Paul Hewitt had no intention of returning to college basketball so soon. Let go by Georgia Tech in March, he had planned a trip to St. Maarten with his wife beginning Friday.
Then George Mason called. And after a quick courtship, the island plans were put on hold.
''I traded one paradise for another,'' Hewitt said at his introduction on Monday.
Less than a week after an initial discussion, the two sides quickly moved forward. Hewitt is the ninth coach in George Mason' 44-year history.
''I don't mind saying I was a little beat up after my last job,'' Hewitt said. ''That's part of the game, no hard feelings, but this was too good a situation to turn down.''
The situation was replacing the departed Jim Larranaga, who left last month for Miami after 14 seasons with the Colonial Athletic Association program.
Money was a major reason the Patriots lost Larranaga, who took George Mason to the Final Four in 2006 and is the winningest coach in school history. Hewitt is receiving a $7.2 million buyout over five years from Georgia Tech, which would seem to make him more affordable for a Colonial Athletic Association school like GMU.
Details of Hewitt's five-year deal with George Mason were not released.
''Today we open the next chapter in men's basketball at George Mason University,'' said school President Alan Merten, who signed off on the hire after meeting with Hewitt on Thursday. Hewitt ''sends a message and we send a message, that men's basketball is important. Men's basketball is doing things the right way at the right time.''
Hewitt, who turns 48 on Wednesday, was fired by Georgia Tech in mid-March after completing a 13-18 regular season and compiling a 190-162 record during his 11 seasons. He directed the Yellow Jackets to five NCAA tournament appearances and a national runner-up finish in 2004 with four 20-win seasons along the way. Previously Hewitt coached three years at Siena, posting a 66-27 record.
''We were looking for someone that had success,'' said director of athletics Tom O'Connor, who headed the search committee. ''Success certainly isn't only wins and losses, but we knew with Paul we had someone that had a lot of wins and someone that could take our program forward.''
Born in Kingston, Jamaica and raised in the New York borough of Queens, Hewitt had five losing seasons with the Atlantic Coast Conference school and managed only one winning season in the conference.
Known as a stellar recruiter, Hewitt has sent several players to the NBA, including the Miami Heat's Chris Bosh and Thaddeus Young of the Philadelphia 76ers.
''George Mason is getting a great person, a great coach, a mentor to all his players,'' said Young, who was in attendance Monday.
Larranaga led the Patriots to five NCAA tournament appearances, including the 2006 Final Four. Hewitt will inherit four starters from a team that last season matched a program-high with 27 wins, won the Colonial Athletic Association regular season title and reached the NCAA Tournament, losing to top-seed Ohio State.
''I think what coach Larranaga has done for 14 years is an unbelievable example of what can happen if you continue to work hard,'' Hewitt said.
Hewitt does not expect to make drastic changes to the basketball schemes. Like Larranaga, he likes to play an up-tempo style game.
''This year, it's important we maintain some sense of continuity,'' said Hewitt, adding that he spoken with Larranaga earlier on Monday. ''When you win 27 games, you don't want to change too much.''
