Josh Pastner to Georgia Tech: Latest Contract Details, Comments and Reaction

The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets announced on Friday that they've hired Josh Pastner as their head men's basketball coach, thus ending his seven-year tenure in the same position with the Memphis Tigers. 

ESPN's SportsCenter first relayed the news courtesy of ESPN.com's Jeff Goodman and other outlets. Ken Sugiura noted that a press conference will be held Friday afternoon:

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Completing the hiring process Friday would enable Pastner to begin recruiting and assembling a staff. It will also be crtiical for him to meet with team members, some of whom could transfer, and also to meet or speak with the Yellow Jackets’ three signees.

Pastner may also go out on the road recruiting. Coaches are able to make face-to-face contact off campus with prospects and their families through Sunday (the period began Thursday) and again April 18-20. 

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It was first reported by Goodman on Thursday that the Yellow Jackets were courting the 38-year-old Pastner to replace the recently fired Brian Gregory.

Pastner posted a record of 167-73 at Memphis after replacing John Calipari in 2009. Pastner led the Tigers to at least 24 wins in each of his first five seasons, making the NCAA tournament on four occasions and advancing to the second round in both 2013 and 2014.

Memphis went a total of just 37-29 in each of the past two campaigns, though, missing out on March Madness each time.

Although there were whispers regarding a potential coaching change, University of Memphis president David Rudd and athletic director Tom Bowen gave Pastner a vote of confidence and said in a statement that they would "make the necessary investments and changes" to "compete at the highest level" under Pastner, per the Associated Press (h/t ESPN.com).

As pointed out by Don Wade of the Memphis Daily News, financial terms may have played a role in Memphis' decision. Had Pastner gotten fired, the university would have owed him $10.6 million.

While Pastner achieved some success during his first five years at Memphis, Andy Sweeney of ESPN Louisville is among those who believe his departure could be a positive for the Tigers:

It is unclear who Memphis has lined up to replace Pastner, but after two subpar years for a program that has grown accustomed to making the NCAA tournament on a yearly basis, it may have been time for a change.

Pastner may now have an even bigger challenge ahead of him, as he inherits a team that hasn't made the tourney since 2009-10.

The Yellow Jackets did go 21-15 despite playing in the stacked ACC this past season, though, which broke a string of five straight campaigns with 16 or less wins.

Maintaining that momentum won't be easy, however, as each of GT's four leading scorers from 2015-16 were seniors in Marcus Georges-Hunt, Adam Smith, Nick Jacobs and Charles Mitchell.

That will put the onus on Pastner to develop the talent already in place while also excelling on the recruiting and transfer front.

Pastner likely would have had a better chance at success with the Tigers in 2016-17, but the opportunity to coach in the ACC doesn't come around often. Even though Pastner may need a few years to get the Yellow Jackets where he wants them, he has a chance to prove his worth as a top-level college coach if he is able to do so.

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