Contract gives job security to Hewitt

Georgia Tech isn’t going to fire Paul Hewitt. Even if these Jackets, who are 0-6 in ACC play, don’t win another game, Hewitt will coach them next season. There are two reasons why.

First, athletics director Dan Radakovich likes and believes in Hewitt. “I have no doubt he will return the program to a level of competitiveness and prominence that we have enjoyed previously under his watch,” Radakovich wrote this week in an e-mail.

How much of that faith is traceable to Tech’s heralded recruiting class? Wrote Radakovich: “I expect all of our programs to show a great sense of urgency, especially when things are not going so well. That means you keep working hard to improve not only this year but in the years ahead. You can’t look at this recruiting class and not realize that we have better days ahead.”

If that weren’t enough, there’s this: Hewitt’s contract renders him almost fireproof.

His deal was reworked in April 2004 after he led Tech to the NCAA title game. Dave Braine, the athletics director who hired Hewitt in 2000 and had seen his vision realized, rewarded his coach with a six-year contract that rolls over automatically and that provides a buyout in full for each remaining season if he’s fired “without cause” (meaning, just for losing).

Hewitt is making $1.3 million this year. His total compensation will increase to $1.375 million next season and to $1.45 million in 2010-11. Were Tech to dismiss him today, it would be obliged to pay him in full for the next five years —- a total of $7.175 million.

By way of contrast, Tech was compelled to pay Chan Gailey $4 million when it fired him as football coach, and Georgia is on the hook for $1.5 million after canning Dennis Felton.

Georgia’s athletics department is flush with cash. Tech’s is not. Tech is paying Gailey through 2011 not to coach, and it just handed Paul Johnson a 50 percent raise —- to $2.45 million per season. Bottom line: Nobody is rooting harder for Hewitt than Radakovich.

“Coaches’ contracts are always a factor in cases where you might contemplate making a change,” the AD wrote. “In Paul Hewitt’s case, as in all others, it is only one of many factors in our evaluation process. There are people factors, there are program factors and there are business factors.

“First, do you have a dedicated, hard-working coach who represents the program well? I feel we do.

“Second, if the program is in a down cycle, has the coach positioned it for clear-cut improvement in relatively short order? I think our incoming class shows that clear-cut improvement. Thirdly, if you were to make a change, could you reasonably assure yourself of being better off from a program sense and a business sense than you are now? In my judgment, given the economic times in which we live, I believe it is wise to stay the course.”

Asked if he still feels he’s the man to lead Tech forward, Hewitt said: “Oh, yeah. Absolutely.” Asked if he has felt pressure from his employers, he said, “Not at all.”

Hewitt was aware his renegotiated deal could well become a lifetime contract. “That’s what I wanted. I love coaching at Georgia Tech,” he said, and he would be obliged to pay a $3.5 million buyout were he to leave for another college job.

“The results speak for themselves … When I signed on at Georgia Tech, I signed on for a philosophy: These kids are going to get an education; there are no short cuts; we’re going to do this thing the right way. And I think that’s what we’ve tried to do.”

Five years ago, Hewitt seemed one of the finest coaches in the industry, but he’s 55-56 over the past 3 1/2 seasons. It was clear Felton had sailed past the point of diminishing returns at Georgia but, with Derrick Favors and the other recruits on the way, I’m not yet convinced Hewitt has done the same at Tech.

With $7.175 million on the table, I wouldn’t fire him, either. I’d cross my fingers and keep hoping for the best. Or, failing that, at least for better.

mbradley@ajc.com

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