Celtics Assistant Damon Stoudamire Finalizing Deal to Become Georgia Tech Coach

It appears Georgia Tech has found its next head coach. Multiple sites are reporting that former NBA player and current Celtics assistant coach Damon Stoudamire has been offered and will soon officially accept the job. 

ESPN reporting with @PeteThamel: Boston Celtics assistant Damon Stoudamire is finalizing a deal to become Georgia Tech's head coach. Stoudamire has informed the Celtics that he's accepting job and making the leap to the ACC.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) March 13, 2023

Celtics assistant Damon Stoudamire is finalizing a deal to become Georgia Tech's head coach, per @wojespn and @PeteThamel. pic.twitter.com/XUy1T2jWeH

— Boston Sports Gordo (@BOSSportsGordo) March 13, 2023

Source: Georgia Tech is expected to hire Boston Celtics assistant Damon Stoudamire as its next head basketball coach barring something unforeseen.

— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) March 13, 2023

On March 10, former head coach Josh Pastner was removed from duties at Georgia Tech. The Yellow Jackets finished their season 6-14 in the ACC and 15-18 overall. 

Since the days of four-time NBA All-Star Mark Price, Georgia Tech has been known as “Point Guard University.” After Price, Georgia Tech was led by future NBA players such as Kenny Anderson, Stephon Marbury, Travis Best, Jarret Jack, as well as shooting guards Matt Harping, and Dennis Scott. It only makes sense that Georgia Tech would hire a former NCAA and NBA guard to lead the program back to competing in the ACC. 

Speaking of competing in the ACC, the landscape of the conference is changing. No longer are names like Mike Krzyzewski (Duke), Roy Williams (North Carolina), Jim Boeheim (Syracuse), and most recently Mike Brey (Notre Dame) leading their programs. New coaches are taking major programs in arguably the toughest conference in NCAA basketball. 

That leads to the biggest challenge for Stoudamire. Can he recruit against programs built and established by those coaching legends? Can they once again return to compete against the top programs in the ACC? Hiring a former NCAA and NBA guard is probably a great start.