Josh Pastner

Joshua Paul Pastner (born September 26, 1977)[1][2] is an American college basketball coach, and the former head coach of the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets.

Josh Pastner
Pastner in 2016
Biographical details
Born (1977-09-26) September 26, 1977
Glen Dale, West Virginia, U.S.
Playing career
1996–2000Arizona
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
2002–2008Arizona (assistant)
2008–2009Memphis (assistant)
2009–2016Memphis
2016–2023Georgia Tech
Head coaching record
Overall276–187 (.596)
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
As player:

NCAA champion (1997)
As coach:

3 C-USA tournament (2011–2013)
2 C-USA regular season (2012, 2013)
ACC tournament (2021)
Awards
C-USA Coach of the Year (2013)
ACC Coach of the Year (2017)

Pastner was a player on the 1997 Arizona Wildcats men's basketball national championship team, and an assistant coach at the University of Arizona under Lute Olson and at the University of Memphis under John Calipari. He was named the 2013 Sporting News Conference USA Coach of the Year, and the 2017 Atlantic Coast Conference Men's Basketball Coach of the Year.

Early and personal life

Pastner was born in Glen Dale, West Virginia, in the state's northern panhandle, the son of Marla and Hal Pastner. The family moved to Texas where his father is a high school/AAU coach and basketball promoter in the Houston area.[3][4] His younger sister, Courtney, played guard in basketball for Kingwood High School, leading the All-Greater Houston Area in scoring her senior season with 23.2 points per game, and was named the 1999 All-Greater Houston Player of the Year, and the 1999 Gatorade "Circle of Champions" Texas High School Player of the Year, the 1999 Texas Girls Coaches Association Player of the Year (TGCA).[5] He grew up in the Kingwood master-planned community of Houston, Texas.[6] Pastner is Jewish, and attended Friday night services regularly when he was a college student.[7][8] To keep connected with Judaism, he carries a copy of Rabbi Abraham J. Twerski’s Growing Each Day with him and reads it on the road, saying: "It keeps you grounded. Obviously, if you could live in a constant state of prayer, it would be awesome, but it’s way easier said than done. It gives you life lessons. I travel a lot, so it gives me a chance to read and make sure I don’t lose my values."[8]

Pastner knew he wanted to be a coach since he was in the 5th grade.[9] By the age of 13 he was publishing the Josh Pastner Scouting Report of local high school talent in the Houston area.[10] At the age of 16, the Houston Hoops AAU summer squad was turned over to Pastner by his father, his first job as a head coach.[10][11] While an AAU coach, Pastner coached future NBA players such as Emeka Okafor, T. J. Ford and Daniel Gibson.

He married Kerri (née Lamas) in 2009, and has a stepson, Ethan, three daughters, Payten, Kamryn, Harper, and one son, Cason and one sister, Courtney, and one brother, Austin.[12]

College

Pastner attended the University of Arizona, and was a walk-on freshman on its 1997 NCAA championship basketball team. Pastner finished his degree in only two and a half years, taking as many as 33 units per semester.[13] He earned his bachelor's degree in Family Studies from Arizona in December 1998.[12] He finished his master's degree in Teaching and Teacher Education in December 1999, and then began work on his doctorate and started his coaching career in 2000 as a graduate-assistant under Lute Olson at Arizona. He was named Academic All-Pac-10 second team as a senior in 2000.[11] He played for the Wildcats for four years under Olson.[12]

Coaching career

Pastner served as an assistant coach under Lute Olson and Kevin O'Neill at the University of Arizona from 2002 to 2008.[14][11] Prior to Olson's retirement, Pastner left the University of Arizona to serve as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at the University of Memphis during the 2008-09 season. Pastner earned a reputation as a tireless recruiter during his years as an assistant coach.[13][15]

Memphis

On April 6, 2009, at 31 years of age, Pastner was selected to be head coach of the University of Memphis Tigers basketball team, succeeding John Calipari.[16][17] Pastner's first contract with Memphis was for $4.4 million over five years.[18]

Pastner's recruits from the 2010 high school class were ranked as one of the best recruiting classes in the nation.[19] Pastner was named Sporting News Conference USA (C-USA) Coach of the Year for the 2009–10 season.[20]

After a 2010-11 season that included a Conference USA tournament championship and appearance in the 2011 NCAA tournament, Pastner signed a 5-year, $1.7 million (annually) contract extension with the Tigers.[21] After starting his career 0-13 against ranked teams, Pastner coached the Tigers to a 73-68 victory over #5 Oklahoma State on December 1, 2013.[22]

On March 21, 2013, the Tigers defeated Saint Mary's 54–52, giving Pastner his first NCAA tournament victory as a head coach.[23] On the heels of his first NCAA victory and the signing of a top-five recruiting class for 2013, Pastner's contract was extended through 2019–20 and his pay raised to $2.65 million per year.[24][25][26] He sometimes neglected his family to devote more time to recruiting. He said: "I was like I love my wife and children, but for the short-term that kid could help me beat Louisville. And my wife and daughter couldn’t. She understood. And so, we got that recruit."[27]

The 2013–14 Tigers entered the season ranked #13 in the country, though the team ultimately earned an 8-seed in the NCAA tournament and lost by 18 points in the Round of 32 to Virginia. The 2014–15 Tigers did not make the NCAA or NIT tournament, the first time in 15 years that the Tigers had missed the postseason. In his first seven seasons coaching, Pastner's teams won 70 percent of their games, going 167-73 and averaging 24 wins a season.[28] He was tied for the 10th-most wins for a head coach in his first seven seasons in NCAA Division I basketball history, and had the second-most victories of any active coach under the age of 40 in Division I.[12]

Georgia Tech

On April 8, 2016, Pastner was hired to be the new head coach at Georgia Tech. He became the 14th head basketball coach in the school's history.[12]

During the 2016–17 regular season, Pastner's Jackets knocked off Top 5 North Carolina at home, in his first coached ACC game at Georgia Tech. North Carolina would end up being the eventual National Champion. The Jackets also enjoyed quality wins at Virginia Commonwealth, at home against top-10 Florida State, and top-25 Notre Dame. Further improving throughout the season, Tech knocked off Syracuse and Pittsburgh late in February to finish 8-10 in the ACC. Tech was projected to finish last in the conference and to not win a single conference game in Pastner's first season. Because of the team's remarkable accomplishments, Pastner was named 2017 ACC Coach of the Year.

Georgia Tech was selected to the National Invitation Tournament as a #6 seed in the Syracuse bracket. They upset the Indiana Hoosiers at home 75-63 in the First Round. In Second Round, Georgia Tech defeated Belmont. A victory over Ole Miss put Georgia Tech in the NIT Final Four, where they defeated the #8 seed CSU Bakersfield. Georgia Tech played Texas Christian University (TCU) in the NIT Championship Game, but lost 88-56.[29]

Georgia Tech struggled the next few years. Largely due to NCAA sanctions handed down due to Pastner’s friend Ron Bell. Bell violated recruiting rules and got Tech a postseason ban and limits on scholarships. Later on some of the punishments were dropped. Ron Bell and Jennifer Pendley were later arrested, charged, and pleaded guilty of federal felony crimes for extortion thru the United States Department of Justice, due to the made up false accusation of sexual assault on Pastner.[30]

Tech and Pastner turned the corner in the 2019-20 season, going 17-14 and finishing 11-9 in conference play. It was Tech's first winning season in ACC play since 2004 and highest finish in the ACC since the 2005 season. Some of the highlights of that season was a win over fifth ranked Louisville at home as well as winning their last six of seven to close out the season. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic as well as their ban, Tech did not participate in the postseason.

Tech continued its momentum into the 2020-21 season. Going 17-9, they beat four ranked teams in the regular season and it was the first back to back winning ACC seasons in Tech history since 1990. Pastner and his 2021 squad won the ACC Tournament, first time since 1993, as they beat #15 Florida State in the Championship game. That win secured Tech’s first trip to the NCAA Tournament since 2010. It was also GT’s first ACC crown since 1993. The Jackets lost to Loyola Chicago in the first round. Moses Wright was ACC Player of The Year, while Jose Alvarado was ACC Defensive Player of The Year.

The success wouldn’t last though, Tech parted ways with Pastner on March 10, 2023 following two disappointing seasons. He finished 109–114 in his seven years coaching the Jackets. He finished as the fourth winningest coach in school history, behind only Hewitt, Hyder, and Cremins.[31]

Head coaching record
Statistics overview
Season Team Overall Conference Standing Postseason
Memphis Tigers (Conference USA) (2009–2013)
2009–10 Memphis 24–1013–32ndNIT Second Round
2010–11 Memphis 25–1010–64thNCAA Division I Round of 64
2011–12 Memphis 26–913–31stNCAA Division I Round of 64
2012–13 Memphis 31–516–01stNCAA Division I Round of 32
Memphis Tigers (American Athletic Conference) (2013–2016)
2013–14 Memphis 24–1012–6T–3rdNCAA Division I Round of 32
2014–15 Memphis 18–1410–8T–5th
2015–16 Memphis 19–158–107th
Memphis: 167–73 (.696)82–36 (.695)
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (Atlantic Coast Conference) (2016–2023)
2016–17 Georgia Tech 21–168–1011thNIT Runner-up
2017–18 Georgia Tech 13–196–1213th
2018–19 Georgia Tech 14–186–1210th
2019–20 Georgia Tech 17–1411–95thPostseason Ban[32]
2020–21 Georgia Tech 17–911–64thNCAA Division I Round of 64
2021–22 Georgia Tech 12–205–1514th
2022–23 Georgia Tech 15–186–1413th
Georgia Tech: 109–114 (.489)53–78 (.405)
Total:276–187 (.596)

      National champion         Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion         Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion       Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

See also

References
  1. "College Basketball's 50 Most Eligible Bachelors." Archived April 6, 2009, at the Wayback Machine College Insider.
  2. Simpson, Corky (June 17, 2000). "Pastner rides the pine again – this time as a coach for Wildcats". Tucson Citizen. Archived from the original on February 22, 2014. Retrieved February 13, 2014.
  3. "Whiz-kid coach; At age 25, hoops-obsessed Arizona assistant Josh Pastner is on the fast track to a top job". Archived from the original on April 9, 2009. Retrieved April 4, 2009.
  4. "Tigers' Josh Pastner: The Viceless Wonder - Lost Lettermen". Archived from the original on May 12, 2014. Retrieved May 10, 2014.
  5. "Courtney Pastner," Archived March 7, 2018, at the Wayback Machine UHCOUGARS.com.
  6. "Josh Pastner" Archived November 12, 2012, at the Wayback Machine, University of Memphis.
  7. "Talking to University of Memphis Head Coach Josh Pastner, College Basketball's Rising Star," Archived March 23, 2017, at the Wayback Machine Tablet Magazine.
  8. "Pastner Not Saying ‘Dayenu’ After Big First Season," Archived June 25, 2017, at the Wayback Machine Atlanta Jewish Times.
  9. "With the help of a precocious coach-in-training at - 03.16.98 - SI Vault". vault.sportsillustrated.cnn.com. Archived from the original on December 3, 2012. Retrieved May 22, 2022.
  10. "Interview with Josh Pastner « Basketball Interview Challenge". Archived from the original on October 30, 2008. Retrieved April 4, 2009.
  11. "Josh Pastner," Archived April 18, 2018, at the Wayback Machine University of Memphis Athletics - Staff Directory.
  12. "Georgia Tech Names Josh Pastner Head Basketball Coach," Archived October 16, 2021, at the Wayback Machine JacketsOnline.com.
  13. "Josh Pastner profile". Archived from the original on March 22, 2009. Retrieved April 4, 2009.
  14. Ben Hansen. "How the legend of Josh Pastner was born" Archived April 10, 2009, at the Wayback Machine, arizona.rivals.com.
  15. "Tucson Citizen - The Voice of Tucson". Archived from the original on May 14, 2008. Retrieved April 4, 2009.
  16. "Memphis promotes assistant Pastner to coach, replacing Calipari". Archived from the original on October 10, 2012. Retrieved April 6, 2009.
  17. "At 38, Josh Pastner starting over at Georgia Tech" Archived June 19, 2017, at the Wayback Machine, Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
  18. "Pastner introduced as Memphis coach" Archived April 11, 2009, at the Wayback Machine, Associated Press, April 7, 2009
  19. "Men's Basketball Recruiting," Archived July 16, 2011, at the Wayback Machine Scout.
  20. "Pastner Named Sporting News Conference Coach of the Year". Archived from the original on July 28, 2011. Retrieved March 23, 2010.
  21. "New deal keeps Josh Pastner as Memphis Tigers' basketball coach through 2015-16 »". Archived from the original on April 2, 2011. Retrieved March 29, 2011.
  22. "Josh Pastner, Memphis record narrative-changing win at Old Spice" Archived December 2, 2013, at the Wayback Machine, CBS Sports.
  23. "Memphis survives frantic finish, beats St Mary's," Archived May 8, 2016, at the Wayback Machine U.S. News & World Report.
  24. "Pastner, candidate at USC and UCLA, agrees to extension with Memphis," Archived October 16, 2021, at the Wayback Machine CBS Sports.
  25. "Josh Pastner's new contract worth $2.65 million a year; nearly a $1 million annual raise - the Commercial Appeal". Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved March 23, 2015.
  26. "2013 Basketball Class Rankings," Archived April 2, 2015, at the Wayback Machine ESPN.
  27. "Pastner’s first days at Tech include little down time," Archived October 16, 2021, at the Wayback Machine Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
  28. "Boivin: Ex-Wildcat Josh Pastner proving he's more than great recruiter," Archived October 16, 2021, at the Wayback Machine The Arizona Republic.
  29. "Pastner: Ga. Tech rebound won't happen overnight". ESPN. April 8, 2016. Archived from the original on April 10, 2016. Retrieved April 11, 2016.
  30. "Couple indicted for trying to extort Georgia Tech". ESPN. October 18, 2022. Retrieved March 21, 2023.
  31. Newberry, Paul (March 10, 2023). "Josh Pastner fired after 7 seasons as Georgia Tech coach". AP News. Retrieved April 5, 2023.
  32. Geisinger, Brian (September 26, 2019). "Georgia Tech Basketball Banned from 2020 Postseason by NCAA". accsports.com. Archived from the original on October 31, 2019. Retrieved February 5, 2020.
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