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. tann84 04/04/2011 at 9:08 PM #

    Well that shoots down the theory that there has already been an hire.

  2. wolfpackdawg 04/04/2011 at 9:09 PM #

    That does not sound good.

  3. NCSU88 04/04/2011 at 9:09 PM #

    “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.”

    Are these candidates looking to skate into an easy job? With an attitude like that I certainly would not hire them.

  4. Raleighpack 04/04/2011 at 9:10 PM #

    Sounds like she is back at square one

  5. bigwolfpacker 04/04/2011 at 10:34 PM #

    These coaches should know that they cant take a job unless the program is in some sort of downturn.

    So who are the next guys up?

  6. WeAreCured 04/04/2011 at 10:34 PM #

    Ughhh… Looks like we’re going to have to really venture off the beaten path to find a coach this time around. Maybe it’ll work out and Disney will make a movie out of it.

    All you Debbie lovers and smokescreeners still think she’s got everything under control?

  7. TomCat 04/04/2011 at 10:40 PM #

    Wow…. FAIL.
    That— is the person selling this program? Jesus Debra.

  8. Dogbreath 04/04/2011 at 10:41 PM #

    Biedenbach on deck.

  9. beowolf 04/04/2011 at 10:42 PM #

    Oh my God. What an absolute nightmare. We’re talking Lee Fowler squared.

    If she released the other candidates before finalizing the agreement with her target, and lost that target, then she needs to follow Sid out the door. The damage wrought by such a misstep would be fatal to the program.

    [i]Thomas Andrews: That’s five compartments! She can stay afloat with the first four compartments breached, but not five! … She will [sink]. It is a mathematical certainty.[/i]

  10. Wufpacker 04/04/2011 at 10:43 PM #

    I don’t think this is necessarily a bad thing. I actually think it’s a pretty well crafted PR release without having to necessarily answer questions from the media that she might not want to have to address right now (Did Shaka Smart really shun NC State?).

    She did what a lot of us were wondering about, and in so doing reminded us that it is still a process. The only folks that this is going to frighten is the folks that thought we would be able to just cherry pick whomever we wanted, throw a buttload of cash at them, then schedule the introductory press conference.

    Nothing is any different than before the the email, it’s just that some of us have had our illusions invalidated. Yow will still make the best available hire.

  11. roandaddy 04/04/2011 at 10:43 PM #

    “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.”

    –I am not a world class salesman.. but why not highlight some positives?? Like strong facilities, strong fan base, top conference, etc.
    Here comes Plan D.. Dave Odom, Bobby Knight, or sell our soul for Pearl????

  12. highstick 04/04/2011 at 10:44 PM #

    Think about it guys…If she fails, Woodsom has his neck in a noose! And I hope that all of you folks who wanted to give Herb, Sid, and every other lazy NC State coach a free ride forever are really happy at the results. We warned you of mediocrity, you failed to react, and demeaned all of those who wanted change a long time ago. This is directed at fans and BOT alike..How do you like mediocrity now?

    Now with that being said, I don’t care if it’s Barnes, Miller, Marshall, and whoever, if you’ve got no guts, then I don’t want to see you on our sidelines anyway!

    If you’ve got the nads, then step up and be counted. Great opportunity for a confident coach that won’t back down to anyone!

    Frankly, I’m of the opinion that Fowler, Easley, and Obie should be sued and exposed as the incompetent bunch of ass kissing politicos that they are! And fire the entire BOT responsible, rip their names off of buildings, football stadiums, and everything else..

    And if Gary Williams has any responsibility, he needs to think twice about every setting foot in the State of NC again.

    Lot’s of “if’s”, but I had to vent. I never expected the junk that was being posted on here, but this is freakin’ ridiculous!

  13. NCSU84 04/04/2011 at 10:45 PM #

    Don’t we have faith in the search firm we hired? They may not be able to root out an A or B list coach, but surely we can land a C list candidate. Oh, wait, that is what Lee Foulup always produced – heaven help us!

  14. JT 04/04/2011 at 10:45 PM #

    S**t happens. Most people seemed to be bitching about Marshall or Smart anyway. My personal preference is Bobby Lutz. I like him more than Smart or Marshall. Hell of a coach, better than most seem to think at least in this context.

  15. choppack1 04/04/2011 at 10:45 PM #

    Maybe I missed something, but did this five missed tournaments in a row event come after her press conference?

    Translation: If she had a plan, it’s blowed up.

  16. tvp1 04/04/2011 at 10:46 PM #

    That letter basically blows up SFN’s (any my) theory that Marshall/Cronin were released because we had someone else on the hook.

    This is a disaster.

  17. buclark 04/04/2011 at 10:49 PM #

    I hope our players don’t read this post

  18. Howler 04/04/2011 at 10:50 PM #

    I have read Yow’s e-mail over and over. It worries me a ton. It sounds like something she would write at the search’s inception. “Finding” a coach? You mean we haven’t even found him yet? She makes it sound like it is such a challenge to sell this undesirable job. Do the candidates really need that much convincing? The PR stinks as bad as it did with Lee Fowler, and if we get a crappy mid-major hire after all this, below the level of Smart or Marshall, then I am speechless.

    Taylor Zarzour, on his show today, said we had been “turned down” by Cronin, Marshall and Smart and that our only hope is to grab Bruce Pearl. Are you kidding? We get rid of Valvano 20 plus years ago and now the media thinks we should hire Pearl? Debbie, do something quickly. This is bad.

  19. PackPatriot 04/04/2011 at 10:52 PM #

    I do public affairs for a living. This is not a good sign. Period. Defensive to say the least. Balloon popped.

  20. Old MacDonald 04/04/2011 at 10:52 PM #

    That letter is just ridiculously bad for so many reasons and on so many levels I don’t even have time to provive a summary of my thoughts.

    Calling it Fowler-esque is generous.

  21. Chucks Chesticles 04/04/2011 at 10:53 PM #

    This is almost as ugly as the national championship game.

  22. c c harrison 04/04/2011 at 10:54 PM #

    It seems as though we are now “the fat chick at the club”..guys will talk to us just to be nice..but there ain’t no way there going to jump in the sack with us…

  23. the_phisherman 04/04/2011 at 10:54 PM #

    What highstick said! I remain confident that our next coach will be up for the challenge.

  24. statemech 04/04/2011 at 10:55 PM #

    why does everyone see this and automatically believe it to be genuine? With how this search has gone so far, have we not learned anything?

    What is the source of this “letter.” From the forums I’ve gathered that this was sent to some people from CBS?

    Why would a professional openly admit defeat?

    Why is nobody questioning the the validity of this letter?

  25. PackPatriot 04/04/2011 at 10:56 PM #

    Tomorrow’s headlines… “Pack Signals Defeat, Asks for Volunteers”

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