Karl Hobbs, who directed George Washington to three straight NCAA Tournament appearances as a head coach, captured two national titles as an assistant at Connecticut and helped Rutgers to three post-season appearances in his most recent stop, joined the Georgia Tech men’s basketball staff as associate head coach in April of 2023.
Hobbs has 37 seasons of Division I coaching experience and 21 post-season appearances on his resume, and has made a significant mark on the Tech program in his first year, helping recruit the nation’s 13th-ranked recruiting class (2024 class) after playing a major role in re-shaping the Yellow Jackets’ roster prior to the 2023-24 season.
Hobbs came to The Flats following seven seasons as associate head coach at Rutgers. He helped guide the Scarlet Knights to post-season appearances each of the past three seasons, including back-to-back appearances in the NCAA Tournament in 2021 and 2022, marking the first time RU made the big dance in consecutive seasons since 1976. Hobbs helped Rutgers snap a 30-year NCAA Tournament drought when the Scarlet Knights earned a berth in the 2021 the NCAA Tournament, their first appearance since 1991.
In addition to playing an instrumental role in recruiting, game-planning and opponent scouting, Hobbs was key in the development of the Scarlet Knights’ backcourt and perimeter players. Rutgers welcomed four-star signees from New Jersey in consecutive classes, with Ron Harper, Jr. (2018) and Paul Mulcahy (2019) both electing to stay home. After arriving on campus without a national prospect ranking, guard Geo Baker became a third-team All-Big Ten selection in 2019-20. Guard Caleb McConnell was named the Big Ten’s co-Defensive Player of the Year in 2023, and earned honorable mention All-Big Ten honors along with Mulcahy and Cam Spencer.
Karl Hobbs, who directed George Washington to three straight NCAA Tournament appearances as a head coach, captured two national titles as an assistant at Connecticut and helped Rutgers to three post-season appearances in his most recent stop, joined the Georgia Tech men’s basketball staff as associate head coach in April of 2023.
Hobbs has 37 seasons of Division I coaching experience and 21 post-season appearances on his resume, and has made a significant mark on the Tech program in his first year, helping recruit the nation’s 13th-ranked recruiting class (2024 class) after playing a major role in re-shaping the Yellow Jackets’ roster prior to the 2023-24 season.
Hobbs came to The Flats following seven seasons as associate head coach at Rutgers. He helped guide the Scarlet Knights to post-season appearances each of the past three seasons, including back-to-back appearances in the NCAA Tournament in 2021 and 2022, marking the first time RU made the big dance in consecutive seasons since 1976. Hobbs helped Rutgers snap a 30-year NCAA Tournament drought when the Scarlet Knights earned a berth in the 2021 the NCAA Tournament, their first appearance since 1991.
“Coach Hobbs is a very important addition to our program,” said head coach Damon Stoudamire. “He’s a really good guy and very trustworthy. He’s been around the block with a lot of experience. He has coached for really good people, and, of course, has been a head coach in his own right. He’s had a lot of success and built a strong reputation in the Northeast. He brings a savvy and a nurturing, calming personality that will help shape the rest of the staff. He’s got a good eye for talent, and obviously has sat in this seat before and understands everything that comes with it.”
In addition to playing an instrumental role in recruiting, game-planning and opponent scouting, Hobbs was key in the development of the Scarlet Knights’ backcourt and perimeter players. Rutgers welcomed four-star signees from New Jersey in consecutive classes, with Ron Harper, Jr. (2018) and Paul Mulcahy (2019) both electing to stay home. After arriving on campus without a national prospect ranking, guard Geo Baker became a third-team All-Big Ten selection in 2019-20. Guard Caleb McConnell was named the Big Ten’s co-Defensive Player of the Year in 2023, and earned honorable mention All-Big Ten honors along with Mulcahy and Cam Spencer.
Despite playing the among the toughest conference schedules in the Big Ten, according to Ken Pom analysis the past four seasons, Rutgers made significant strides with Hobbs on staff. RU won 53 games over the past three years, including a 32-28 mark in the Big Ten.
In 2019-20, the Scarlet Knights posted their first winning season in 14 years with a 20-11 record. It was the program’s first 20-win regular season in 37 years. The team had 18 regular season home wins, the most in the nation and a program record.
The Scarlet Knights tied for fifth in the Big Ten Conference, the nation’s top-rated league per Ken Pomeroy, posting an 11-9 mark in league games. RU earned its most conference victories in 29 years. RU earned its first opening road bye in a conference tournament in 25 years, and were poised to secure its first NCAA Tournament berth since 1991.
The Scarlet Knights had four double-digit victories over ranked opponents, including a 20-point win over Seton Hall in the annual Garden State Hardwood Classic, RU largest margin of victory over a ranked foe in program history. During the season, Rutgers joined the national rankings for the first time in 41 years and were ranked or receiving votes for eight weeks.
RU was recognized as the nation’s Most Improved Team in 2018-19 by Sports Illustrated. The Scarlet Knights improved 70 positions in the KenPom.com rankings, best among all Power conference programs. Rutgers earned seven league victories, its most in conference play in 13 years, while competing with a roster ranked 330th in experience.
The Scarlet Knights ranked among the top three in the Big Ten in eight statistical categories in 2017-18 and won two conference tournament games for the first time since 1998. In 2016-17, Rutgers more than doubled its overall win total, while tripling their conference victory total, en route to a plus-117 rank improvement in RPI.
Hobbs served 10 seasons (2001-11) at the helm in the nation’s capital, taking over a GW program at the bottom of Atlantic 10 Conference standings and eventually winning two A-10 titles (2005, 2007) in the midst of four straight post-season appearances (2004-07). He registered a 166-129 (.563) overall record, including an impressive 74 percent winning percentage from 2003-08.
In 2005-06, he guided the Colonials to their most successful year in program history, posting a 27-3 record, including a perfect 16-0 league mark in the Atlantic 10 Conference, and a No. 6 national ranking. As a result, Hobbs earned both Atlantic 10 and NABC District 4 Coach of the Year honors, while also being named one of four finalists for Naismith Coach of the Year. GW strung together a 24-game home winning streak, the fifth-longest in the nation, spanning the 2005-06 and 2006-07 seasons.
Five of Hobbs’ assistants at George Washington advanced to head coaching positions, including his head coach at Rutgers, Steve Pikiell, who served as an assistant coach at GW from 2001-05.
A noted relationship-builder, Hobbs has coached and recruited numerous NBA players during his career, including Ray Allen, Richard Hamilton, Caron Butler, Emeka Okafor and Pops Mensah-Bonsu.
Hobbs was selected as an assistant coach for the United States U-19 team that included two-time NBA champion and MVP Steph Curry, and DeAndre Jordan, at the 2007 FIBA World Championship. He helped guide the squad to a silver medal in Novi Sad, Serbia.
His experience on the international stage also includes serving as a court coach for the 2005 USA Men’s World University Games Team Trials.
Prior to his appointment at Rutgers, Hobbs spent four seasons (2012-16) in Storrs, assisting head coach Kevin Ollie in the development of the seasonal master plan, the preparation of individual game strategies, practice sessions, fund raising and scheduling. He was also responsible for the fundamental development of all perimeter players and assisted with the organization and development of the team’s worldwide recruiting plan. Last year, the Huskies won the American Athletic Conference Championship to earn an NCAA berth. It came on the heels of the 2014 national championship, in which the Huskies defeated Kentucky 60-54 in the title game at AT&T Stadium in Arlington.
A former UConn team captain, Hobbs also spent eight years as a Connecticut assistant from 1993-2001 under Jim Calhoun and helped the Huskies to six NCAA appearances, three Big East titles and the 1999 National Championship.
Prior to joining Calhoun’s staff at UConn, Hobbs served as an assistant coach at Boston University for six years (1988-93). The Terriers won the North Atlantic Conference title twice and advanced to the NCAA Tournament first round in two of Hobbs’ four seasons.
Hobbs was a four-year starting point guard for UConn (1980-84) under Dom Perno and was an All-Big East selection as a senior. He led the team in assists all four years and still ranks sixth on the all-time list with 534. He never missed a game and started 104 of 113 contests while earning a Bachelor of Science in Family Studies.
A native of Roxbury, Mass., Hobbs was named Massachusetts Schoolboy Player of the Year in 1979-80 after leading Cambridge Rindge and Latin High School to the state championship. He was coached scholastically by Mike Jarvis and was a teammate of Patrick Ewing.
Born August 7, 1961, Hobbs and his wife JoAnn are the proud parents of two daughters, RaShauna and Kaliah.
