AJC > Sports > Columnists > Archives > 2006 > January > 12 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USHewitt’s future clouded by Braine’s exit
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Jeff Schultz
Regardless of what you think of Chan Gailey in general or his contract in particular, regardless of how you perceive the seemingly re-circulating disenchantment within the Georgia Tech fan base, there are at least two favorable things that can be said of athletics director Dave Braine: He hired Paul Hewitt and he has kept Paul Hewitt.
Now that Braine has announced what Hewitt has known for “a month, maybe two” — that the Tech athletics director is retiring because of health issues — it’s logical to wonder if the basketball coach will soon follow him out the door.
Understand something: The relationship between a coach and athletics director in today’s college atmosphere might be even more vital than a coach and his superiors in the professional ranks. Academic issues are forever evolving. A university’s priorities are forever changing. Presidents are taking an increasingly active role in athletics. The athletics director can’t just be a cushion and a fundraiser, particularly at a place like Tech. He needs to be fluent in politics — in two languages, academics and athletics.
And understand this: Paul Hewitt has two escape clauses in his current contract, which runs for another 5 1/2 seasons. One is fairly typical — he can leave for an NBA job without being subject to a buyout. One is fairly atypical — he can leave within two years of Braine’s exit. So start the clock.
Now, a coach can have an ironclad, no-escape contract signed in vampire blood and it wouldn’t make a difference. Contracts are broken every day, particularly by college coaches. They demand loyalty from recruits and boosters, then weasel out of rollover contracts and jump across the street for a raise. Go figure. Really, all escape clauses do is make it cheaper for a guy to leave.
But Hewitt’s clause is symbolic of something more than saving a few bucks. “I don’t care how good a coach you are,” he said. “If you don’t have the right administration behind you who understands what you’re dealing with — I mean, Dave gave me a contract extension [in 2003] and people were saying, ‘What, are you nuts?’ Then the next year we went to the Final Four.”
Let’s boil this down to its simplest form: Hewitt will tell you that he loves Tech, loves Atlanta, loves, loves, loves. But the man has options. He has proven himself at the college level. He could do the same on another campus or, more likely, try the NBA. Coaching the New York Knicks, Hewitt said, is, “My childhood dream.”
(Disclaimer: Hewitt was quick to add the timing is not right and he’s not campaigning for the job. Just as well. Larry Brown won’t be going anywhere for at least seven minutes.)
Just guessing here. The question is not whether Hewitt leaves Tech, but when. The timing depends largely on his next boss. A coach doesn’t just put a potential get-me-out-of-Dodge clause in his contract unless it’s a significant concern.
He said of the coach-athletics director relationship: “It’s getting more and more important every day because of the rules and regulations that are being handed down. And, quite frankly, while they’re well-intended, many of the rules are coming from people who don’t really have an understanding of what goes on from day to day in an athletic department. Faculty thinks one way, coaches tend to think another way.” The guy in the middle gets a headache.
At Georgia Tech, there are always issues, usually revolving around academics. Most recently, Yellow Jackets senior Theodis Tarver was declared ineligible by the school, even though he remained above the NCAA bar. Tarver’s mother died recently. But Tech faculty isn’t big on extenuating circumstances.
If you’re Hewitt, how much do you put up with?
He has worked on six campuses: C.W. Post, Southern California, Fordham, Villanova, Siena, Tech.
With that perspective, he says this: “I’m telling you, it takes two years to figure this place out. I don’t think you can afford to bring somebody in who needs two years to figure it out.”
Hewitt says he has confidence that the Tech president, Wayne Clough, will hire the right person. But Hewitt’s loyalty to Braine is understandable. And that clause was put there for a reason.
Permalink | Comments (60) | Categories: Jeff Schultz, Tech / ACC
Comments
Commenting is now closed for this entry.
By me
January 12, 2006 08:09 PM | Link to this
dude you are an idiot
By bill
January 12, 2006 08:10 PM | Link to this
dude you are an idiot
By Eandy
January 12, 2006 08:35 PM | Link to this
Typical comments from a paper clown who knows as much about athletics as a tree!
The question should not be when is Hewitt going to leave Tech it should be when are you going to leave the AJC or maybe write an article that has some basis. Your love for Tech always comes through in your biased articles and this paper.
If you did any kind of research you would know that Hewitt has one of the best recruiting classes in the nation coming in next year. I am sure he is anxious to leave?
By wes
January 12, 2006 08:49 PM | Link to this
Everyone leaves any job they work at some point. Pointless article. I boo thee. Prrfrrrttt.
By Patrick
January 12, 2006 09:03 PM | Link to this
Bull crap, sorry Jeff Crackhead, wrong again!
By joy
January 12, 2006 09:19 PM | Link to this
This is a stupid article..what really did we learn from this? Ahh..Hewitt may leave Tech one day…Gosh, I thought he would stay forever…I bet he jumps ship with the great recruiting class he has coming in..I also bet that Mark Richt stays at UGA FOREVER..until he is 80 and on a walker..you are brilliant!
By geechee
January 12, 2006 10:02 PM | Link to this
“Everyone leaves any job they work at some point. Pointless article. I boo thee. Prrfrrrttt.”
What world do you live in? The vast majority of successful people in this world have found one job they loved and have stayed with it.
By Larry
January 12, 2006 10:04 PM | Link to this
Im not sure the Knicks are in any hurry to fire Larry Brown and replace him with Paul Hewitt.
By Yari
January 12, 2006 10:28 PM | Link to this
If I had brought in Thad Young and Javaris Critteron to play for me next year with what I already have, you can be assured that I am not gone anywhere until that class is no longer productive. But I am not Paul Hewitt so who knows? Still dont think he’ll leave soon.
By Logicman
January 12, 2006 10:33 PM | Link to this
What would hold Coach Hewitt back from accepting an offer to coach our Atlanta Hawks? Two more years of dreadful underachieving by our young and talented group of top draft choices wouldn’t be a surprise to anyone. At that point, a young Hewitt would be a perfect, albeit very, very expensive, choice to development the young Hawks into an NBA contender. Unless the administation of The Institute he now toils for becomes more compassionate to his student-athletes and their needs, Hewitt as a Hawk might make sense come May of 2009.
By David
January 12, 2006 10:33 PM | Link to this
Intelligent thoughts by JS. I am so sick of the ignorant comments by people on this site.
By Rip Wan Winkle
January 12, 2006 10:48 PM | Link to this
Techies takin a poop….i love it…great article Jeff…stirring the pot as usual..props.
By Bobby
January 12, 2006 11:03 PM | Link to this
Sorry everybody, but Schultz is right. As Tech people, we should realize by now that people like Bobby Dodd don’t exist anymore. Remember when he told Texas to “stuff it” when they were trying to steal him from Tech? There is no loyalty in sports anymore… it’s all about money, status, and that so called dream. Hewitt is history so get used to it. Oh, and by the way… Tech sports is history as well!
By Roger
January 12, 2006 11:06 PM | Link to this
Why don”t you get off Chan Gailey! Who had a tougher non league schedule in the country ? Ga. Auburn Conn. plus Miami and VA Tech on the road!!!!!!!!!!!
By Bobby
January 12, 2006 11:09 PM | Link to this
Sorry fellows, but Tech people need to realize that people like Bobby Dodd don’t exist anymore. Remember when Texas tried to steal him away from Tech? Sports today is all about money, status and that so called “dream”. There is no loyalty anymore.. sad, but true. Hewitt is gone, the only question is when.
By Drexel Gal
January 12, 2006 11:54 PM | Link to this
Paul Hewitt should REALLY worry about the future of Tech athletics if Cam Bonifay gets the AD job. If his results with the Pittsburgh Pirates and Tampa Bay Devil Rays are any indication, Tech will return to the glory days of the Bill Lewis / Dwayne Morrison years.
By TJ
January 13, 2006 12:08 AM | Link to this
You may want to get a journalist to proof read your little rants. That entire first paragraph is one huge run on sentence.
That said, you are right about Hewitt.
By WFC
January 13, 2006 05:50 AM | Link to this
Well, people do leave jobs all the time but who in his right mind would leave a prime ACC job (Hewitt has proved he can compete) for 2-3 years with the Knicks? I just don’t see Hewitt as a “Larry Brown vagabond” type of guy. Now maybe if the Duke job was open….
By rural georgia jacket
January 13, 2006 06:17 AM | Link to this
I am dumber for reading this article. Thanks, Jeff.
By GT Forever
January 13, 2006 07:03 AM | Link to this
If Hewitt is only there because of Braine then let him leave. The sooner the better. It is time for the Tech athletic programs to get back to the basics, academic superiority and athletic competitiveness. To many excuses and safety nets. Giving Hewitt that type a contract just shows how bad an AD Braine was. He has the distinction of placing GT on probation for the frist time in history. That, as far as I am concerned, will be his legacy.
By Larry
January 13, 2006 07:27 AM | Link to this
Hey engineers, you only need to “click “post” once!
By russ
January 13, 2006 07:27 AM | Link to this
Man you are always on Tech’s case. Is that what gets you going everyday. Never anything positive bro. You wrote about sports b/c you werren’t good enough to play them and now you think you know it all. You are the definition of AJC. On UGA’s bandwagon while they are ridining high.You are weak and so are your columns
By E K Turner
January 13, 2006 07:47 AM | Link to this
If I was Paul Hewitt I would stay put.
By John Withers
January 13, 2006 08:02 AM | Link to this
Hire Bill Curry now! After all, he won almost 40% of his games at Tech and that is acceptable for Jackets. His record overall even approaches 50% if you count his Alabama teams which on must do to be fair.
By RamblinRed
January 13, 2006 08:18 AM | Link to this
Alot of fury signifying nothing - that is what this column amounts to. I talked to Hewitt personally yesterday - unless GT does something really boneheaded like hiring an AD that can’t get along with Hewitt, Hewitt isn’t leaving.
He has a very strong recruiting class coming in next year and returns every player on the roster and the Final Four is in Atlanta next year. He has no intentions on leaving soon unless his owrking relationship with the new AD is poor.
By Robbie Burns
January 13, 2006 08:55 AM | Link to this
I think Schultz provides a valid argument. If this wasn’t important, then Coach Hewitt wouldn’t have had it placed in his contract. I think the Tech faithful need to consider this for what it is - it’s not speculation; it’s in writing!
By Jeremy
January 13, 2006 08:59 AM | Link to this
Hewitt is a great coach and has considerable respect across the country, I certainly understand as a Tech alumnus that eventually he will depart for a brighter sky. Just don’t linger around like Vince Dooley. Once you’re gone, be gone, for good.
By IMGT81
January 13, 2006 09:23 AM | Link to this
Now please balance this fluffy filler piece of pure conjecture by writing about Richt leaving UGly Land for FSU when Bowden steps out or more likely Da U when Coker gets canned. Fair and balanced conjecture.
By Bernie
January 13, 2006 09:35 AM | Link to this
Someone mentioned there is no loyalty in sports anymore. Yeah, please tell that to Coach K and all the Dukies.
By GM
January 13, 2006 09:42 AM | Link to this
Hewitt has always said that he would remain at Tech while Braine was there. True. But he never said he would leave upon Braine’s departure. He has that option, and he gave himself 2 years to see how the relationship develops with the new AD. Relax, nobody but Hewitt, his family, and the new AD has any control over it anyway. But, I bet he remains at Tech at least 3-5 years or more, unless he wins a national championship by then, and there is an NBA opportunity.
By Michael
January 13, 2006 09:43 AM | Link to this
What surprizes me is that so many of your readers are so rude. And, if you’re rude it usually means you’re poorly informed. I am among those who want Hewitt to stay and Gailey to travel. But, I might be wrong about Gailey’s potential.
By GM
January 13, 2006 09:49 AM | Link to this
Gailey sorely needs an Offensive Coordinator.
By Joe
January 13, 2006 09:50 AM | Link to this
To the disgruntled from former columnist Lewis Grizzard, “what did you expect for 50 cents?”
By Senior Citizen
January 13, 2006 09:55 AM | Link to this
Eliminating the problem Tech has with athletes “flunking out” has a simple solution. The Athletic Department Could simply hire someone to develop a system for tracking the progress of their athletes at the “quiz” level. Tech graduates people who can do that too. I wish they’d wake up.
By Mr. GT
January 13, 2006 09:56 AM | Link to this
Paul Hewitt has established a foundation on which he can build a career that has a legitimate chance of attaining legend status.
He’s not just about money, Jeff. He’s not as shallow as you would make him out to be. He’s got far more character than you seem to give him credit for.
By Valerie Wood
January 13, 2006 10:22 AM | Link to this
Some of your readers are so rude. I dont think Hewitt will leave unless he offered more money unless he loved Tech and not leave and please quit picking on Coach Gailey. I am from his birth hometown and grew up with his cousins and had his few relatives for school teachers. It is not his fault we cant win, you keep forgetting that Tech is a highly academic school not a football school like UGA.
By GM
January 13, 2006 10:28 AM | Link to this
I believe Gailey is great man, an honest man, and even a really good football coach (can’t believe I said that). I’ve met him several times. However, when a football team plays as inconsistently as Tech does (beats Auburn and Miami, loses to NC State, UVA, and Utah), the head football coach is going to get some criticism, and he deserves it, nice man or not.
By Rick
January 13, 2006 10:38 AM | Link to this
Perhaps you should stay with articles about your beloved UGA. Hewitt may leave one day, but I’m sure he realizes that Dave Braine will not be there wherever he goes. So, why leave the ACC and all the national exposure that it brings?
By Paul
January 13, 2006 11:00 AM | Link to this
Dear Tech fans, get your heads out of the sand. Jeff is right. Wake up and smell the coffee.
By Valerie Wood
January 13, 2006 11:09 AM | Link to this
NO Jeff you awake and smell the coffee. I loved Tech and yes I have son in law and relatives from UGA and my husband got his master from UGA but he not a UGA fan. Again please dont be so rude. grow up.
By GM
January 13, 2006 11:18 AM | Link to this
To all Dog fans: Go back to your own “fantasy” bulldog blog sites about “SEC Elite Hoops” (1 team in Top 25) and how the dogs will finish 8-8 in the conference (0-2 to start).
By gthoss
January 13, 2006 11:29 AM | Link to this
Hey guys…below are reasons why Hewitt might stay at or leave Tech…personally, I believe there are many more positives associated with staying, but that is my opinion, albeit an informed one…
Reasons for staying: * Top ACC head coaching job (only a handful of college bb jobs are considered more prestigious) * Awesome recruits coming in (and setting Tech up to do this annually) * Legacy potential at Tech (much like Coach K at Duke) * Respected institution (sports and academics) * Atlanta (he loves the city…and why not?)
Reasons for leaving: * AD relationship questionable * NBA head coaching job potential * Tech academics (major issues for all programs at Tech)
By Paul
January 13, 2006 11:30 AM | Link to this
Dear Valerie, Jeff didn’t write that comment. I did. Please refer to the the “name” line located directly above the date for future reference.
Dear GM, we could care less about SEC hoops. You know as well as I do it’s all about football.
By GM
January 13, 2006 11:35 AM | Link to this
Paul, easy to say that now after the 0-2 start. Are you now following ACC hoops?
By Paul
January 13, 2006 11:46 AM | Link to this
Dear General Motors, I am following no hoops until the NCAA tourney. Every other sport is just a “filler” in between football seasons.
By GM
January 13, 2006 11:53 AM | Link to this
Paul, not affiliated with General Motors, the GM goes for General Manager, and also happens to be my initials.
Anyway, Tech fans would like to say “it’s all about football” but we can’t. If Gailey won’t go away or hire an Offensive Coordinator, then we’re going nowhere. And we have to tolerate one more season of “Reggie” ball. Uggh.
By John
January 13, 2006 12:05 PM | Link to this
What an idiot. What does Braine leaving have to do with Hewitt? Where would Hewitt follow him to? His home? A doctor’s office?
By Dave Braine
January 13, 2006 12:15 PM | Link to this
If I take a s** on Tech’s campus, will that void all the contracts I negotiated?
By jackets fan
January 13, 2006 12:37 PM | Link to this
I understand the reason for the clause. It isn’t so he can leave if Braine left. It was to maintain a seat at the table for important decisions. He knew he had a seat with Braine, but now that Braine has retired, the out clause guarantees that the next AD will risk losing Hewitt if they don’t listen to him. That’s all that’s for. Would he consider an NBA job? Of course. But Hewitt will not leave Tech for another college. When you have a program that has come within 1 win of a National Championship, there is no other program with an open head coach position (i.e. Duke, Arizona, UNC) that you could go to that gives you as good an opporutnity as he already has. And he’d have to do it with another guys players for at least two years. So don’t expect him to depart unless the new AD is a p****** or Larry Brown wants to leave NY.
By T Bone
January 13, 2006 01:02 PM | Link to this
Wow, I can’t believe I wasted minutes of my life reading this crap! You are truly a crackhead!
By Jeff Schultz
January 13, 2006 01:05 PM | Link to this
“Me” and “Bill”: You sound very much alike. “Patrick”: I haven’t touched crack in weeks. .. Everybody else: Read comments from “Jackets Fan”. My comments pretty much parallel his (or hers). Obviously, Paul has a great job now and likes it here. I’m not aware of any college job out there that would lure him away. This isn’t Tubby Smith thinking, “Can’t wait for the Kentucky job.” The only way Hewitt’s feeling changes is if his situation at Tech changes. Also, the Knicks job. People don’t ask for clauses unless they’re concerned about a potential situation. That was the point of the column. When Braine retired, the clause was triggered. I don’t know why some have so much difficulty comprehending that. Thanks everybody JS
By William J. Harding
January 13, 2006 02:19 PM | Link to this
Georgia Tech has an outstanding, well educated and well groomed Basketball Coach He knows the game and his players are well disciplined.
I support him.
William J. Harding
By techaholic
January 13, 2006 02:21 PM | Link to this
First of all I love Coach Hewitt but NO COACH is bigger or more important than the Institution.
Coach has done a nice job so far but he hasn’t exactly won like Coach K, Williams at NC or Maryland. He has a lot to prove yet and consistency is one of them. Can he do it, probably but the fact that he hasn’t doesn’t make him the best person out there who can.
I can see liking your boss but putting this out there BEFORE the new guy is hired means absolutely nothing.
By buzz
January 13, 2006 03:24 PM | Link to this
Why don’t you stick to NFL picks, Jeff?
By David
January 13, 2006 04:01 PM | Link to this
I usually consider your articles to be like vanilla, but in this case you did a nice job. You went out on a limb and it is appreciated. More articles like this and you might become a real journalist.
By Bob
January 13, 2006 04:12 PM | Link to this
Good article. Ga. Tech is not an easy place to coach because of the high academic standards and the competition in the ACC. Hewitt is a proven winner, and he will be in demand elsewhere (NBA or other Div 1 college). It would be best for Tech if he stays long term, but it is not likely that he will…
By Ty
January 13, 2006 07:39 PM | Link to this
Dear Jeff,
Sorry that you wasted so much time (assuming you spent more than 2 seconds thinking before writing this article). Maybe next time you want to put together some ‘garbage fill’ to meet a deadline, you’ll go after some of those real “Shultz-like conspiracy topics” like:
1) Hubie Brown & Larry Brown to buy their own NBA team (and are they really the same person?)
2) Atlanta Hawks to move to Brookwood High School gym to ensure sellouts.
3) AJC to sponsor writing classes for sports journalists
4) David Stern declares ALL college D-1 coaches must add clauses to allow them to break contracts for NBA jobs (p.s. You better check with Terrance to make sure that doesn’t only apply to African-American coaches)
5) Furman Bisher KOs Jeff Shultz for publishing National Enquirer style articles in his beloved AJC Sports Section.
Better yet…next time you got nothing to write, just tell us bloggers….we could easily give you something more worthy than the tripe you’ve dished out today!
By Ty
January 13, 2006 07:55 PM | Link to this
Just read where the ‘Institute’ reinstated Tarver to the team. Way to go Tech!@!@
Great timing to do this three days AFTER he was to get to play in front of 50 family and friends near his hometown (and couldn’t even make the trip).
This is the kind of #$#@ that has the alumni base washing their hands of the school (as will start being evidenced when football season ticket renewals begin this Spring).
If Coach Hewitt moves from Tech, it will be either: a) An AD who won’t support him and what he’s doing, or b) More #$#% like this that destroy loyalty in the program.
I guess it’s time to see if MIT or Caltech offer an ‘exchange’ program whereby I can swap out my degree. I’m getting quite ashamed of how the school at the top of my current diploma is behaving.
By Go Jackets
January 13, 2006 09:34 PM | Link to this
Sounds like Ty needs some anger management classes. Funny stuff in the first post, though.
By mtraininjax
January 13, 2006 10:33 PM | Link to this
Jeff,
i agree with the comments at the top, YOU ARE AN IDIOT! Jeff, did you call up Duke and ask them if it was easy at their school? Perhaps they have some difficult classes as well. Geez, Tech is tough, well so are most of the ACC schools. I guess we have to put up with this MEDIOCRE journalism from Athens. You and Gailey are perfect together, you are both from the SEC!