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. Professor06 04/05/2011 at 8:49 AM #

    All — sorry for the cross-post, but here are my thoughts on yesterday’s events. This may help frame the Yow letter a bit:

    For what it’s worth (and I know I am a little late to the party here), I can say with 100% certainty that Gregg Marshall was offered the job around noon local time yesterday. While I can’t speak definitively about the other candidates, they may not have been actually offered the job, yet I suspect that they knew they could essentially have it if they wanted it. By removing their names from the running, they were sending a clear message.

  2. LakistaMcCuller 04/05/2011 at 8:51 AM #

    Well, it only takes one… Hopefully someone will decide they are ready for a change, and see the opening here. Otherwise, our new coach may be Seth Greenberg or someone like that.

  3. Sam92 04/05/2011 at 8:58 AM #

    basically, we’re up the creek without a paddle.

    no big names. none of the hot mid-majors. if i were debbie yow, i would just go for someone young and hungry, who she believes has talent. at this point we just have to take a chance.

  4. tcthdi-tgsf-twhwtnc 04/05/2011 at 8:58 AM #

    If we lived in the old Soviet Union…

    Woodson would of announced this morning that Dr. Yow suffered a nervous breakdown last night and is now resting comfortably in a facility in the mountains. Bobby Purcell will be filling in “until she recovers”. Purcell thanks Dr. Yow for her hard work but he decided to go in another direction and announces Thad Matta to NC State.

    Is the best option down the road at Barton College? I’m sure Bulldog fans are starting to ask- “what have you done for us lately?” Then again please don’t offer unless you no you have a yes. I couldn’t take a public rejection from Barton.

    TEAM ACCOLADES
    Conference Champs (regular-season) in 96-97, 05-06, 06-07, 08-09.
    Conference Tournament Champs in 05-06, 06-07, 08-09.
    NCAA Tournament appearances in 1997, 2003, 2006, 2007 and 2009.
    East Regional Champs in 05-06, 06-07.
    National Champs in 06-07

    http://www2.barton.edu/cgi-bin/MySQLdb?VIEW=/athletics/teams/viewbio.txt&currentteam=6

  5. PackAche 04/05/2011 at 9:12 AM #

    my attempt at optimism:
    if i were a young coach looking to make a name, this is a dream job. if you fail, you could always fall back to a mid-major. heck, its not possible to win against K and Roy, right? if you succeed, well then you just went up against the biggest coaches in the game and proved your worth.

    the reason why Miller was so attractive to everyone was because he has that quiet confidence. he’s not backing down, and everyone knows it. but he’s also not blustery and full of bravado, as Amato was. Just get the job done.

    was it not the job of the search firm to find this person? does this firm havea real reputation for this type of search, or was it a nepotistic contract?

  6. wolfmanmat 04/05/2011 at 12:10 PM #

    Did she hire a search firm owned by Lee Fowler?

  7. btownwolfpack 04/05/2011 at 12:20 PM #

    Very surprised that people are wondering what is so bad about the State job. Nothing. If we hired Marshall or other “coach agreed to terms” Friday, then we are fine. But instead, we make an outlandish offer to a kid named Shaka, and he says no loudly. So coaches with ten years of experience give DY the bird and walk. So here are the new qualifications for the job: less than two years Division I head coaching experience and one NCAA appearance. Anybody with a better resume pulled their name yesterday.

  8. MrPlywood 04/05/2011 at 12:48 PM #

    [b]My edits:[/b]

    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.”

    We do not share that perception. Yes, the results of the past 5 years have been disappointing, that’s why there was a leadership change last year, and a coaching change at the end of this season. As far as “being in poor shape”, to the contrary, we have excellent players in place and a highly rated recruiting class on the way, excellent facilities, and a fanbase that has stuck with the program through thick and thin. Is that fanbase ready for success? Absolutely, and our goal is to make that possible.

    We are searching for a coach with the fight and fire to accept the challenge. We [b]will[/b] find an excellent college coach who shares the vision of what State Basketball can become and is up for the challenge.

  9. graywolf 04/05/2011 at 12:52 PM #

    “Hire Bob Knight, he can whip the current players into shapre, knows his x and o’s, will bring lots of good media attention to us, and can handle our cougar AD! Vitale has told us what to do!”

    Sound advice at this point

  10. buclark 04/05/2011 at 1:37 PM #

    the little buzz words about being “blessed” need to remain in church.

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