Fansided

Report: Patrick Ewing to be considered for Georgetown job

By Brad Berreman

Jan 5, 2017; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Charlotte Hornets assistant coach Patrick Ewing looks on during the first quarter against the Detroit Pistons at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Pistons won 115-114. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 5, 2017; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Charlotte Hornets assistant coach Patrick Ewing looks on during the first quarter against the Detroit Pistons at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Pistons won 115-114. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports /
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Patrick Ewing is the most obvious candidate to replace John Thompson III, so it’s no surprise Georgetown will consider him for the job.

After missing the NCAA Tournament for the third time on four years, with a below .500 record in two straight seasons, Georgetown fired head coach John Thompson III this week. Multiple names have surfaced quickly as potential candidates, with alum and former NBA star Patrick Ewing the convenient and obvious option. So it’s no surprise he has now surfaced in a public capacity.

According to Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical, Georgetown “plans to” consider Ewing as a candidate to replace Thompson III. As a three-time All-American and the centerpiece of the Hoyas’ last national title in 1984, Ewing is a tie to the glory days of Georgetown basketball.

Ewing is current the associate head coach of the Charlotte Hornets, and he has a solid resume as an NBA assistant coach over the last 15 seasons with the Washington Wizards, Houston Rockets and Orlando Magic as well as the Hornets. He has been a candidate for head coaching jobs in the NBA, with Wojnarowski reporting he was close to getting the Sacramento Kings job last year.

Ewing has long been open about his desire to be an NBA head coach. but he did tell Dan Patrick recently he would listen if Georgetown called about the head coaching job there. That call appears to becoming, if it hasn’t happened already. So it comes down to how viable a candidate Georgetown sees him as , perhaps with other candidates in or out of consideration, and Ewing’s desire to return to his alma mater.

Ewing’s son, Patrick Jr., was an assistant on Thompson III’s staff and Ewing himself had been a supporter of the now-fired coach. Add in the elder Ewing playing for the legendary John Thompson, and it could be a complicated situation.

Related Story: 5 possible replacements for John Thompson III at Georgetown

Ewing has the coaching resume to be a viable candidate for any open job, but Georgetown would do well to break a cycle of coaches with close ties to the program. Ewing is a symbol of days gone by, which don’t appear close to coming back, in the Hoyas’ men’s basketball program.