ACC Basketball: Top 10 head coaches of the century (2000-20)

By Joey Loose | May 29, 2020

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA - FEBRUARY 27: Head coach Tony Bennett of the Virginia Cavaliers and head coach Roy Williams of the North Carolina Tar Heels shake hands before North Carolina's game against the Virginia Cavaliers at John Paul Jones Arena on February 27, 2017 in Charlottesville, Virginia. (Photo by Chet Strange/Getty Images) /

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GREENSBORO, NC – MARCH 10: Head coach Paul Hewitt of the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /

7. Paul Hewitt – Georgia Tech (2000-2011)

Back in 2000, Georgia Tech faced a tough decision following the retirement of longtime head coach Bobby Cremins. The program had missed the Tournament the last four seasons and needed a new voice to compete in the ACC. Hewitt had led Siena for the last three seasons to relative success, but that would not compare to his time with the Yellow Jackets.

In all, Hewitt had 11 seasons with Georgia Tech, leading them to five NCAA Tournaments. His teams were never at the top of the ACC standings, but the success of the 2004 team alone made his tenure a success. Those Yellow Jackets secured a 3-seed in the NCAA Tournament and marched all the way to the national title game, knocking off three ranked teams before being upended by Connecticut.

Nowadays, Georgia Tech is a fellow cellar-dweller of the ACC, having spent the last ten seasons out of the NCAA Tournament. The very thought that Georgia Tech played for a national title this century seems wild and improbable and we can’t forget the success of Hewitt and his teams. Successors Brian Gregory and Josh Pastner have had little to no success bringing the Yellow Jackets out of the basement, but perhaps one day they can flirt with destiny again.