Hewitt stays at Tech

By Doug Roberson

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Paul Hewitt walked in the door Tuesday night after meeting with the athletics director from St. John's and got "the look" from his oldest daughter.

The look that said, "don't you even think of moving us to New York."

A raised eyebrow and his desire to keep Georgia Tech on the winning path are reasons why Hewitt won't be going home to New York after he withdrew his name from the Red Storm's search Thursday.

"We've got a pretty good thing," said Hewitt, who is 177-144 at Tech, including 67-93 in the ACC in 10 seasons. He has led Tech to the NCAA tournament five times, including the championship game in 2004.

But Hewitt said in a news conference late Thursday night that he knows the consistency has been missing the past few years. As much as anyone, he wants consecutive winning seasons. To that end, as rumors swirled in New York declaring that Hewitt was trying to convince his wife to move and that the hire would be announced as early as today, he was on the road recruiting. He wasn't meeting with Red Storm boosters, and he wasn't meeting with the university president.

There was one meeting with St. John's athletics director Chris Monasch near Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport on Tuesday evening, and that's the only conversation they had. A couple of coaches at other programs reached out to give advice, but in the end Hewitt said he wanted to make his family happy and build on the success that the team had this season, going 23-13, playing for the ACC championship and reaching the second round of the NCAA tournament.

"We've got a really good team," Hewitt said, "a very good young group of players."

Now Hewitt must wait to see if two of the keys to that team, Gani Lawal and Derrick Favors, will return for another season. Both are projected first-round picks in the NBA draft if they leave. Hewitt said he hasn't spoken to them yet. He was on the road so much Thursday that he hadn't even had a chance to talk to his three daughters. He said his wife told him, though, that they were all very happy.

“I think what has transpired over the last few days speaks volumes about Paul Hewitt and about Georgia Tech,” athletics director Dan Radakovich said in a statement. “Paul’s credentials as a human being, a family man, a leader and a builder of character are impeccable. All of us at Georgia Tech are committed to assist him in providing an outstanding men’s basketball program.”

This marked the second time that St. John's has tried to lure Hewitt from Atlanta, with the initial contact occurring after the Final Four season. Former athletics director Dave Braine responded by negotiating a new contract for Hewitt with two unique clauses: a $7.1 million payout should Hewitt be fired and a $3.4 million buyout should he resign.

Hewitt was being recruited again by St. John's in part because he is from the New York City area and is known as an outstanding recruiter. The Red Storm hoped that he could tap into the high school talent in the five boroughs that St. John's in recent years hasn't been able to sign.

However, Hewitt had repeatedly said that he and his family are happy in Atlanta and that he is not looking to leave. His parents and younger brother recently moved to the area. In addition, Tech opened a new practice facility last year and is reviewing plans for a renovation of Alexander Memorial Coliseum that will cost at least $45 million.

Hewitt stressed how important the practice facility is to regaining the continuity that he has said has been lost the previous three seasons. He said it's also a sign of the faith that Radakovich has in the team's future.

"Words are good," Hewitt said, "but actions ..."

And actions are what he said he knows fans want to see. Seasons like the 2-14 campaign in 2008-09 won't cut it. He recognizes there are those want him gone, but said his Blackberry was popping with e-mails for the past three days from others asking him to stay.

"Nothing a few wins won't cure," he said.