Mario West, a Georgia Tech fan favorite who was part of the Yellow Jackets’ 2004 Final Four team, has joined coach Josh Pastner’s staff as the director of player personnel.
West has played internationally since 2011 after playing 162 games in NBA 2007-2011, mostly with the Hawks. West, 31, has a distinctive place in Tech basketball history. A graduate of Douglas County High, West came to Tech as a walk-on, earned a scholarship and ultimately played 103 games for coach Paul Hewitt, winning playing time with his defensive pressure. He served as team captain as a senior, the 2006-07 season. He made dean’s list and graduated with a degree in management.
He continued his underdog journey with the Hawks, making the team as an undrafted rookie and playing in four NBA seasons.
Undoubtedly, having a staff member who played at Tech and earned his degree and then made it to the NBA by maximizing his potential will be an asset to Pastner and Yellow Jackets players. West will be a liaison between the team and academics, housing, dining and marketing. He will also lead the team’s outreach with former players.
