After firing head coach Brian Gregory on March 25, the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets have been doing an extensive coaching search. But one name has stood out from the rest that have been rumored – Josh Pastner of Memphis.
According to ESPN’s Jeff Goodman, the Yellow Jackets could seal a deal with Pastner as soon as Friday.
Pastner took over at Memphis after John Calipari bolted for Lexington. He’s taken the Tigers to the NCAA Tournament four times in his seven years as their head coach, and is 167-73 all-time at Memphis. The past couple of seasons, the team has missed the NCAA Tournament, prompting questions as far as his job security goes at Memphis.
If Gary Parrish’s tweet is any indication, it would certainly seem like Pastner might in fact be heading to Atlanta:
FYI: One of Josh Pastner’s former players thinks it’s happening. And this is the first time in 7 years I’ve been unable to reach Pastner.
— Gary Parrish (@GaryParrishCBS) April 8, 2016
Parrish also noted that the reason it is a slow process is that Memphis and Pastner have to negotiate a buyout, which was apparently happening in that moment.
Memphis announced that it would stick with Pastner last month. According to Goodman, Memphis president David Rudd and athletic director Tom Bowen said in a statement that the school would “make the necessary investments and changes” so it could “compete at the highest level.”
They also added that their basketball program “operates in a manner consistent with the core values of our university and community but has fallen short in our on-court performance the last two years.”
Legendary former Arizona Wildcats head coach Lute Olson said a couple of weeks ago that Pastner had “burned his fences” around Memphis:
Lute Olson on Josh Pastner a couple weeks ago: “I think he’s burned his fences around Memphis” pic.twitter.com/lFAKE0RhTi
— Ari Alexander (@AriA1exander) April 8, 2016
If all of the above holds true, I think we can expect to see Pastner at a press conference in Atlanta sooner rather than later in old gold and white.
[ESPN]
