4 worst head coach hires in Georgia basketball history
By Josh Yourish
Ron Jirsa. 3. 527. . 1997-99. player. . Ron Jirsa. Record: 35-30. Ron Jirsa
After taking Tulsa to the NCAA Tournament in 1994 and 1995, Tubby Smith took the job as Georgia’s head coach. It was a stepping stone in his career and turned out to be just a two-year pit stop en route to Kentucky.
During his two seasons, Smith took Georgia to the NCAA Tournament in back-to-back years for the second time in school history, it’s only happened twice since. Ron Jirsa, Smith’s assistant was the one who broke the streak.
Jirsa took over after Kentucky poached Smith and Jirsa missed the tournament with a 20-15 record. The next year, in 1998-99, Georgia had a loaded roster with five seniors and Jumaine Jones, who was ultimately the SEC Newcomer of the Year. Jirsa still only managed to go 15-15, and athletic director Vince Dooley decided to move on.
Of the firing, Dooley said that there was, “no real hope or encouragement as we look forward to next year or towards the future.”