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ACC: Is Georgia Tech’s Brian Gregory On The Hot Seat?

By Andrew Snyder

Jan 11, 2014; Atlanta, GA, USA; Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets head coach Brian Gregory reacts to a call in the first half against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Hank McCamish Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Shirey-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 11, 2014; Atlanta, GA, USA; Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets head coach Brian Gregory reacts to a call in the first half against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Hank McCamish Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Shirey-USA TODAY Sports /
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When the college basketball seasons starts each team begins the year with different goals. Depending on the standing of their program those goals can vary from lofty to just showing progress. This year in the ACC, Duke and North Carolina hope to win the conference and compete for a national title.

Programs like Clemson and Virginia Tech just want progress from the year before and perhaps even an NCAA tournament appearance.

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Georgia Tech also finds themselves in that second category. The once-proud and successful program has fallen on hard times. They have not reached the NCAA tournament since a first-round exit in 2009-10.

As recently as 2004 the team found themselves in the national championship game. The Paul Hewitt-led squad featuring Jarrett Jack and Will Bynum eventually fell short against Connecticut, but few would guess that the program would be in shambles only a decade later.

Paul Hewitt was let go after the 2010-11 season due to a 13-18 record, his highest loss total during his tenure with the Yellow Jackets. Hewitt quickly moved on to George Mason and Georgia Tech set out to find his replacement.

They elected to hire Dayton coach Brian Gregory. During his time at Dayton, Gregory made two NCAA tournament appearances, and three trips to the NIT in eight seasons with the Flyers. He was a young, fresh voice and was expected to breathe new life into a stagnating program.

Unfortunately that has not been the case in his first three seasons. During his first season the Yellow Jackets finished 11-20 (4-12 in the ACC), which was good enough for 11th in the conference.  Star player Glen Rice Jr.’s foot injury and eventual dismissal from the team certainly did not help matters, and the disappointing season ended with a loss in the first round of the ACC tournament.

Growing pains are to be expected in the first season and this was supposed to be a complete rebuild, so at this point there was no reason to be concerned.

Year two in his tenure showed progress. In the newly renovated Hank McCamish Pavilion, Georgia Tech finished with a winning record at 16-15 (6-12 in the ACC) but were passed over by all postseason tournaments. It was certainly not a spectacular season, but Gregory’s team was competitive and there was reason for optimism.

Last season was more of the same. A 15-16 mark (and another 6-12 ACC record) led to no postseason and more disappointment. Unfortunately their best post player, Robert Carter Jr., hurt his meniscus during the season, which put him out a significant amount of time, leaving Daniel Miller as the only reliable big man.

To make matters worse Carter decided to transfer to Maryland after the season. Even with the transfer and graduation of Trae Golden and Daniel Miller the Yellow Jackets still return some talented players this season such as Marcus Georges-Hunt, Chris Bolden, and Corey Heyward.

Travis Jorgenson will also return from injury and the addition of freshman guard Tadric Jackson and freshman center Ben Lammers should help depth.

Even with the uncertainty around the roster the middle of the ACC is up for grabs and Georgia Tech could insert themselves into the NCAA tournament discussion with big play from returning veterans and a little bit of luck. Most signs point towards a repeat of the same lackluster season they have had the last four years, but only time will tell.

Though there is pressure on him, Gregory does not have to lead the team to the NCAA tournament to keep his job. Showing progress by having a winning record, completing a solid finish in the new look ACC, and making some sort of postseason should be enough to keep him employed.

By all accounts he is a good tactical and motivational coach, but at some point results matter. Georgia Tech is eager to return to the days when NCAA tournaments were expected and deep tournament runs came with regularity. If Gregory cannot move the program forward it may be time to turn the reigns over to someone else.