Debbie speaks

Dear Wolfpack Family,

I am writing to share with you the status of the search for our new head coach for men’s basketball. There have been telephone conversations with successful coaches that did not develop into meetings — sometimes because we did not wish to pursue those coaches further and sometimes because the coach involved is happy where he is.

The conversations have been candid. We have not tried to sugarcoat the challenge of rebuilding our basketball program. Our absence for 5 consecutive years from the NCAA Tournament was noted by each coach as evidence that the program is in poor shape and will require a special effort to rebuild.

Finding a coach with the fight and fire to do this job has been a challenge. That said, we will find an excellent college coach who shares the vision of what State Basketball can become and is up for the challenge.

I realize there are multiple rumors surfacing about the nature of the search on websites and in newspapers. Once our new coach is hired, I will be in a position to bring perspective to a number of those rumors. But, right now, we need to remain focused on finding a talented collegiate coach who is a fighter, full of confidence and appreciation for the opportunity to lead our basketball program back to national prominence.

That will happen in spite of those who believe this cannot occur.

Wolfpack Basketball is destined for a revival. We will accept no less. Please keep the faith while we continue the search. Your emails and text messages of support have meant everything to me. I am blessed to be your AD.

In the Spirit of the Pack,
Debbie

About BAM

I grew up on Jones Franklin Rd with a Wolfpack banner hanging over my bed. UNCW class of 2001.

Debbie Yow

210 Responses to Debbie speaks

  1. Howler 04/04/2011 at 10:56 PM #

    Oh, and by the way, Brad Stevens, has officially used up all his coaching talent.

  2. Wufpacker 04/04/2011 at 10:57 PM #

    ” She makes it sound like it is such a challenge to sell this undesirable job. Do the candidates really need that much convincing? ”

    The ones that we (collectively speaking…as a fanbase) wanted her to go and get? Yeah, they probably do. Why is everyone so surprised by this?

  3. mwcric 04/04/2011 at 10:58 PM #

    Program in poor shape? Jesus, it’s not like we’re on probation, have 5 seasons of single-digit wins and 2 scholarship players returning. Indiana was in much worse when Crean accepted that job. And what the hell was so great about the search firm? The only difference between 2011 and 2006 was no leaks from inside, but who needed leaks with other coaches talking? That was worth $50K?!?

  4. ClassOf95 04/04/2011 at 10:59 PM #

    From what I can tell, I would argue with anyone who thinks we have mishandled this search. It sounds like, for their own reasons, coaches just don’t want the job so far.
    It should be clear to more folks on here that while we have great facilities and we turn out the fans, 1983 and 1987 were a LONG time ago.

  5. Chucks Chesticles 04/04/2011 at 11:00 PM #

    Luckily we are a football school now.

  6. ringo 04/04/2011 at 11:03 PM #

    We should have gone after Chris Collins with both guns blazing. Similar to what Kansas did for Roy Williams. Big mistake. Now I’d say call K and beg him to give Wojo the blessing.

    I don’t want Ollie Purnell or another Haith like coach. At least with an assistant you don’t have to give him a long term deal.

  7. eas 04/04/2011 at 11:04 PM #

    I have been optimistic this entire time that things were somewhat planned before SIDs resignation (not meaning we had someone locked but just some realistic options that could be obtained). With the recent developments on coaches staying put and the others being available for some time now…….something is off here.

    Either the master plan and all of its alternate options have blown up or they are amazingly working the media/us. I think something has gone way south on this one. Maybe similar to Fowled but just on a very quite version.

    I think she will make a good hire regardless but this can’t be the game plan they wanted. This is very dangerous territory at this point. We may end up with a coach that is subpar but has fire and is going to be paid way too much in order to be the last option.

  8. WeAreCured 04/04/2011 at 11:05 PM #

    We should just give Towe the job for the year while someone with a clue looks good and hard for the next great young coach.

  9. Howler 04/04/2011 at 11:05 PM #

    I’m still thinking about the purpose of that e-mail. It couldn’t have been intended to make us feel better. If a hire was set to be announced in the next day or two, would she have bothered? Was it designed to make us all lower our expectations? Some serious head-scratching here.

  10. mwcric 04/04/2011 at 11:06 PM #

    Wufpacker, it’s tough to blame the fans for any delusions when Yow talked such a big game at her press conference. She voluntarily set the bar high and now she has to answer for it.

  11. ncst8mpa 04/04/2011 at 11:07 PM #

    I wasn’t worried …. until Debbie told us not to worry.

  12. ClassOf91 04/04/2011 at 11:07 PM #

    I think it is so that when she announces Cronin tomorrow, we all just feel relieved we signed someone with some level of experience building a program.

  13. roandaddy 04/04/2011 at 11:08 PM #

    Plan C list:
    Bobby Cremins
    Dave Odom
    Cliff Ellis

    All have ACC experience

  14. backnine 04/04/2011 at 11:08 PM #

    I think sending that email was a poor move by Yow. Not sure what coach she thinks she can get now after she herself defined the job in such poor and challenging terms. And to send those thoughts in an email to thousands of people. That note will now go viral and every fanbase in America will laugh and poke fun at us because of it. It essentially admits to the world, “we suck”. What was she thinking?

  15. Will NCSU 04/04/2011 at 11:09 PM #

    I got the e-mail. Its real. Not good. Bruce Pearl is looking better and better.

  16. WeAreCured 04/04/2011 at 11:12 PM #

    Bobby Cremins isn’t going anywhere. I live in Charleston a few blocks from the arena and go to games from time to time. He seems like he really loves the Cougs, and Charleston is awesome.

  17. choppack1 04/04/2011 at 11:14 PM #

    No coffee for Deb Yow tomorrow.

  18. adwomack 04/04/2011 at 11:16 PM #

    Has anyone considered that this is not really from NC State? I can’t believe she would use the wording of “Our absence for 5 consecutive years from the NCAA Tournament was noted by each coach as evidence that the program is in poor shape and will require a special effort to rebuild”.

    The email I got with this came from newsletter.cbs.com. Does DY send out press releases thru CBS?

    I’m guessing everyone else here has gotten the emails about someone hacking Epsilon’s email database. I’m wondering if CBS used the same company for this.

    And do we generally send out press releases at 9:30 at night?

    Just food for thought.

  19. gotohe11carolina 04/04/2011 at 11:16 PM #

    i’m back out on the ledge…

    so are we taking bets on how long debbie yow lasts if we have to hire eddie biedenbach. i’m really, really sick of having incompetent people in charge of the hiring and firing of our fair school. i’m not sure what it would take to straighten everything out up in raleigh. maybe we should think about spending our many millions on hiring jeremy foley instead of building new seats that will be empty for our mediocre teams… sorry bit of rant but its getting a little late in the game, about 6 years, to not have some good news to read about my beloved wolfpack.

    btw that is the worst excuse for a basketball game i’ve ever seen. i’ve seen womens’ games that were more entertaining than this…

  20. nav 04/04/2011 at 11:16 PM #

    I remember so many people “in the know” that was sure DY had someone lined up before Lowe was ever released. Wow, how far off does that seem now. Now that DY has completely dissed all our current players and scared off our incoming players we will be lucky to have a full roster next year. Way to send out a vote of confidence Yow. I miss Lee.

  21. Howler 04/04/2011 at 11:17 PM #

    I place my bets on it being Tubby. I heard early on that he wants the job. If Yow wants a “name”, I guess he is a name that will at least be recognized. This really stinks. Please prove us all wrong Debbie. If I have to spend the next 5 to 10 years watching the Pack continue in the bottom half of the ACC, I will have to give ice hockey another look. Beats the hell out of watching the Pack in the winter.

  22. ncsujuri 04/04/2011 at 11:17 PM #

    It seems as if she was just trying to make sure we aren’t all believing anything/everything that is out there in Rumor-ville. Patience my friends.

  23. eas 04/04/2011 at 11:17 PM #

    If we end up with Cronin I will puke from the white dog crap we all just ate.

    I think she was trying to be respectful to all of us but in the process she showed the flaws in the search. It really summarized the fact that apparently most coaches think our program is crap and not worth the effort/money. It ain’t great but it is not that freaking bad of a job!

    We all think it is great at least.

  24. TomCat 04/04/2011 at 11:19 PM #

    The perfect storm. That release…. sounded like someone defeated by the endeavor and the process.

    It’s as if the intention of this letter was to begin making excuses…to lay the ground work for significantly lower expectations. You can almost physically see expectations being lowered at a free fall.

    Why do I get the feeling we are still paying for transgressions and impressions of this fan base and program within the basketball coaching community from 5 years ago? Now added to the mix, the abrupt personality and reputation of a new AD. Is there some rehab 5-step program or anger management seminar we can attend — and earn our reputation back? Seriously.

    Blaaaah. I’m done with this cloak and dagger approach. Debra has raised the white flag. (why do I get the feeling she’s somewhere in a corner in the fetal position). Post the job. Review some resumes and get on with it. Can’t be worse than this excuse-riddled attempt at play at current.

  25. ldr of the pk 75 04/04/2011 at 11:21 PM #

    I can’t believe all the negative down in the mouth. For God’s sake, give the lady a chance.

    If you want to blame, lay it at the feet of the incompetants(sp)running the show for the last 20 years.

    My bet is we’ll be fine and have a great hire.

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