce a winner for GT. His only real talent is in bringing in talented young men to play for GT. Let’s hope he finds some talented assistant coaches to allow them to succeed.

And I believe that if his success rate continues as it has in the last two years he WILL be fired, no matter what the buy out is.

What I can’t believe is that the GT Administration allowed such a contract to be signed. Maybe we can sue Dave Braine for the buy out. But he was just the AD. We would have to go after Wayne Clough as well.

I will be at the game today cheering for the Brave and Bold. Maybe a miracle will happen.

By Rob

January 31, 2009 10:06 AM | Link to this

Maybe the ACC will make us drop basketball because Hewitt’s miserable teams are hurting the league’s image.

By TheWayISeeThings

January 31, 2009 10:12 AM | Link to this

The way I see things - the issue with GT now is guard play. We haven’t had both a PG and SG since the NC year – that year GT had 3 solid players that would rotate and/or play at the same time. GT needs consistent guard play to stretch the D. PH has recruited to many players of the same mold.

By Jeff

January 31, 2009 10:16 AM | Link to this

Mark, do you have any idea where Dave Braine is employed at this time, and if so, is he currently hiring? I need to get in front of him for an interview?

By Born2Buzz

January 31, 2009 10:39 AM | Link to this

Dave Braine is retired and resting comfortably at Lake Oconee with more GT money.

By RAMBLE ON!!!

January 31, 2009 10:47 AM | Link to this

Hewitt has Hijacked GT and holding the Basketball program for ransom. That is the most insane contract I have ever heard about in any freaking profession!!!

Mark is there any other coach with this type of contract that you know of?

If pride is the only incentive we have for Hewitt to perform, then I know 7 million reasons why GT will never get better. How can anyone, especially a coach, take pride in what has happened here the last 5 years?

I JUST LOST MY BREAKFAST!!!

Forget about winning the ACC Championship, ever.

Maybe all this pathetic basketball is just an attempt to get fired.

We lose by 30 today

By Austen GT grad 87

January 31, 2009 11:41 AM | Link to this

PH liked by who? I do not know anyone who can stand this any longer. Five years removed from getting a team into the NCAA finals ought to be enough of it. I suffered through the last couple of years and watched practically nothing at the ACC tournament in Charlotte last March. Matt Causey was the only highlight and never was utilized like he could have been. Duke game at the Dome not a sellout. It’s laughable. Do not under estimate DRAD, he is not stuck. I am sure Hewitt is a nice guy but its about coaching. Why can’t the truth be revealed? What are we afraid of in order to move past this situation?

By Austen GT grad 87

January 31, 2009 11:42 AM | Link to this

PH liked by who? I do not know anyone who can stand this any longer. Five years removed from getting a team into the NCAA finals ought to be enough of it. I suffered through the last couple of years and watched practically nothing at the ACC tournament in Charlotte last March. Matt Causey was the only highlight and never was utilized like he could have been. Duke game at the Dome not a sellout. It’s laughable. Do not under estimate DRAD, he is not stuck. I am sure Hewitt is a nice guy but its about coaching. Why can’t the truth be revealed? What are we afraid of in order to move past this situation?

By bearcasey

January 31, 2009 12:03 PM | Link to this

Paul Hewitt is NOT responsible for the “one and done” fiasco. The NCAA nd its hypocritical “scholar-athlete” BS is. Let a player go pro straight from high school if he’s good enough (Oden, Durant, etc.) If a player enrolls in college, he stays three years.

By m

January 31, 2009 12:14 PM | Link to this

Dave Braine is one sorry son of a biotch and any Tech fan that ever liked him or defended him in any way is just as sorry as he is. Hewitt will probably be ok, but Chan Gailey was the worst coach in the history of the free world. Thank God and Greyhound that BOTH Chan and Braine-dead are both gone forever.

By The GM

January 31, 2009 12:15 PM | Link to this

The GT basketball team is simply undisciplined. Until Hewitt starts recruiting kids with basketball smarts and molds them into a team,this will just be a cycle that repeats itself “see Groundhog Day” Right now he just has a bunch of kids playing street ball. No cohesion at all. Without change GT will have to pay the price and move Hewitt out or the Coliseum will echo with the sound of empty seats.

By austen GT '87 grad

January 31, 2009 12:17 PM | Link to this

Mark Bradley your wrong, DRAD can do whatever he wants, if the coach goes 0-16 your saying the coach is entitled to stay on? Now your playing the race card..because there is no amount of money that entitles that coach to stay employed at GT. 5 yrs removed from a national title game is enough of this suffering. THIS IS BY FAR THE WORST ARTICLE YOU HAVE EVER WRITTEN

By austen GT '87 grad

January 31, 2009 12:17 PM | Link to this

Mark Bradley your wrong, DRAD can do whatever he wants, if the coach goes 0-16 your saying the coach is entitled to stay on? Now your playing the race card..because there is no amount of money that entitles that coach to stay employed at GT. 5 yrs removed from a national title game is enough of this suffering. THIS IS BY FAR THE WORST ARTICLE YOU HAVE EVER WRITTEN

By austen GT '87 grad

January 31, 2009 12:19 PM | Link to this

Mark Bradley your wrong, DRAD can do whatever he wants, if the coach goes 0-16 your saying the coach is entitled to stay on? Now your playing the race card..because there is no amount of money that entitles that coach to stay employed at GT. 5 yrs removed from a national title game is enough of this suffering. THIS IS BY FAR THE WORST ARTICLE YOU HAVE EVER WRITTEN (there are plenty of honorable and nice men selling insurance, try that field)

By Clarification

January 31, 2009 1:28 PM | Link to this

To sum it all up Mark, are you saying that if Tech decides to fire Hewitt at any point from this day forward into infinity, Tech will have to pay him 7+ million dollars to release him from his contract? If that is the case, would it ever make sense to fire him? Would it ever be worth it to the school to take that kind of hit in the pocketbook? How much $ does the basketball program generate anyway?

By Appdude

January 31, 2009 1:38 PM | Link to this

Just a question … Why won’t Hewitt recruit any white players?

By IndyGT

January 31, 2009 2:25 PM | Link to this

Finally.. first ACC win!!! Look we’re not far away from being a good team. Firing Hewitt is not the answer.. If you’ve been following Hewitt’s teams, you see that he is a good (not great, hopefully will be..). he has made some mistakes, but hopefully can get better.. and this next year’s recruiting class should pan out. Lets see what he does next year.

By Not Disappointed

January 31, 2009 2:25 PM | Link to this

Great Win Hewitt! Go Jackets GT 76 WF 74!!!!

By NEBRASKA JACKET

January 31, 2009 3:28 PM | Link to this

wow that win came out of no where way to show up and play hard today and get the win against a great wake team

Let’s get some momentium going and turn it around the rest of the way in the ACC.

By Tony Shumpert

January 31, 2009 4:47 PM | Link to this

Get off Coach Hewitt’s back. The player’s aren’t doing what they should be doing and until they start, I put the blame on them. They will jell by the time the ACC tournament starts, and they will win. You are lucky to have coach because he’s getting quality kids in his program. He got Iman, and now look at next years class. Watch the class that will follow that one. Have some faith. By the way, if you kept the NBA from raiding his freshman, think of what he could have done. Next year, he will get “RING”. You heard it from me first. Iman turned Teague three times and sent wake home with a loss. The good thing about freshman, is they become sophmores. Now if the ref’s would just give us a few calls? Oh well, I’m not giving up, you can.

By Gordon

January 31, 2009 5:01 PM | Link to this

“Get off Coach Hewitt’s back. The player’s aren’t doing what they should be doing and until they start, I put the blame on them.”

Using that logic, no coach should ever be fired, or even criticized. I think most people want Hewitt to succeed, and I think if he brings in an offensive minded assistant he could turn things around.

Great game today. The key was not turning the ball over in the second half. Hopefully this will lead to other good things now that the monkey is off their back. They beat a good team today.

By Born2Buzz

January 31, 2009 5:09 PM | Link to this

I was at the game cheering and guess what, a real bball team showed up. It wasn’t a miracle, it was fundamentally sound basketball. Amazing what taking care of the ball (sort of, at least better than they have been doing) and making free throws will do.

If I am going to blame Hewitt for the losses I will give him credit for the win. He realized pretty quickly in the first half that the press was not going to work and we didn’t see it again. He’s stopped having the guys switch off on the high screens. We were able to get the ball into the big guys much more frequently. He put Nick Foreman in to deny Teague the ball and we got the turnover at the end.

It’s amazing how much better a coach looks when the players don’t make stupid plays and do make a few shots.

By Red GA Dawg

January 31, 2009 5:15 PM | Link to this

Congrats to Hewitt on huge win! Not job saver, rather his outrageous contract. Read this and it sounds as if Tech can not afford to change if wheels fall off and Hewitt would be fool to pay $3.5 million to go somewhere else for same money. Don’t think with his track record he could get same again. Not smart on AD’s part and I think Big R is really good, IE he got Johnson - who might be wot=rth that kind of package if he can win 9 -10 games a year for 5 years straight, one year to Final Four smacks of luck not skill.

By OMAN57

January 31, 2009 5:33 PM | Link to this

AMEN..Tony…. the ACC is a tough league this yr. MO Miller is having a terrible shooting yr. which is effecting his play…..Iman is great player and is going to be a great point for tech in the future….The coach and coaching staff are probably the hardest working staff you’ve had at tech..all CPH assistance have been coaching college ball over ten yrs each…..they know basketball….and how to teach the college game..all the crying about funamentals should be directed at AAU coaches and grade school and high school coaches because that’s where the kids should have picked up fundamentals.foul shooting is every players responisblity to get better at..shooting after pratice till it’s automatic.If you as a student come to college unprepared to do the school work it’s likely that you will fail..College coaches teach college students who should already be parpared to play at a college level….not to teach grade school fundamentals….Tech fans give Coach Hewitt and his staff a break..

By techbuzz

February 1, 2009 5:33 AM | Link to this

That WF win was a fluke. Tech will be lucky to make the NIT with this bunch. Hewitt’s in over his head, but why leave, with all those millions every year for a losing season.

By 7

February 1, 2009 11:26 AM | Link to this

Dig up Dave Braine and make sure he’s dead. Paul laughs all the way to the bank. Sounds like the Stimulus Package= we will be paying Paul forever for nothing.

By JP

February 1, 2009 1:35 PM | Link to this

Having followed GA Tech basketball for several years, I’ve come to a few conclusions regarding Coach Hewitt. First, he is a very good recruiter. Second, over time, he has the ability to make the players believe in him. Third he is an extremely poor tactical coach. Fourth, and perhaps most critical, he is a poor strategic coach when it comes to recruiting. While he was at Sienna, he was able to bring in players they were not getting before him. After working with them a couple of seasons, they believed in him and played very hard for him. This is why he was successful there. We have also seen at GT, that he can get the top talent to come play for him. At Georgia Tech, however, he gets players who may only stay in school 1-2 seasons, so he does not have the 3-4 years to get players to believe in him and give 110%. Under these circumstances, you need to have an excellent system in place to “take up the slack” when you have less talent or have players not reaching their potential. At this task of creating a system, CPH has been an abject failure. Unfortunately in the ACC, where everyone can recruit and everyone can motivate, this lack of tactical thinking will lead to the consistenly poor results we have seen. Finally, while CPH is excellent at recruiting, he never seems to have a backup plan if something goes wrong. If we lose our starting point guard to injury, our backup does not seem to be ACC caliber. When we lost players to the NBA after one season, CPH was taken completely by surprise and did not have a backup plan. To compete in the ACC, you always need to have stellar backups who can step in without giving away too much in talent, and have a system that can mask what you do give away. From my experience, tactical thinking is largely innate, and I do not believe that CPH will ever become a master tactician. Given this limitation, I believe that he has achieved about as much as he ever will at Ga Tech. Unfortunately, the abomination of a contract that Ga Tech agreed to has largely handcuffed the school. It seems to me, that the only recourse the school would have, for the forseeable future, would be to hire a young, hungry “associate head coach” to serve as the gameday coach while keeping CPH in a recruiting and administrative role. Let’s hope and pray I am wrong and CPH improves, but at this point in his career, I do not believe he has the time or the fortitude to mend his shortcomings. Is this an expensive option — yes. Is this a poor choice — yes. Is this the only choice we have — probably.

By Buzzfan1936

February 1, 2009 1:50 PM | Link to this

WOW! The ACC refs actually called more fouls on WF than on Tech. This is an historic moment unlikely to ever be repeated, esp. against tobacco road teams.

Tech should get out of the ACC and get in a conference with fair officiating.

By SECophile

February 2, 2009 12:54 PM | Link to this

Winning or losing aside, GT alumni have every right to ask and receive answers from then-President Clough and The Athletic Board who approved this egregious contract.

By Kurt

February 3, 2009 8:00 PM | Link to this

Okay, Hewitt is definitely here the rest of the season. So show up and be supportive and make noise. See if we can turn this season around. If you dismiss every positive as a fluke and you’re rooting for us to lose so Hewitt get’s fired, you’re a disgrace as a fan.

If you’re not helping us, you’re hurting us.

By b6542

February 16, 2009 10:20 PM | Link to this

Shame GT is not getting bailout $$$ from the Feds. That would solve the contract salary issue for the “CEO” of the basketball program ;>}

By Cville Tech Fan

March 5, 2009 9:24 AM | Link to this

I’ve always been a big Paul Hewitt fan, but the last few seasons have not been good. No matter how good a recruiting class is or how much talent, they just never seem to mature like other team in the ACC. The main struggles they have are fundamentals. The free throw shooting, the turnovers and the lack of hustle all fall on the head coach.

By Sam

March 17, 2009 10:21 PM | Link to this

I’m a GT alumnus. The contract is ridiculous, but must be honored. My concern is they only won one close game, Wake,and lost several close and OT games. Ten to twelve points during the season could have won four or five more games and made a winning season.
It appears to me the players are playing as if they have six year, no cut, $9 million contracts, - because that’s the way they are being coached. There’s no sense of urgency.