On Thursday evening, Georgetown University announced that Patrick Ewing's time as the head coach of the men's basketball team was over. Ewing, who was a star as a player for Georgetown, led the team as a coach six years, going 75-109 during that time. He had no prior head coaching experience at any level of basketball before succeeding John Thompson III.
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During the 2020-2021 season, Ewing led the Hoyas to an automatic berth to the NCAA tournament after winning the Big East Conference Tournament championship. They would go on to lose in the first round that year against Colorado. Since then, things were not good at Georgetown, as they went 13-50 with a 2-37 Big East record. That includes going 0-19 in Big East play during the 2021-2022 season and losing 29 consecutive Big East games.
An Awful Final Act as Hoyas Head Coach
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In his last game as head coach of the Hoyas, Ewing's team was routed by Villanova, 80-48, in the first round of the Big East Tournament. They finished this season 7-25, the second consecutive season where the Hoyas failed to reach ten wins.
"Patrick Ewing is the heart of Georgetown basketball. I am deeply grateful to Coach Ewing for his vision, his determination and for all that he has enabled Georgetown to achieve. Over these past six years, he was tireless in his dedication to his team and the young men he coached and we will forever be grateful to Patrick for his courage and his leadership in our Georgetown community," Georgetown president John J. DeGiola said after it was announced Ewing was being fired.
In his own statement after the announcement, Ewing said, "I am very proud to be a graduate of Georgetown University. And I am very grateful to President [John J.] DeGiola for giving me the opportunity to achieve my ambition to be a head basketball coach. It is particularly meaningful for me to be in charge of the basketball program at my alma mater. I wish the program nothing but success. I will always be a Hoya."
As a player for Georgetown, Ewing was an absolute beast under the basket. He was a three-time All-American, a National Player of the Year (1985), and won a national championship in 1984. He would go on being the No. 1 overall pick in the 1985 NBA draft by the New York Knicks, where he had a Hall of Fame career.
Georgetown athletic director said that the search for the program's next head coach will begin immediately.
