St. John’s, hoping to make an announcement as soon as tomorrow that it has found its next coach, is anxiously awaiting word from Georgia Tech coach Paul Hewitt.
The former Long Island resident has spent the past 48 hours conferring with his wife and three daughters as he decides whether to leave their comfortable life in Atlanta to return to the Big Apple.
“It will be done Friday,” said a source in New York who knows Hewitt. “He just needs to get his wife completely on board.”
These are the difficult scenarios that confront college coaches. Notre Dame’s new football coach Brian Kelly moved to South Bend, Ind., without his family so his children wouldn’t be uprooted in the middle of the school year.
Hewitt also would like to wait on a decision until Monday so he’ll have a chance to tell his players in person. Georgia Tech is on spring break.
But sources close to St. John’s said it was likely athletic director Chris Monasch, who has run a swift and decisive search, left Atlanta on Tuesday having given Hewitt with attractive contract parameters.
Because Hewitt earns $1.35 million annually at Georgia Tech and has a $3.5 million buyout, St. John’s is prepared to offer about $1.8 million per year for six years. Sources in Atlanta said Georgia Tech would be willing to negotiate Hewitt’s buyout. St. John’s would help Hewitt with the buyout, a source at St. John’s said.
“The numbers aren’t the issue,” said the source. “Paul is a classy guy and this is a family decision. We want him to feel good about making this move.”
The timing is right for all involved. Hewitt will lose four of his top six scorers, led by freshman Derrick Favors and junior Gani Lawai, who almost surely are NBA bound.
Also, Hewitt’s relationship has become strained with members of the Atlanta media, who believe five NCAA tournament appearances in 10 years do not suffice; athletic director Dan Radakovich, who didn’t sign Hewitt to his current deal; and prominent donors, who wanted to see Georgia Tech be more successful in ACC play.