ATLANTA — Georgia Tech has fired men’s basketball head coach Josh Pastner after seven seasons in charge of the program.
Pastner finished his time in Atlanta with a 109-114 overall record and 51-78 conference record. Assistant coach Anthony Wilkins will serve as interim head coach.
“Josh has been an incredible ambassador for Georgia Tech, treating others with the utmost respect, and wearing his passion on his sleeve. His genuine care for student-athletes, our men’s basketball program, our athletics department and the Institute is unquestionable. On behalf of the Georgia Tech community, I want to offer my sincere gratitude to Josh, his wife Kerri, and their family for their service to the Institute. We wish them all the very best wherever their journey takes them next,” Georgia Tech Athletic Director J Batt said.
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Pastner’s firing comes two days after the Yellow Jackets’ loss to Pittsburgh in the ACC Tournament to finish the season 15-18. After the game, Pastner had expressed hope that he would return for an eighth season.
“I hope to be at Georgia Tech,” he said. “I love Georgia Tech. I love my job. I have a real passion for it, and I believe in it.”
But after another losing season, the athletic department has decided to go in a different direction.
Multiple sources have also told Klein that Georgia Tech is expected to make a run at College of Charleston head coach Pat Kelsey.
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Pastner took over the Yellow Jackets program in 2016 after several successful seasons at the University of Memphis. The Tigers went 130-44 with four NCAA tournament appearances under Pastner.
In Pastner’s first season, Georgia Tech finished as the runner-up in the National Invitation Tournament. The Yellow Jackets only made one appearance in the NCAA tournament though under Pastner during the 2020-21 season.
This is the second major coaching change that new Tech athletic director J Batt has made. In November, Batt promoted Brett Key to head football coach after the department fired Geoff Collins.
Batt says they will be deliberate in their search for a new basketball coach but will also move as quickly as possible.
“We have high expectations at Georgia Tech for all of our sports programs, and it is imperative that our storied men’s basketball program achieves a greater level of success. Our men’s basketball program is important to our department and to our institution. We will not shy away from expecting to consistently compete for ACC championships, NCAA Tournament appearances and sustained success. I am confident that with the combined strength of the Institute and our incredible fanbase, as well as the support of our city, we can reach our shared goals.”
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