During a timeout, Pastner tries to rally the Yellow Jackets squad during a tough non-conference match against the Ohio Bobcats.
But it’s also important to know when to back off on recruiting a specific player, to know when to get out and move elsewhere. If you’re number five or six on the list for a top player, you’re often better off focusing on someone who’s almost as good whom you have a better chance of landing. There’s nothing good about finishing second place in recruiting a player. The clincher is follow-up and follow-through. When I tell a recruit I’m going to do something, I’m really careful with the words I use and I make sure that I’m able to back them up. Otherwise, I’d lose all credibility. WHAT HAVE BEEN YOUR BIGGEST CHALLENGES IN RECRUITING IN THE ACC AND FOR GEORGIA TECH SPECIFICALLY? PASTNER: Being in the ACC, first of all, opens up a lot of doors. Kids want to play in the ACC, not only because it’s the best of the best, but also because of the sheer amount of media exposure. As for Tech, we’re right smack dab in the middle of a major city like Atlanta which is as dynamic a place as there is in the entire country. There are tons of great players locally to go after. And Tech’s academics are a huge selling point for players who are serious about getting a great education. However, there are some challenges, too, because there are many great prospects who don’t fit the Georgia Tech mission or mold. That means we have to find the right fit both in terms of basketball and academics. WHAT TRAITS DO YOU LOOK FOR FIRST WHEN RECRUITING STUDENT-ATHLETES?
Danny Karnik
PASTNER: Purely in terms of basketball skills, I look for guys who can play on the perimeter and flat out put the ball in the basket, shoot threes. As a coach, you can never have enough scorers. But what I really want are guys who are driven—gym rats with a distinct distaste for losing. It’s a perfect fit with that Georgia Tech mentality and work ethic we first talked about. I want them to hurt inside when they lose in a practice drill to one of their teammates. I want them to be upset when they lose in a pickup game. I want them to want to win every time they play.
HOW DO YOU EXPECT YOUR TEAM TO PLAY THIS YEAR? PASTNER: We’re going to run a lot, play up-tempo. My guys will be in great physical shape, and that can be the difference between winning and losing close games at the end. There’s also going to be a lot of ball movement—space and pace. The open man will be the go-to guy. We’ll fight to win every 50/50 ball battle. We’ll be full-throttle, competitive, leaving it all on the line. It will be a fun team to watch. THE ATHLETIC DIRECTOR WHO HIRED YOU IS NO LONGER AT TECH. WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR YOU AND WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO BUILD A RELATIONSHIP WITH NEW AD TODD STANSBURY? PASTNER: I was obviously caught off guard big time when Mike Bobinski announced he was leaving [to be the AD at Purdue]. I love Mike and I’m so appreciative of the opportunity he gave me. However, Todd has an excellent reputation in the business and though I’d never met him before he came on board, I’ve heard nothing but wonderful things about him from colleagues who worked with him at Central Florida and Oregon State. We’ve now had the chance to get together several times and we’ve had excellent discussions about the program. I think he understands the situation that I was hired into, and he understands that it’s going to take some time to rebuild. But he was at Tech back in the day of Coach Cremins and, like me, he wants to see Yellow Jackets basketball get back to that level. We share the same vision and I’m excited to have an opportunity to work for him.
Volume 92 No. 4 2016 | GTALUMNI.ORG/MAGAZINE | 29