Memphis Tigers basketball head coach Josh Pastner may be bolting for the ACC.
In 2009, Josh Pastner took over for John Calipari as the head coach of the Memphis Tigers basketball team, who left for the same position with the Kentucky Wildcats. Calipari had some very successful years with Memphis, leading them to a National Championship game in 2008.
Once Pastner took over, he had some success. He won 24 games or more in each of his first four seasons. However, the Tigers have fallen off the past two years, most recently going 19-15. They missed the NCAA Tournament in both of these seasons. Add in an 8-10 Conference USA record in the 2015-16 season.
Sometimes when coaches don’t see things going their way in sports, they will bolt. This especially goes for the college level. It seems that Pastner may be joining that group shortly
According to Gary Parrish of CBS Sports, Pastner is in negotiations to become Georgia Tech’s head coach. This comes weeks after Memphis said they were supporting him sticking around as the coach.
Georgia Tech and Memphis coach Josh Pastner are in discussions, a source told @CBSSports.
— Gary Parrish (@GaryParrishCBS) April 8, 2016
FYI: One of Josh Pastner’s former players thinks it’s happening. And this is the first time in 7 years I’ve been unable to reach Pastner.
— Gary Parrish (@GaryParrishCBS) April 8, 2016
The reason this is a slow process, I’m told, is because Josh Pastner has to negotiate a buyout with Memphis. So that’s happening right now.
— Gary Parrish (@GaryParrishCBS) April 8, 2016
If true, Josh Pastner is taking over a Yellow Jackets team that finished 21-15 last season and made the NIT. They let go of head coach Brian Gregory after missing the NCAA Tournament in each of his five years at the helm.
Pastner would be a decent name for Georgia Tech to bring in. While he hasn’t had a plethora of success in recent years, he still may be a big enough draw to get the top high school basketball talents to come to the school.
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