St. John’s athletic director Chris Monasch interviewed Georgia Tech coach Paul Hewitt tonight in Atlanta, and the two sides could be moving toward an agreement that will make Hewitt the next Red Storm basketball coach before the weekend, The Post has learned.
As reported exclusively in today’s Post, Hewitt had emerged as a leading candidate to replace Norm Roberts, who was fired last week.
Monasch, who was on his way back from the women’s NCAA Tournament game in Tallahassee, Fla., received permission from Georgia Tech yesterday to speak to Hewitt.
A highly placed source said that Hewitt, Florida’s Billy Donovan and Virginia Tech’s Seth Greenberg sat atop a “Golden List” that Monasch and Father Donald J. Harrington, the St. John’s president, had agreed upon before Harrington left for a meeting in Rome.
Another source told The Post that if it is decided that Hewitt is the right hire and a deal is reached, St. John’s could announce the hire before Harrington returns.
Hewitt was raised on Long Island and was an assistant coach at Fordham before working under Steve Lappas at Villanova and then getting his first head-coaching job at Siena. He is regarded as a master recruiter who has maintained his ties to the city.
A former Big East coach told The Post that Hewitt is the perfect man to step into the job.
“He’ll be great for the players that are there and he’ll be great going forward,” said the coach. “Paul is a player’s coach. The kids will take to him.”
There are two issues that need to be resolved, but neither is considered insurmountable. Hewitt, who recently moved his parents and brother to Atlanta and has three daughters enrolled in school there, enjoys his lifestyle in the Gateway to the South. He needs time to wrap his head around there reality of uprooting.
But because some members of the Atlanta media and in the Georgia Tech alumni and donor base have turned against him, Hewitt will likely opt to come home, where almost every faction of the St. John’s community is ready to welcome him with open arms.
Hewitt has taken Tech to five NCAA Tournaments in 10 seasons and one Final Four appearance.
The second issue is a financial one. Under the terms of his contract, which was rolled over last week, Hewitt would owe Tech about $3.5 million if he leaves. The university would owe him about $6.8 million if it fired him.
That deal, which pays Hewitt about $1.35 million annually, was negotiated under former Tech athletic director Dave Braine. Sources told The Post that current AD Dan Radakovich sent a letter to Tech donors and key alumni describing the contract as a “unique situation,” making the relationship between coach and AD a little strained.
Because of Radakovich’s unhappiness with the deal, it’s likely a negotiated exit could be reached. Then St. John’s and Hewitt would work a deal that sources said would be about $1.6 million $1.8 million for six seasons.
Hewitt could not be reached for comment.
lenn.robbins@nypost.com