Developing: Paul Hewitt confirms he's Fired

Paul Hewitt/courtesy: rushthecourt.net

((schlabach/espn))

Update--Our friends at AJC.com spoke to Hewitt this morning and confirmed the story.

You can read that HERE

It appears the marriage of Paul Hewitt and Georgia Tech Basketball is over. Stories are popping up that Hewitt has been fired by athletic director Dan Radakovich, a move that will surprise few in the Atlanta area.

Hewitt, who was only a few years ago an up-and-coming college coach, led Tech to the Final Four in 2003 and NCAA bids 4 different times. His Yellow Jackets were 13-18 this season which included an embarrassing loss to neighbor and Atlantic Sun conference team Kennesaw State. Hewitt won 190 games at Tech, but will unfortunately be remembered more for the NBA talent than passed through Alexander Memorial Coliseum than for the successes.

More from Mark Schlabach of ESPN.com RIGHT HERE

The big question in all of this is how is Tech going to pay Hewitt the possible $7 million he could be due with his 5-year, rollover contract.

We wish Hewitt the best having spent the better part of 9-years covering him, he's good people. It just seemed over the past few seasons that either his players had tuned him out or he wasn't totally committed to what he was doing. Perhaps we'll never know.

Hewitt To Stay At Georgia Tech

St. John's must look elsewhere for a new head basketball coach. Paul Hewitt turned down the Johnnies and will remain at Georgia Tech.

“My family and I have developed deep ties to Georgia Tech and the city of Atlanta,” Hewitt said in a statement released by Georgia Tech. “I strongly believe in what Georgia Tech can do for young people, and I am committed to returning the Tech basketball program to the level of success our fans have come to expect. We took a step in that direction this past season, and I fully intend to continue on that path.”

“I think what has transpired over the last few days speaks volumes about Paul Hewitt and about Georgia Tech,” Tech director of athletics Dan Radakovich said in a statement released by Georgia Tech. “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.”

If Cornell upsets Kentucky tonight, you might expect St. John's Athletic Director
Chris Monasch to go after Big Red head coach Steve Donahue with a big offer, Donahue's stock would be off the charts if that happens.

Then their is Seth Greenberg, whose Hokies bowed out of the NIT Wednesday night. A source at Virginia Tech told me it wouldn't make much sense because of what Greenberg has built at Virginia Tech. The school opened a state of the art basketball facility last fall and has upgraded the programs talent in the ACC. St. John's would have to make a offer Greenberg couldn't refuse to pry him away from Blacksburg.

Let the coaching carousel keep spinning.

St. John's And Hewitt Talk

((HT: NYPost/Robbins))

Johnnies AD Chris Monasch and Hewitt talked in Atlanta Tuesday evening as Monasch was returning from a women's tournament game in Tallahassee, Florida.

If a deal is reached with Hewitt it could be announced before the return of St. John's president, Father Donald J. Harrington, from a meeting in Rome.

Yes... Rome, Italy...

Hewitt, who recently moved his parents and brother to Atlanta and has three daughters in school, would have to weigh the idea of uprooting his family versus the idea of a higher-salaried gig back home.

Numbers are floating around from $1.6-to-3 million per season if Hewitt were to sign a five or six year contract.

Here's more of a reminder of what Hewiit did the last time he went deep in the March tournament...
((HT: CBS Sports/NCAA))


Yes, it was six years ago...

Hewitt Being Chased By Red Storm... Who Knew...?

Actually, the HQ did... last week...

Lenn Robbins over at the New York Post stuns no one with this revelation...

Those ever-popular "sources" told Robbins that St. John's AD Chris Monasch has sent word to Georgia Tech AD Dan Radakovich that he'll be seeking official permission to talk to coach Paul Hewitt as soon as possible.

That, and the job is Hewitt's if he wants it...

"The word is it's his job and Georgia Tech won't stand in the way," said a highly placed source in college basketball circles to Robbins. "Both sides are ready for a change."

Remember, after Tech's 2004 run to the Final Four, Hewitt was a candidate then as well. Nowadays, the HQ thinks it's a run of the message and the messenger...

Hewitt makes about $1.3-million with Tech now, and his contract just rolled over for another year. He would double that figure at St. John's. If Tech were to fire Hewitt, he'd be owed a little under $7-million. If Hewitt left, it would be half that.

Here's what St. John's thinks they'd be getting in Hewitt...
It's the end of the first National Semi-Final from 2004
((HT: CBS Sports/NCAA))


PM UPDATE: Georgia Tech has granted permission for St. John's to interview Hewitt.

Georgia Tech associate athletic director Wayne Hogan says St. John's was given the OK on Tuesday to speak with Hewitt. Hogan says he does not know when the interview will take place.

The HQ guesses "pretty soon" would be the right answer...

St. Johns to make Norm Roberts go...Who will be next?

Success can be fleeting and in some cases it may not ever be. In the case of St. Johns University, they had success many years ago and have been trying to recapture it for many, many years. They haven't been very successful.

According to reports eminating from the New York area. The Johnnies are going to part ways with their current head coach, Norm Roberts. Roberts who has a career record of 81-100 hasn't exactly stirred the echoes in the Big East...or for that matter anywhere else. The Red Storm finished this season with a 17-15 record after losing to Marquette in the Big East Tournament. Though well liked and well respected by the schools administration and in coaching circles, it looks like that won't be enough for Roberts to stick around.

More on what is going down from the New York Post RIGHT HERE

((Norm Roberts is coaching//Courtesy: Jason Szenes/NY Post))

Undoubtedly there will be speculation on who will be the next coach to step into the chair. We at the OSG and our sources say that one name that will be high on the list will be Georgia Tech Coach Paul Hewitt. Hewitt who had a lot of early success at Tech has struggled over the past few seasons. He has many ties to the Big East and the New York area from his time at Siena and would be an excellent fit. Should Tech lose in the ACC Tournament to North Carolina and fail to make the NCAA Tourney with a very loaded team, Hewitt may find himself in some trouble and will undoubtedly explore his options. It will be something we'll keep an eye on.

In the meantime, enjoy a clip from vintage St. John's basketball...the national semi's from 1985 when Chris Mullen led them against Patrick Ewing and Georgetown. Thanks You Tube: