Post by NY Hoya on Apr 30, 2003 20:52:22 GMT -5
Esherick Gets Four More Years
By Ken Denlinger
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, May 1, 2003; Page D04
Georgetown has extended the contract of men's basketball coach Craig Esherick by four years, or through the 2008-09 season.
The new deal had been in negotiations for more than four months and comes after a 19-15 season that included nine losses either in overtime or by five or fewer points and ended with four road victories in the National Invitation Tournament before a three-point loss to St. John's in the championship game at Madison Square Garden.
Esherick replaced Hall of Fame coach John Thompson about midway through the 1998-99 season and went 8-10. His overall record is 90-59, including one NCAA tournament appearance.
"We're very happy with what Craig is doing with our program," Georgetown Director of Athletics Joe Lang said. "We want to make sure everyone understands our commitment to him."
Lang would not discuss contract terms.
"I was never really concerned that we weren't going to be able to do it," said Esherick, who acknowledged the important implications on recruiting. "But I went into [coaching] with my eyes wide open . . . I'm fortunate to have been in coaching for [24 years, including his service as an assistant to Thompson at the high school level and Georgetown] in the same city."
Of the 13 other basketball coaches in the Big East Conference, only Syracuse's Jim Boeheim, Connecticut's Jim Calhoun, St. John's Mike Jarvis and Providence's Tim Welch were at their respective schools when Esherick was hired.
Esherick said he still had no indication about whether junior power forward Mike Sweetney would opt for the NBA. With Sweetney as a freshman three years ago, the Hoyas were 25-8 and advanced to the round of 16 in the NCAA tournament before losing to Maryland. After a 19-11 record in Sweetney's sophomore season, they turned down an NIT bid because of travel demands.
© 2003 The Washington Post Company
By Ken Denlinger
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, May 1, 2003; Page D04
Georgetown has extended the contract of men's basketball coach Craig Esherick by four years, or through the 2008-09 season.
The new deal had been in negotiations for more than four months and comes after a 19-15 season that included nine losses either in overtime or by five or fewer points and ended with four road victories in the National Invitation Tournament before a three-point loss to St. John's in the championship game at Madison Square Garden.
Esherick replaced Hall of Fame coach John Thompson about midway through the 1998-99 season and went 8-10. His overall record is 90-59, including one NCAA tournament appearance.
"We're very happy with what Craig is doing with our program," Georgetown Director of Athletics Joe Lang said. "We want to make sure everyone understands our commitment to him."
Lang would not discuss contract terms.
"I was never really concerned that we weren't going to be able to do it," said Esherick, who acknowledged the important implications on recruiting. "But I went into [coaching] with my eyes wide open . . . I'm fortunate to have been in coaching for [24 years, including his service as an assistant to Thompson at the high school level and Georgetown] in the same city."
Of the 13 other basketball coaches in the Big East Conference, only Syracuse's Jim Boeheim, Connecticut's Jim Calhoun, St. John's Mike Jarvis and Providence's Tim Welch were at their respective schools when Esherick was hired.
Esherick said he still had no indication about whether junior power forward Mike Sweetney would opt for the NBA. With Sweetney as a freshman three years ago, the Hoyas were 25-8 and advanced to the round of 16 in the NCAA tournament before losing to Maryland. After a 19-11 record in Sweetney's sophomore season, they turned down an NIT bid because of travel demands.
© 2003 The Washington Post Company