Written by Pete Thamel at SI.com
The political intrigue, infighting and general flailing that defined Georgetown’s coaching search came to a predictable conclusion on Monday afternoon. A program that for decades has operated in isolation, secrecy and paranoia chose to stay within its own family by hiring Patrick Ewing as its next head coach.
Ewing, a 15-year NBA assistant coach, could acclimate well to the college game, crush the recruiting trail and turn the Hoyas back into the menacing program that consistently contended for national titles. But there’s also as good of a chance that the hire could be a total disaster, as Ewing’s lack of head coaching experience, absence of recruiting expertise and unfamiliarity with the college game could keep Georgetown lodged near the bottom of the Big East.
Will this be a home run or a total debacle? It’s a fair question. But few can argue just how captivating this grand basketball experiment will be. The confluence of a Hall of Fame name, a decaying brand and just enough unknown elements makes this one of the most intriguing hires in the history of the sport.
Ewing is the greatest player in Georgetown history and a respected NBA assistant coach who has the presence and gravitas to potentially revive the fading Georgetown brand. But that’s going to take so much more than teaching drop steps and hook shots, as Ewing’s success will ultimately be dictated by how quickly he navigates the learning curve of modern college basketball.
Here’s the trickiest part—this has very little to do with basketball. “When the excitement wears off and the reality hits, he’ll realize just how different it is,” said a veteran Division I coach. “You’ve got to be connected to your college players like minute-to-minute on a basis daily. It’s a different world. Coaching in college is like a different sport.”
To continue reading this article, click here.
