Georgia Tech has parted ways with men's basketball coach Damon Stoudamire after three underwhelming seasons culminated in a historically poor campaign that saw the Yellow Jackets finish dead last in the Atlantic Coast Conference.
The dismissal came on the heels of a brutal 12-game losing streak to end the season, leaving Georgia Tech with an 11-20 overall record and a dismal 2-16 mark in ACC play. Over his three-year tenure, Stoudamire compiled a 42-55 record with the program.
Athletic director Ryan Alpert, in his first year at the helm after arriving from Tennessee in July, announced the coaching change while expressing gratitude for Stoudamire's service.
"On behalf of Georgia Tech, I want to thank Damon for his commitment to the Institute, our men's basketball program and, most importantly, our student-athletes," Alpert said in a statement released by the school. "He is highly respected and admired throughout the Georgia Tech community and has been a strong representative of the Institute. We wish him the very best."
The program has named Greg Gary as interim head coach as it begins searching for Stoudamire's permanent replacement. The coaching change represents a significant financial commitment, as Georgia Tech will owe Stoudamire $2.6 million over the next two years, though that figure could be reduced if he secures another coaching position.
Stoudamire arrived at Georgia Tech with considerable pedigree, having enjoyed a successful playing career at Arizona before spending 13 seasons in the NBA. Most recently, he served as an assistant coach with the Boston Celtics from 2021 to 2023 and previously spent five seasons as head coach at Pacific.
His tenure began with promise during the 2023-24 season, highlighted by a stunning upset victory over seventh-ranked Duke in his first ACC game. That inaugural campaign resulted in a 14-18 record, followed by a more encouraging 17-17 showing in 2024-25 that earned the Yellow Jackets an NIT bid.
However, this season proved disastrous from start to finish. The low point came during a humiliating 94-68 loss to Virginia on February 18, when Georgia Tech found itself trailing 42-9 at one point during the contest. The team's final game, a 79-76 defeat at Clemson on Saturday, sealed their fate as the conference's worst team and prevented them from qualifying for the ACC tournament.
The program's struggles extend well beyond Stoudamire's tenure, with Georgia Tech managing just one NCAA tournament appearance since 2010. Sources indicate that university officials remain determined to elevate the program despite the recent setbacks.
Alpert emphasized the institution's commitment to basketball excellence in his statement regarding the coaching search.
"Georgia Tech men's basketball has a proud history and is an important part of our athletics department and community," Alpert said. "We are committed to identifying an excellent basketball coach that will build a championship-level program, and fulfill our missions of academic excellence and preparing our student-athletes for life beyond basketball. Georgia Tech's commitment to men's basketball is unwavering, and we will invest the resources necessary to compete for championships at the highest levels."
The timing of the dismissal places additional pressure on Alpert, who must now navigate his first major coaching hire while attempting to restore credibility to a program that has struggled to maintain competitiveness in one of college basketball's premier conferences.
Georgia Tech's search for a new head coach will likely focus on candidates with proven track records of building successful programs, particularly those familiar with the recruiting challenges and academic standards that come with coaching at a prestigious technical institution. The program's next hire will inherit a roster in need of significant talent infusion and face the daunting task of restoring relevance in the highly competitive ACC landscape.