Paul Hewitt facts for kids
Hewitt in 2012 at George Mason
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| San Diego Clippers | |
|---|---|
| Head coach | |
| Personal information | |
| Born | May 4, 1963 Kingston, Jamaica |
| Career information | |
| College | 322–256 (.557) |
| Coaching career | 1988–present |
| League | NBA G League |
| Career history | |
| As player: | |
| 1982–1985 | St. John Fisher |
| As coach: | |
| 1988–1989 | C.W. Post (assistant) |
| 1989–1990 | USC (GA) |
| 1990–1992 | Fordham (assistant) |
| 1992–1997 | Villanova (assistant) |
| 1997–2000 | Siena |
| 2000–2011 | Georgia Tech |
| 2011–2015 | George Mason |
| 2021–present | Agua Caliente / Ontario / San Diego Clippers |
| Career highlights and awards | |
As head coach:
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Paul Harrington Hewitt (born May 4, 1963) is an American college basketball coach. He was born in Kingston, Jamaica, and grew up in Westbury, New York. He is well-known for being the head coach at Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) and George Mason University. In 2021, he became the head coach of the San Diego Clippers. This team is part of the NBA G League, which is like a development league for the Los Angeles Clippers in the NBA.
Contents
Paul Hewitt's Basketball Coaching Journey
Starting Out at Siena College
After playing basketball at St. John Fisher College, Paul Hewitt began his coaching career. He became the head coach for the Siena College men's basketball team. He coached them for three years, from 1998 to 2000.
Before Hewitt arrived, Siena's team had not won many games. But he quickly turned things around! He led Siena to their first ever Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference championship game. They also made it to the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship tournament for the first time since 1989.
During his time at Siena, Hewitt's teams were known for scoring a lot of points. They were among the top-scoring teams in the country. In 2000, he guided the Saints to win their conference's regular season title. Siena finished that season with an impressive 24 wins and 9 losses.
Leading the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
On April 6, 2000, Paul Hewitt became the head coach for the Georgia Tech men's basketball team. In his very first season, he led the Yellow Jackets to the 2001 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament. This was a big achievement!
Because of his success, Hewitt was named the ACC Coach of the Year. He was only the second first-year coach in the league's history to win this award. He was also a finalist for the Naismith College Coach of the Year Award.
Reaching the National Championship Game
Three years later, in 2004, Hewitt led Georgia Tech to an amazing season. They made it all the way to the national championship game in the 2004 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament. They played against Connecticut but lost in a close game.
Even though experts thought Tech wouldn't do well, the team started with 12 wins in a row. They ended the season with 28 wins and 10 losses, which tied a school record. Hewitt signed a new six-year contract in 2005 because of the team's success. He also won the Fritz Pollard Coach of the Year award.
Hewitt continued to guide Georgia Tech to the NCAA Tournament in 2007 and 2010. In 2010, even with many new players, the team won 23 games. They made it to the finals of the ACC Tournament before losing to Duke.
Players Who Succeeded Under Hewitt
On March 12, 2011, Paul Hewitt left his role as head coach at Georgia Tech after eleven seasons. During his time there, Tech went to the NCAA Tournament five times. They played for a national championship and two ACC championships.
Hewitt helped many players become successful. Three players were named ACC Rookie of the Year: Chris Bosh (2003), Ed Nelson (2002), and Derrick Favors (2010). Several of his players went on to play professionally in the NBA. These include:
- Chris Bosh, who was a top draft pick in 2003 and later joined the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
- Derrick Favors, a high draft pick in 2010.
- Jarrett Jack, Thaddeus Young, and Javaris Crittenton, who were also first-round draft picks.
Coaching for Team USA
Paul Hewitt has also coached for USA Basketball, which manages the United States national teams. In 2006 and 2010, he was an assistant coach for the Under-18 team. Both of these teams won gold medals in the Championship of the Americas. In 2011, he was the head coach for the U.S. Under-19 team at the 2011 FIBA Under-19 World Championship.
Time at George Mason University
On April 30, 2011, Hewitt became the head coach for the men's basketball team at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia. In his first year, George Mason had a strong team with experienced players. Hewitt led them to a 24-9 record. One of his players, Ryan Pearson, was named the CAA Player of the Year.
In his second season, George Mason had a 22-16 record. They played in the College Basketball Invitational (CBI) tournament and finished as the runner-up. In his third season, George Mason moved to a new conference, the Atlantic-10.
After four seasons at George Mason, Hewitt left the team on March 16, 2015. Since then, he has stayed involved in basketball. He served as a vice president for the NABC board of directors. In September 2016, he joined the Los Angeles Clippers as a scout, helping them find new talent.
See also
- List of NCAA Division I Men's Final Four appearances by coach
