New Georgia Tech basketball coach Brian Gregory won’t wait to get started. Introduced to Atlanta on Monday, he planned to hold individual workouts with his new players on Tuesday.
The former Dayton coach also intended to call Tech’s recruits -- “I can’t go the Philippines, right?” he said, a reference to where Bobby Parks was playing -- phone the parents of Iman Shumpert, who tweeted during Gregory’s news conference that he was putting his name in for the NBA draft; watch film and think about who to hire as his assistant coaches.
If he had the time, he might try to tear down Alexander Memorial Coliseum so construction on McCamish Pavilion can begin.
While the latter was an obvious exaggeration, Gregory was full of energy and expressed his desire to do whatever necessary to sell Georgia Tech to recruits, indifferent fans and former players who want to reconnect with the program.
“I believe we have tremendous product to sell, one of the best,” Gregory said. “We need to get that message out there.”
That energy wasn’t lost on athletic director Dan Radakovich during the search process. When he announced Paul Hewitt’s firing more than two weeks ago, Radakovich said he wanted someone to energize the fan base.
A dozen people were considered for the job, and a half-dozen were interviewed. In the end, Gregory stood out from a group that included Tulsa’s Doug Wojcik, Missouri State’s Cuonzo Martin and former players Mark Price and Craig Neal.
Radakovich met with Gregory on Thursday and they spoke again by phone on Sunday night. During that latter conversation, Gregory said he wanted to meet school President Dr. Bud Peterson. A group from Tech flew to Dayton on Monday morning to bring Gregory to Atlanta. He met with Peterson in the afternoon.
Gregory signed a six-year deal worth $6 million, plus incentives tied to graduation rates and tournament appearances, among others. The salary is less than Hewitt’s $1.3 million annual salary. Radakovich said reports Tech had a limited budget were inaccurate. The athletic director said he knew what was necessary to spend for a quality coach.
“I don’t know that hiring a quality individual to be a leader of this program is necessarily related to the amount of money you pay them,” Radakovich said.
Gregory brings a quality resume. The coach of the Flyers since 2003, he compiled a 172-94 overall record and 70-58 in the Atlantic 10 conference. He led the Flyers to the NCAA tournament twice, once during his inaugural season in 2003-04 and again in 2008-09. Dayton won the NIT championship in 2010. The Flyers have won at least 20 games each of the last four seasons, going 97-45.
He said Tech will play a fast-paced game, pushing the ball on every possession. On defense, the Jackets will be asked to pressure teams into low-percentage shots.
“We defend, rebound, run and share the ball,” he said.
Guard Jason Morris said Tech tried to do those things last season when it skidded to a 13-18 record. He’s ready for a fresh attitude, approach and a lot of energy.
“That will definitely help the characters on the team,” he said.
Before taking over in Dayton, Gregory served as an assistant coach to Tom Izzo at Michigan State, where he learned the importance of working hard and using past players to help sell the program. Izzo said no one will outwork Gregory, who will come up with clever ideas to bridge the divide between the past and future. It was a point of emphasis during Gregory’s press conference.
“We will reconnect and re-engage our former players,” the new coach said. “We wouldn’t be here without those former players.We are going to get those guys back. Our players will know the rich tradition that this program has, the type of men that Georgia Tech produces.”
Gregory will work hard to re-connect with Tech fans who grew dissatisfied with the direction of the program under Hewitt. Paid attendance dipped last year to a little more than 6,000. Far fewer people actually attended games.
“This is our city, our fans, our university,” the coach said. “It’s important I get out there and make sure our fans know the way we are going to play, how hard we are going to play. This is a hard-working town, with hard-working people who deserve to pay their hard-earned money to see a hard-working team.”
The hard work begins on Tuesday. Without knowing players’ class schedules, Gregory said he would head to the Zelnak Center and work with whomever is there. He couldn’t say if any of his Dayton staff will join him. One of his assistants is a replacement candidate. If Gregory has an opening, he will consider hiring someone with Tech ties or familiar with the area.
“I want guys who can teach, guys who understand the prestige of the institution, guys who understand the work that needs to be done and are willing to put that work in,” he said.
Gregory has a goal is to make the NCAA tournament next season, just as he did in his first year at Dayton. He knows the challenges. He understands there is a lot of selling to do.
He said Tech had what he was looking for.
“[It’s a] perfect fit for me and my family right now,” Gregory said.
About the Author
