Georgetown University announced today that Patrick Ewing (C’85) has been named its new Head Men’s Basketball Coach. Ewing comes back to Georgetown after serving for 15 years as an assistant head coach in the NBA. He served as an assistant coach for the Washington Wizards (2002-03), Houston Rockets (2003-06) and Orlando Magic (2007-12) and most recently as the Associate Head Coach for the Charlotte Hornets.
Ewing is recognized as the greatest men’s basketball player to ever don the Blue & Gray. He was selected as one of the top 50 players in the history of the National Basketball Association (NBA) and was elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2008.
Ewing was a three-time consensus First Team All-America selection (1983, 1984, 1985) on the Hilltop, leading the Hoyas to three NCAA Championship Game appearances and the 1984 National Championship title. He was named Most Outstanding Player of the 1984 tournament. His play propelled Georgetown into one of the most respected basketball programs in the country.
“Patrick’s commitment to Georgetown and to further animating our legacy of excellence is inspiring,” said University President John J. DeGioia. “He is a visionary leader with a deep connection to our community. His experience as a coach over the last 15 years with some of the best basketball minds in the country has prepared him to lead our program. We very much look forward to welcoming him back to our Hilltop as the Head Coach of our men’s basketball team.”
“After a very thorough national search, Patrick Ewing emerged as the talented leader best prepared to coach the Hoyas in this new era of highly competitive college basketball,” Georgetown Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Lee Reed said. “To hire a head coach with this depth of coaching experience and personal achievements is tremendous. It is a thrill to have him come back to his alma mater and continue the legacy of tradition and success he had as a student-athlete on the Hilltop.”
During his illustrious career, Ewing had the opportunity to play for, and coach, alongside some of the great coaches in basketball, including Pat Riley (New York Knicks), Jeff Van Gundy (Knicks, Houston Rockets), Stan Van Gundy (Orlando Magic), Tom Thibodeau (Chicago Bulls, Minnesota Timberwolves) and Steve Clifford (Charlotte).
“My four years at Georgetown were the best of my life,” Ewing said. “Georgetown is my home and it is a great honor for me to return to my alma mater and serve as the next head coach. I have been preparing to be a head coach for many years and can’t wait to return to the Hilltop.”
He was the first pick in the 1985 NBA Draft and went on to earn NBA Rookie of the Year honors in 1986 with the New York Knicks after averaging 20.0 points and 9.0 rebounds per game. Ewing scored 24,815 points during his 17-year NBA career to go along with 11,607 rebounds. Ewing spent 15 years with the Knicks and made 10-consecutive NBA All-Star appearances. Ewing averaged 21.0 points, 9.8 rebounds and 2.45 blocks in 1,183 career games and was a member of the NBA’s 50th Anniversary Team. He remains the New York Knicks’ all-time leader in points, rebounds, blocked shots, steals and field goals made.
He still stands second all-time in scoring at Georgetown, averaging 15.3 points in 143 games. He is one of only four players in program history to score at least 2,000 points (2,184). Ewing is the all-time leader in total rebounds (1,316), most blocked shots (493) and most games played (143).
http://www.guhoyas.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/040317aaa.html
