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Big East Basketball: Ranking all 10 head coaches for 2019-20 season

By Joey Loose

PHILADELPHIA, PA - JANUARY 23: Head coach Jay Wright of the Villanova Wildcats shakes hands with head coach Ed Cooley of the Providence Friars after the game at the Wells Fargo Center on January 23, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - JANUARY 23: Head coach Jay Wright of the Villanova Wildcats shakes hands with head coach Ed Cooley of the Providence Friars after the game at the Wells Fargo Center on January 23, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /
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CINCINNATI, OH – FEBRUARY 03: Head coach Ewing of the Georgetown Hoyas is seen during the game against the Xavier Musketeers at Cintas Center on February 3, 2018 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
CINCINNATI, OH – FEBRUARY 03: Head coach Ewing of the Georgetown Hoyas is seen during the game against the Xavier Musketeers at Cintas Center on February 3, 2018 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /

7. Patrick Ewing (Georgetown)

When Georgetown was at their best in the 1980s, it was Ewing at the heart of that team. He helped lead the Hoyas to the national championship in 1984 before being drafted first overall by the Knicks a year later. John Thompson and his son tallied a lot of wins at the school, but a new era of success could be heading to Washington DC.

Ewing turned his success at Georgetown into a Hall of Fame career, making 11 NBA All-Star games and putting together a very impressive resume of accolades. His playing career came to an end in 2002 and he began a career on NBA benches. He would spend most of the next 15 years as an assistant coach on the staffs of the Wizards, Rockets, Magic, and Hornets. When John Thompson III was let go in 2017, Ewing was tabbed as his replacement.

The Hoyas brought aboard Ewing, continuing a trend of NBA players and coaches getting college jobs without collegiate experience. In his first head coaching experience, Ewing has begun the rebuild for the Hoyas, leading them to 15 and 19 wins. Due to the wildness of last year’s Big East, his Hoyas tied for third place at 9-9 and made the NIT. A step forward could be in the cards next season, especially as Ewing continues to bring his own players into this program.

If we look at the example set by Chris Mullin, Eddie Jordan (and others), there’s no reason to assume success for Ewing and the Hoyas. Fortunately, Ewing has the Hoyas headed in the right direction. He has just two years of collegiate experience and will have plenty of chances to build on his coaching resume.

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