Paul Hewitt Biography

Paul Hewitt came to Georgia Tech after a highly successful 3 year stint at Siena in upperstate New York. The Siena program had been on the down turn since the mid-1990's and was badly in need of fresh talented leadership --- they got that from Paul Hewitt. He took a program which had won a total of only 22 games in the past 3 seasons and seemingly overnite, molded them into a powerful cohesive unit.

In Hewitt's three seasons at Siena his teams won a total of 66 games while dropping only 27 producing an amazing (70.9%)winning percentage. Over Hewitt's three seasons at Siena the Saints averaged scoring 85.6 points per game, they ranked 3rd nationally in scoring his last two seasons. The Saints went from being the doormat of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference to one of the best teams in the Northeast.

In his first season at Siena Hewitt coached the Saints to their first ever appearance in the MAAC Tournament Championship title game. Given this incredible turnaround in just one season working with a team he inherited, big things were expected of Hewitt in his second season at Siena and Hewitt delivered, or as they say "he exceeded expectations.

The Saints for the 1998-99' season, Hewitt's second, posted an overall 25-6 record, went 13-5 in conference play, won the MAAC Tournament Championship and went to the NCAA Tournament. The MAAC championship was the first ever in the school's history and the NCAA Tournament appearance was Siena's first since the 1988-89' season. The Saints followed up in the 1999-2000 season with a 24-9 record overall, topped the MAAC regular season with a 15-3 mark and made their third consecutive MAAC Championship game appearance. They went to the NIT where they won their first round game and lost a 105-103 heartbreaker in the second round.

Hewitt left Siena in April of 2000 to take over another fallen program, this time at Georgia Tech, in the toughest basketball conference in the country --- the ACC. The pedigree Hewitt brought with him to Georgia Tech speaks for itself. He had his work cut out for him given the Yellow Jackets recent history of success in basketball including 10 NCAA Tournament appearances and three Atlantic Coast Conference championships spanning the 80's and early 90's.

Hewitt went into the 2000-01' season, his first at Georgia Tech staring the pundits low expectations in the face. Most ofthe "experts" had the Yellow Jackets finishing the season in the basement of the ACC. Hewitt, somehow, amazingly coachedthe Jackets to a 17-13 overall record, an 8-8 conference record, a fifth place finish in the ACC, Tech's first winning season since 1998 and to top off this magical season an appearance in the NCAA Tournament, their first since 1996.

Hewitt was rewarded for his coaching excellence by being named the ACC Coach of the Year. The recognition Hewitt earned is only the second time in the venerable league's history that a first-year coach has won the award. Additionally he was named District 5 Coach of the Year by the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) and named a finalist for the prestigious Naismith College Coach of the Year Award by the Atlanta Tipoff Club.

For their accomplishments of the 2002-03' season which saw the Yellow Jackets record a fifth place finish in the ACC they earned their second post-season appearance in three years going to the NIT where they advanced to the quarterfinals.

Hewitt who recorded his 100th career coaching victory against Georgia during the 2002-03' season finished his sixth season with an overall record of 114-71 as a college head coach. He is viewed by those in the know as a rising star in the college coaching profession.

Hewitt demands, and is able to motivate his players to give, intensity, hustle and hard work. Though the style of basketball Hewitt teaches is fast paced, sound fundamentals are the basis for his teams success. His understanding of the game, what it takes to win, detailed instruction and player development are the keys he employs to build a successful team.

Hewitt's emphasis on learning, whether its his players or himself, speaks volumes about what drives him. "I'm very big on learning from others," says Hewitt. "I had a chance to hear Pete Newell speak, and he said he thinks the game today is over-coached and under-taught. If you watch us play, my hope is that you see a team that is not over-coached, but is very well-taught. We put a strong emphasis on teaching guys how to play the game. When you play a high-scoring, fast-paced style, situations come up that your players need to know how to react to. You can't stop and call every play and diagram every cut. If you play the style that we play, you've got to teach people how to play the game. The system we play is important, but I believe what is most important to achieving success is emphasis on individual player instruction and physical development."

With a 114-71 (.620) winning percentage, 4 postseason tournament appearances, 1 conference tournament championship, 1 conference regular seasnon championship and 2 coach of the year awards to Hewitt's credit in six seasons as a headbasketball coach, it appears Hewitt is on to something.

Paul Hewitt graduated from St. John Fisher College with a BA in journalism and economics. He and his wife, Dawnette, have three daughters, Olivia, Danielle and Kayla.

Some of his accomplishments are:

Coached Siena to first ever appearance MAAC Tournament Championship title game
Posted an overall 25-6 record - 13-5 in conference play - 1998-99'
Won the MAAC Tournament Championship - appeared in NCAA Tournament - 1998-99'
MAAC championship first ever at Siena
NCAA Tournament appearance Siena's first since the 1988-89' season
Siena posted an overall 24-9 record - 15-3 in conference play - 1999-2000'
Siena topped the MAAC regular season - 1999-2000'
Siena achieved third consecutive MAAC Championship game appearance - 1999-2000'
NIT appearance - Siena - 1999-2000'
Georgia Tech's first winning season since 1998 - 2000-01'
First appearance in NCAA Tournament since 1996 - 2000-01'
Named the ACC Coach of the Year - 2000-01'
Named District 5 Coach of the Year by the NABC - 2000-01'
Finalist for prestigious Naismith College Coach of the Year Award
NIT appearance - 2000-01'
Recorded his 100th career coaching victory
BA in journalism and economics