Damon Stoudamire is out at Georgia Tech after a rambling wreck of a season in Atlanta.
The former NBA Rookie of the Year was fired Sunday after three seasons as head coach of the Yellow Jackets, including a last-place finish this year in the ACC at 2-16 (11-20 overall).
Stoudamire, who posted a three-year record of 42-55, is owed about $2.6 million on his contract, but that number would be offset if the 52-year-old takes another job, according to ESPN.
“On behalf of Georgia Tech, I want to thank Damon for his commitment to the Institute, our men’s basketball program and, most importantly, our student-athletes,” athletic director Ryan Alpert said in a statement released by the school. “He is highly respected and admired throughout the Georgia Tech community and has been a strong representative of the Institute. We wish him the very best.”
Georgia Tech, which did not earn a spot in the ACC tournament after losing their final 12 games, named assistant Greg Gary — a former head coach at Centenary and Mercer — as its interim head coach.
The program has made just one NCAA tournament appearance since 2010, a first-round departure in 2021.
“Georgia Tech men’s basketball has a proud history and is an important part of our athletics department and community,” Alpert said. “We are committed to identifying an excellent basketball coach that will build a championship-level program, and fulfill our missions of academic excellence and preparing our student-athletes for life beyond basketball.
“Georgia Tech’s commitment to men’s basketball is unwavering, and we will invest the resources necessary to compete for championships at the highest level.”
Stoudamire, who after a 13-year NBA playing career was an assistant coach for the NBA’s Grizzlies before stints in college at Memphis and his alma mater Arizona, got his first head coaching job with Pacific in 2016. He left after five seasons and a 71-77 record to be a Boston Celtics assistant for two years before taking the Georgia Tech job.
