Report: Memphis pushed Josh Pastner to seek other jobs

Josh Pastner left Memphis for Georgia Tech, but not before receiving a push from behind by Tigers administrators, sources told Gary Parrish of CBS Sports.

In fact, Memphis reportedly agreed to pay its former coach $1.25 million to take the Georgia Tech job, after it was made clear to Pastner that the Tigers' brass was ready to move on from him.

Pastner entered the offseason rumored to be on the hot seat following a second straight disappointing season. A massive buyout in his contract prevented the Tigers from pulling the trigger on his firing, but the school is said to have strongly encouraged him to seek coaching opportunities elsewhere. The 38-year-old was reportedly unlikely to make it through a third consecutive poor year.

Pastner, though, wasn't Georgia Tech's first choice to fill its head coaching vacancy. The Yellow Jackets didn't turn to him until multiple candidates rejected the job, including Valpo's Bryce Drew, who ended up at Vanderbilt.

At the time, some speculated Pastner's move was fueled by an investigation into a pay raise he received at Memphis and a potential conflict of interest. However, it appears his former employer initiated the divorce, and suggested looking for a new partner along the way.