Virginia Tech fired coach James Johnson on Tuesday, ESPN reported. The second year head man finished 9-22 (2-16) this year after going 13-19 (4-14) in his first season.
Besides the losses, hurting Johnson was the transfer of two players recruited by former coach and current ESPN analyst Seth Greenberg: Dorian Finney-Smith (8.9 ppg, 6.8 rpg) to Florida and Montrezl Harrel (14.2 ppg, 8.2 rpg) to Louisville. Had Johnson retained those two, Virginia Tech might have been a contender in the ACC. Without them, they finished last.
Johnson was Greenberg's assistant until he was unexpectedly fired in 2012. Greenberg's teams were known for being tough, athletic, but not always the most talented during his nine seasons. Though he consistently kept them competitive (and won ACC Coach of the year in 2005), they only qualified for the NCAA Tournament once.
Given Johnson's firing and the emergence of Hazzel and Finney-Smith, it would appear firing Greenberg was the wrong move by athletic director Jim Weaver, who has since been replaced by current AD Whit Babcock.
Based on Greenberg's relative success, firing Johnson was both an easy call and perhaps late vindication for Greenberg. Staying competitive at a non-traditional power like Virginia Tech in a power conference like the ACC may be a more impressive feat than previously thought. Maybe the move will even draw Greenberg back into the coaching ranks.
Babcock was appreciative of Johnson's efforts as both an assistant and head coach.
"I want to thank Coach Johnson for his dedication and hard work for our university and our basketball program over the past seven years," athletic director Whit Babcock said in a statement released by the university, ESPN reported. "A change of this significance affects many people and is never taken lightly, but I felt a change and a new direction was necessary for the long-term best interest of our department."
