The Georgetown men’s basketball team has hired Hall of Famer and former player Patrick Ewing (COL ’85) as its next head coach, multiple sources confirmed Monday afternoon. He will immediately assume his duties as coach, leaving his now-former position as an assistant coach of the NBA’s Charlotte Hornets.
“Patrick’s commitment to Georgetown and further animating our legacy of excellence is inspiring,” said university President John J. DeGioia in a statement released Monday evening. “He is a visionary leader with a deep connection to our community. His experience as a coach over the last 15 years with some of the best basketball minds in the country has prepared him to lead our program. We very much look forward to welcoming him back to our Hilltop as the Head Coach of our men’s basketball team.”
On Sunday, multiple reports indicated that Ewing had emerged as the top candidate for the position, and a meeting between Ewing and team officials was scheduled for Monday afternoon. Shortly after the meeting, it was confirmed that Ewing would become the team’s next head coach.
“After a very thorough national search, Patrick Ewing emerged as the talented leader best prepared to coach the Hoyas in this new era of highly competitive college basketball,” said Georgetown Athletics Director Lee Reed in a statement that was released Monday evening. “To hire a head coach with this depth of coaching experience and personal achievements is tremendous.”
Ewing began his coaching career as an assistant with the Houston Rockets from 2003-2006. In 2007, he was hired as an assistant with the Orlando Magic. He was a member of the coaching staff that led the Magic to the 2009 NBA Finals. He remained on the Magic’s staff until 2013, when he was hired to the same position with the Charlotte Hornets. The team made the playoffs twice in Ewing’s three full seasons with the team, losing in the first round each time.
Ewing formerly played for the Hoyas from 1981-1985 under then-Head Coach John Thompson, Jr.. Ewing was a dominant force for the Hoyas, playing a major role in leading the team to three National Championship games. He averaged 16.4 points, 10 rebounds, and 3.6 blocks per game in the 1983-84 season, in which the team won its only National Championship. He was named Big East Player of the Year that season. One year later, Ewing averaged similar numbers and led the team back to the NCAA Championship game, where the Hoyas fell to Villanova. In the 1984-85 season, Ewing was named the Associated Press Player of the Year, Big East Player of the Year, The Sporting News Player of the Year, and National Association of Basketball Coaches Player of the Year. He was drafted by the New York Knicks with the number one overall pick in the 1985 NBA Draft.
In his 17 year NBA career, Ewing averaged 21.0 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 2.4 blocks per game. As a member of the Knicks, Ewing helped lead the team to the NBA Finals in 1994 and 1999, losing to the Houston Rockets and San Antonio Spurs, respectively.
Casual Hoya was the first to report the news.
This piece will be updated as more information becomes available.
