Georgetown turns team over to Ewing

All-American center led Hoyas to three NCAA title games

WASHINGTON —Patrick Ewing put Georgetown basketball on the map, turning the Hoyas into a national power as the menacing force in the middle in the 1980s.

Three decades later, Ewing is the Big Man on Campus again.

Georgetown hired Ewing on Monday, bringing the Hoyas legend back to take over a program that had fallen on hard times over the past two seasons and helping the former All-American center finally realize his long-held dream of becoming a head coach.

“My four years at Georgetown were the best of my life,” Ewing said in a statement issued by the school.

“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.”

In announcing the hire, Georgetown called Ewing “the greatest men’s basketball player to ever don the Blue (and) Gray.”

He led the Hoyas to the school’s only national championship in 1984 and now he takes over for the son of the man who coached him at Georgetown in what is surely an emotional transfer of power.

John Thompson III, the son of Big John Thompson, was fired last month after consecutive losing seasons.

Ewing was a three-time All-American at Georgetown, a fearsome presence in the paint who led the Hoyas to three national title games.

Ewing has had to work for this chance. He is leaving his position as associate head coach with the NBA’s Charlotte Hornets to take the job, finally putting an end to a 15-year pursuit.

He also served as an assistant for Washington, Houston and Orlando.

KENTUCKY: Freshman De’Aaron Fox will enter the NBA draft and hire an agent, becoming the first of several Wildcats underclassmen who could leave after reaching the Elite Eight this season.

CHATTANOOGA: Chattanooga has filled its coaching vacancy by hiring Wisconsin assistant Lamont Paris.

Paris has spent the past seven seasons on Wisconsin’s staff after a six-year stint as an assistant at Akron. Wisconsin averaged 27 wins per season during Paris’ tenure with the Badgers.

WILMINGTON: UNC Wilmington has hired longtime North Carolina assistant C.B. McGrath as its head coach.

McGrath has spent 18 years with coach Roy Williams, including the last 14 with the Tar Heels. AUSTIN PEAY: Austin Peay is hiring South Carolina assistant Matt Figger as its next men’s basketball coach.