My Personal Vision For an Orderly and Civilized Transition

Coaches Coaching Carousel Debbie Yow NCS Basketball Sidney Lowe76

I don’t think it will surprise anyone to hear that Sidney Lowe’s 5th season coaching the North Carolina State Wolfpack will be his last. I honestly don’t think anyone with an IQ above room temperature would dispute that statement.

Ordinarily, there would be lots of fire and brimstone when a coach is clearly in the death spiral. Threads swell with comments. Passions rage at an all-time high. Not now. The quiet is more than a bit eerie at times. But it’s here, and we still have at least 8 more basketball games to somehow get through before the energy returns, and NC State basketball turns the page officially.

There will be no mid-season firing. Despite the spontaneous thrill such a move would bring – it couldn’t possibly help us long-term. Not one iota. The season can’t be saved (even if a reincarnated John Wooden sat on the bench), and really shouldn’t be saved. It is what it is. Although there’s no upside, there is downside – and Dr. Yow is right to recognize it. NC State would look even more unprofessional than it did in March and April 2006 – if that’s possible. And any kind of winning streak could re-fracture the fanbase and the roster, with some voices rising in support of making the interim dude permanent. Bad, bad idea. Please stop harrassing our athletic director about it. Even politely.

With last Saturday’s loss, NC State is de facto eliminated from NCAAT at-large consideration. There will be no signature win for the program, even of the random “Les Robinson beats Dean Smith twice in a season, with a 9-game losing streak in between” variety. All that remains is the ACC tournament. Winning it would not save Sidney Lowe’s job. It would certainly not magically fix the numerous, deep flaws in our basketball program. But voices would rise in dissent once again – and you could have the perverse situation of wins being bad for NC State.

So, here’s my best and fondest wish – although I would not be so arrogant as to press Dr. Yow to follow this vision. On Monday morning after the regular season ends, announce what everybody knows (but is afraid to say out loud, at least in the local media) – that Sidney Lowe will not return for the 2011-12 season. Shake his hand, and wish him well with his future endeavors. And see if he can make the most out of his last chance in undoubtedly his best setting as a college head coach. Perhaps (hell, probably), we get our expected beatdown in Greensboro. But maybe, just maybe, Lowe goes out with one more run. Maybe it’s just one or two victories, but still we see a little more fire, emotion, and focus from everyone. Every staff member, player, and fan has the yoke of “what does this mean for Lowe’s job status” removed from their shoulders. Just play. The Lowe era won’t end as anyone hoped, but the last weekend could at least serve as a decent send-off for all parties involved.

As always, thanks for reading, and look forward to profiles of prospective coaches in the following days and weeks.

About BJD95

1995 NC State graduate, sufferer of Les and MOC during my entire student tenure. An equal-opportunity objective critic and analyst of Wolfpack sports.

Coaches Coaching Carousel Debbie Yow NCS Basketball Sidney Lowe

76 Responses to My Personal Vision For an Orderly and Civilized Transition

  1. tvp1 02/08/2011 at 1:48 PM #

    I generally agree except that I don’t see a benefit to making the announcement pre-ACC tournament. I would expect possible candidates to be totally focused on their own teams at that time so we would not get more of a head start.

    But more importantly, I think it will be very important to make the hire as quickly as possible after Sid resigns/is relieved of his duties. Poor record aside, we have some very good young talent on this roster. It would help speed up the rebuilding process under the next coach tremendously if guys like Harrow, Brown, Howell, etc. stick around. If there’s a long lag period, I think it increases the chances of transfer (and here I really mean poaching by other programs).

    However it happens, it needs to be done with class and dignity. I am sure Sid knows where he stands, but he is handling it publicly with as much grace as possible. And he’s one of our own. He deserves to not suffer through a Rich Rodriguez-style indignity on the way out.

  2. tvp1 02/08/2011 at 1:49 PM #

    Also, as to this,

    “All that remains is the ACC tournament. Winning it would not save Sidney Lowe’s job. It would certainly not magically fix the numerous, deep flaws in our basketball program. But voices would rise in dissent once again – and you could have the perverse situation of wins being bad for NC State.”

    I would gladly take an ACC Tournament win even if it meant Sid stayed another year and we underachieved again next year. It’s been so damn log since we won a title that to me, that would be more than worth it.

  3. VaWolf82 02/08/2011 at 2:25 PM #

    However, if you want to use Carolina and Roy as the role model for what we can do go ahead.

    Strawman much?

  4. VaWolf82 02/08/2011 at 2:30 PM #

    If there’s a long lag period, I think it increases the chances of transfer

    With having to sit out a year, I’m not worried about transfers. The fastest way to the NBA is still thru Raleigh for those that have pro aspirations. Hiring the wrong coach just to keep players and committs that are going to be quickly gone is putting your priorities in the wrong place.

  5. wufpaxno1 02/08/2011 at 2:57 PM #

    I agree that it would be a bad idea to fire any coach mid season, but I also believe that firing Sidney post season will bleed the program of much of the young talent that is currently on the roster. And these kids do have immense talent, what they suffer from is a lack of direction.

    What I think would work best is if Yow approached Sidney and suggested that he offer his resignation effective immediately and offered to pay out the terms of his contract if he did so. This would give Sidney the opportunity to save dignity by announcing his retirement, say how much he loved NC State and felt that his departure would be for the good of the program.

    The Administration should allow Monty Towe to step in as the interim coach for the remainder of the season and while the search for a new coach takes place, thus honoring him for his dedication to NC State as a player, assistant, and alumni.

    Doing the above would likely give the players time to make the adjustment to the change and hopefully allow us to keep most of them on the roster moving forward.

    Theoretically, this would be a win, win, win in as much as it can be, as Sidney could save face and remain the cherished member of NC State’ successful past, honor Monty Towe for all he has done, and hopefully not leave us in another 5 year tailspin of rebuilding the program again. I say theoretically because we are still haunted by incompetent members of the national media who will turn a negative light on all of this despite all of the damage it would do to all parties involved, but ultimately we are going to have to face that onslaught no matter when and how it all goes down.

  6. rawolf 02/08/2011 at 3:28 PM #

    I was all for keeping Lowe one more year, but I dont think so now. The only problem I have is when it all comes down to it is I dont think there is a very good coach in their right mind that would take this job. From what I am hearig and I live in Hickory NC where Barnes is from and the talk was that Barnes would not come because of the Fanbase and after I heard that hell I dont want him there. But I think anything would be better then what we got. Hell I dont know anymore. All I can say is GO PACK !!!!!!!!

  7. dashowstopper 02/08/2011 at 3:33 PM #

    khabarovsk the problem with your theory is that up until quite recently, coaches MADE their rep in the ACC. We were THE premier conference in the country. Getting into the ACC was the dream job for most coaches.
    The other problem with your theory is other than the person currently at unc, what big name coach leaves a power conference “dream job” to grab another power conference “dream job”? In 40 years what coach has made that jump? Coaches don’t leave the “dream job” situations in power leagues.

  8. khabarovsk 02/08/2011 at 3:50 PM #

    Dashowstopper, although you say these are problems with my theory, you seem to be agreeing with it–that the jump from a bigtime job to an ACC job is not typically made. In fact it’s historically almost unheard of.

  9. swamppack 02/08/2011 at 5:59 PM #

    I really appreciate all the love shown on here for Sid even through all the disappointment we’re all feeling right now. Shows a lot of class. Puts you head and shoulders above the trash in the media that are trying thier best to distort the true character of NCSU fans.

    As for the timing of all the elements being considered here during the upcoming transition, this thought I will share.

    A wise, authoritative action obviously is needed concerning a coaching change. If any player or recruit can’t get on board with that action, gettin’ on down the road would be the best for everybody.

    Pandering to the players is = to parents at home pandering to and spoiling thier children. It’s called a disfunctional family.

  10. MISTA WOLF 02/08/2011 at 9:09 PM #

    Anthony Grant from Alabama anyone? I was reading on ESPN about the job he’s done at Alabama. Their 7-1 in the SEC which is impressive I must say. I don’t know if you guys remember but he was a coach on Billy’s staff down in Gainesville for 10 years and then left for VCU. We all know what they did in the tournament against Duke and he did nothing but make the dance twice and NIT once. They went 17-15 in his first year at Alabama and they are now sitting at 15-7. I think he would be a good fit. Guy shows a unbelievable amount of emotion and has shown knowledge to begin building that program in year 2. What do you guys think?

  11. 61Packer 02/08/2011 at 9:34 PM #

    Agree with wufpaxno1: as much as we all liked Lowe the player, some of us feel that our program is more important than Low the coach. I’m all for making a change now and letting Towe take the team for the duration of this season.

    Any Wolfpack coach, in my opinion, who cannot inspire his players against UNC and Duke, SEASON AFTER SEASON, needs to be shown the door. I’m tired of not only the lack of passion but also from hearing all the excuses that lay the blame on everybody BUT the coaching staff. We’ve got 8, maybe 9 games left, and I’ve had enough of Low. So has our program.

    And Low isn’t the only problem we have. We’ve got probably the most athletic bunch of players we’ve had in a decade, yet few if any of them can dribble, pass, shoot or play defense worth a flip. Personally, I’d love to see most of ’em go, and please let Gonzo lead the way. Say what you like, but his scowl has become the face of Wolfpack basketball.

    As for a replacement, some of the names from out west may sound appealing, but could someone from thousands of miles away step into this region and recruit? And could a mid-major coach fix the multitude of problems we now have? I won’t go into my choice of Bob Knight again, but wouldn’t it be nice to once again have a coach who’d restore hope to Wolfpack fans plus teach young athletes to first be team players instead of NBA wannabees?

    Imagine going to the RBC Center next year, and trying to find even one empty seat there if Knight were our new coach, regardless of who we were playing. Imagine players who played defense, took charges, did anything to get a possession and then actually showed good shot selection. Imagine that!

  12. distinggent 02/08/2011 at 11:07 PM #

    Just curious… After the whirlwind episode known as the 2006 Coach Dating Game, have we resigned ourselves to our being able to poach coaches from Delaware State or Guilford College?

    Do we not have boosters willing to write checks anymore, in order to get a coach to pull a Coach Cal (yes I still hate him) turnaround??

    My dream coach: Jay Wright (Villanova)
    “With My Luck” coach: Archie Miller

    LOL!

  13. ADVENTUROO 02/08/2011 at 11:14 PM #

    This blog reminds me of a weather man using all the technology available to forecast the weather without actually going outside and just looking around.

    While everyone was blogging and writing obituaries and prognosticating about Rick Barnes and others, there was an unprecendented show of support for Coach Lowe at Crabtree.

    Interestingly enough, Bobby Purcell was there. I gathered from the conversation that many folks feel that Sid deserves a shot at developing the “OVER RATED” recruiting class that raised expectations to the point of ridiculous.

    Cooler and more knowledgeable folks pointed out when all the hoopla and the media was ranking us a number 4, maybe number 3 and then counting the “W’s” that the tean needed to play a few games first.

    There have been some mistakes….just as old Huck had last year. So, do all the speculating you want, but don’t send the sign guy to change the name plate on the office, yet.

    Sid may NOT be our coach next year, but I think that decision has NOT been made. I do NOT think, based on many factors, that coaches are being contacted.

    It is also a disservice to the PROGRAM and the TEAM, not Coach Lowe, for such speculation. It seems that the folks who wanted HWSNBSOHA FIRED are not just recycling their speils. Sid may decide to find a better position in the pros….who knows.

    BUT, do NOT count on the fact that a NEW COACH, who will be an unknown and probably a “WHO THE HECK IS HE AND WHY DID NCSU HIRE HIM?” type of guy. Who have every heard of Valvano or Sloan? The star recruits that Sid has brought us and are showing improvement MAY decide to transfer…..and THEN, we will settle in for another 4 or 5 years of mediocrity.

    The ADMINISTRATION dug our grave for us in 1990….and we have had NO champion, with perhaps the exception of Mary Anne…..since then.

    Let’s examine what we REALLY want here and then see how to get there. Trashing the coach and the team and speculating on how great it will be with a NEW coach is hardly productive…for the present team and the new or future recruits.

    I, an a LOT of Wolfpackers who pay the bills and go to the games are NOT giving up on Coach Lowe….despite what, as Bob Lee has been known to say, the idle prattle of the board moneys…If I remember correctly, about 95% of the comments here about the Carolina Situation ended up with Coach Davis being fired. I think that “fact” has turned into a myth….might be wrong, but I have not seen a “for sale by owner” sign on his house and no new office signs have been put up.

    GO PACK…

  14. bigbel27 02/08/2011 at 11:32 PM #

    How about Brad Stevens from Butler, unless he is happy where he is, not sure how he didn’t get a major conference job after championship game appearance

  15. McPete 02/08/2011 at 11:32 PM #

    “This blog reminds me of a weather man using all the technology available to forecast the weather without actually going outside and just looking around.”

    How the heck can you tell me what the weather’s gonna be like on Friday by going outside and looking around today?

  16. jbpackfan 02/08/2011 at 11:34 PM #

    Things are going to get better. Just get through the last 8 games and enjoy a properly executed coaching search. BJD knows what he is talking about.

  17. choppack1 02/08/2011 at 11:45 PM #

    Some of us were ready for this change 3 years ago. It’s been obvious once players have had sustained access to the program under current leadership that the little things required to simply make the tournament weren’t being done.

    This was the year when hopefully the talent on the floor would overcome these obvious flaws. It didn’t happen – and right now, a team that was looking like it should have been Lowe’s best, is rivaling his worst – and that’s saying a lot.

  18. Hamlet 02/09/2011 at 3:33 AM #

    ADVENTUROO,

    This blog and others like it are doing no damage whatsoever to our basketball program. Let me pose this questions to you: Do you think BJD95, SF, and all the other mods and posters on this site are damaging our basketball program in any way, shape or form close to what Sidney Lowe and his “staff” have done over the past five years??? How about Lee Fowler, the gift that keeps giving?? And Oblinger??

    Anything written on a blog has next to no negative impact on our athletics programs. Period. End of Story. Whatever miniscule impact it does have pales in comparison to the lousy leadership and stewardship of this university for the past two decades or so. This speaks nothing to the less-than-competent coaching we’ve had to endure during this period of time.

    This variety of fandom and the level of blind loyalty befuddles me to no end.

  19. BJD95 02/09/2011 at 10:16 AM #

    I think we know about how seriously one can take a dude who makes insane “lynching” comments to “support” his opinion.

  20. bradleyb123 02/09/2011 at 11:52 AM #

    A few have mentioned Bobby Knight as a potential replacement for Sid. Aside from the obvious age issue (how much longer would he want to coach?), and the “would he even come here?” angle… I really couldn’t see the NCSU administration hiring such a controversial coach. Not after the scandal that rocked us in the late 80’s.

    But then again, maybe he’d like to crank it back up to protect his NCAA record number of wins as Coach K is closing in on it. 😉

  21. MISTA WOLF 02/09/2011 at 12:49 PM #

    Bobby Knight is old and has too much of a grasp on the game. What I mean by that is with kids these days you run plays and if they don’t work they use ball movement. They want to play ball a lot of times like you do at the park. Bobby wants to run a play everytime and for things to go his way. That’s why he fell off at Indiana in the end and at Texas Tech. I still believe we need a young african american coach. Just saying.

  22. Sam92 02/09/2011 at 1:57 PM #

    i’m in favor of taking a chance on someone young who shows promise but i think we’d be making a mistake if we limited ourselves to hiring an african american.

  23. lush 02/09/2011 at 2:18 PM #

    “I still believe we need a young african american coach. ”

    Why? Do white coaches like K, Roy, Barnes, Calipari, Calhoun, Beiheim, Pitino, Self, Matta, Dixon, Wright, Miller, Few, Donovan, etc.etc.etc. have trouble communicating with today’s players?

  24. Ed89 02/09/2011 at 2:51 PM #

    Lowe, Skinner, Purnell, Leitao, Haith, Hewitt, Hamilton. Two years ago, 7 of 12 ACC coaches were black. Now, there are 4. Look at the standings. Lowe, Hewitt, and Haith are probably on the hottest seats in the ACC. Hamilton has been steadily middle of the road, but has had some success this year. I think it is hard to justify actually going after an African-American coach because how they “may” relate. Evidently that doesn’t result in “Wins.”
    Basically, each applicant should be judged on their merits.

  25. highstick 02/10/2011 at 9:46 PM #

    cently, coaches MADE their rep in the ACC. We were THE premier conference in the country. Getting into the ACC was the dream job for most coaches.
    The other problem with your theory is other than the person currently at unc, what big name coach leaves a power conference “dream job” to grab another power conference “dream job”? In 40 years what coach has made that jump? Coaches don’t leave the “dream job” situations in power leagues.

    Well, maybe that’s the case in basketball, but not necessarily football……………think Saban, Miles, etc.

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