Why Patrick Ewing remains a Georgetown legend despite coaching struggles
Fran Fraschilla says Patrick Ewing’s contributions to the Georgetown basketball program are undisputed, even with his lack of coaching time.
Patrick Ewing will not return as men’s basketball coach for the Georgetown Hoyas next season, the school announced Thursday night.
Ewing, one of the greatest college basketball players of all time while at Georgetown, had been the head coach of his alma mater for six years and finished with a 75–109 record.
“I am very proud to be a graduate of Georgetown University,” Ewing said in a statement. “And I am very grateful to President (John J.) DeGioa for giving me the opportunity to achieve my ambition of being a head basketball coach. It is especially meaningful to me to be in charge of the basketball program at my alma mater. I want the program nothing but success. I’ll always be a Hoya.”
Ewing had never been a head coach at any level before succeeding John Thompson III at Georgetown.
The Hoyas said they have already started a national search for “new leadership.”
Ewing coached the Hoyas to the 2021 NCAA Tournament after they won the Big East Tournament title, but they have struggled mightily since. Georgetown went winless in conference play last season, finishing 6-25 overall. This season, the Hoyas went 7-25 overall and 2-18 in Big East play.
The Hoyas lost a Big East record 29 consecutive conference games that began in the 2021 regular season and ended in January.
Georgetown’s season ended Wednesday night with an 80-48 loss to Villanova in the first round of the Big East Tournament.
“Patrick Ewing is the heart of Georgetown basketball,” DeGioa said in a statement. “I am deeply grateful to Coach Ewing for his vision, his determination and for all that he has enabled Georgetown to achieve. Over the past six years, he was tireless in his dedication to his team and the young men , he coached, and we will be forever grateful to Patrick for his courage and his leadership in our Georgetown community.”
Under the guidance of head coach John Thompson, Ewing helped make Georgetown one of college basketball’s powerhouses in the 1980s. He was a three-time All-American during his time with the Hoyas, winning the National Player of the Year award in 1985 and winning a national championship in 1984.
Ewing was the No. 1 overall pick in the 1985 NBA draft by the New York Knicks, spending 15 seasons of his Hall of Fame career with the Knicks. He was named an NBA All-Star 11 times. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2008 and the College Basketball Hall of Fame in 2012.
Before joining Georgetown as head coach in 2017, Ewing spent 14 seasons as an assistant coach in the NBA with the Charlotte Bobcats, Orlando Magic, Houston Rockets and Washington Wizards.