Last week was a hectic week in Blacksburg, Virginia.
A little over a week ago, A.D. Jim Weaver decided to make a change in the basketball program by firing head coach Seth Greenberg. This week, former assistant James Johnson was introduced as his replacement.
The departure of Greenberg came as a bit of a surprise. Although coming off of a down year, Greenberg has brought some success to the Hokie program. In a small sign of disrespect, Weaver kept Greenberg completely out of the loop in terms of his job status. In fact, when asked by reporters why his A.D. was calling a press conference later in the day (to announce Greenberg’s firing), he seemed to have no inclination about his impending fate.
Still, despite this bit of indignity, it appears that Weaver has made the right hire. Johnson actually left Tech in the offseason to take an assistant job with Clemson. Weaver had tried to keep him, but unsuccessfully, which led to speculation that Johnson and Greenberg were not on the same page.
In the end, it seems that Weaver had a decision to make. When it came down to it, he was more convinced that Johnson was a better fit to lead the program than Greenberg.
For what it’s worth, the players seem to be on board with this decision. Though they didn’t seem too happy with Greenberg’s ousting, they also appear to have a willingness to play for Johnson. Starting guard Erick Green even thought about transferring after the firing, but it looks like he has changed his mind with the hiring of Johnson.
Obviously, it helps Johnson’s cause that he’s familiar with the area and the landscape in terms of recruiting. That’s a benefit that can’t be overlooked.
Weaver has stated that he knew he would not be bringing back Greenberg after next season, so he chose to expedite the matter. If that was indeed the case, he made a wise decision. There’s nothing worse than delaying an inevitable action. It can only hurt the program.
Now, the athletic department has the man it wants leading the program. In time, we’ll find out if it proves to be the right move for Virginia Tech basketball.
Photo Credit: dailypress.com
Steve Rosenberg
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