Georgetown fires Esherick

Washington, DC (Sports Network) - Georgetown University president John J.

DeGioia announced Tuesday that men's basketball head coach Craig Esherick was fired.

Esherick, who took over for legendary head coach John Thompson in 1999, did have an existing contract that ran through the 2008-09 season. Esherick had indicated recently that he was safe as the Hoyas head coach and was excited about a strong recruiting class coming in.

However, the 47-year-old Esherick was fired only one week after his team's season came to an end with a loss to Boston College in the opening round of the Big East Conference Tournament. The Hoyas ended 2003-04 with a disappointing 13-15 record and just a 4-12 mark in the Big East Conference.

Georgetown began the season with a 10-0 record, only to lose 15 of their final 18 games.

Under Esherick's tutelage, the Hoyas reached the NCAA Tournament in 2001 and advanced the Sweet 16, but they have missed the NCAA tournament in each of the past three seasons.

The Hoyas did reach the NIT Final last year before losing to St. Johns.

Esherick, who played at Georgetown under Thompson, had a 103-74 record as the Hoyas' head coach. He also served as Thompson's assistant from 1982 until he succeeded him in 1998-99.