Georgia Tech fires coach Damon Stoudamire following a 12-game losing streak to end his 3rd season

ATLANTA (AP) - Georgia Tech fired coach Damon Stoudamire on Sunday, one day after the Yellow Jackets' season ended with a 12-game losing streak.

Georgia Tech athletic director Ryan Alpert announced the move after the Yellow Jackets finished 11-20 overall and 2-16 in the Atlantic Coast Conference following Saturday's 79-76 loss at Clemson.

The Yellow Jackets finished last in the conference, failing to qualify for the ACC tournament as Stoudamire was unable to solve the late-season losing streak.

Stoudamire was fired after posting a 42-55 record in three seasons, including a 19-39 ACC mark.

"On behalf of Georgia Tech, I want to thank Damon for his commitment to the Institute, our men's basketball program and, most importantly, our student-athletes," Alpert said in a statement released by the school. "He is highly respected and admired throughout the Georgia Tech community and has been a strong representative of the Institute. We wish him the very best.

"Georgia Tech men's basketball has a proud history and is an important part of our athletics department and community. We are committed to identifying an excellent basketball coach that will build a championship-level program, and fulfill our missions of academic excellence and preparing our student-athletes for life beyond basketball. Georgia Tech's commitment to men's basketball is unwavering, and we will invest the resources necessary to compete for championships at the highest levels."

Assistant coach Greg Gary, a former coach at Mercer, will serve as interim head coach.

Alpert will launch a search for a new coach who will be asked to revive a program which once flourished, advancing to nine consecutive NCAA tournaments under Bobby Cremins from 1985-93. Georgia Tech reached the NCAA championship game under Paul Hewitt in 2004.

Georgia Tech's last NCAA tournament appearance came in its last winning season in 2020-21 under Josh Pastner. The Yellow Jackets lost in the first round that year and have not won a game in the tournament since 2010.

Stoudamire, a former NBA point guard, was hired on March 14, 2023, only three days after Pastner was fired.

Stoudamire's only previous head coaching experience came at Pacific, a West Coast Conference school where he posted a 71-77 record over a five-year tenure. He never reached the postseason but was selected as the league's coach of the year in 2020.

Before being hired by Georgia Tech, Stoudamire had been a Boston Celtics assistant since 2021.

Stoudamire's 13-year playing career in the NBA began when he was named Rookie of the Year in the 1995-96 season with Toronto. Only 5-foot-10, he earned the nickname "Mighty Mouse" and also played with Portland, Memphis and San Antonio.