North Carolina State University
NCSU to induct first Hall of Fame class Friday
Published: 2012-10-05 12:35:00
Updated: 2012-10-05 20:04:47
Oct 5, 2012
Raleigh, N.C. — Headlined by former coaches Kay Yow and Jim Valvano, North Carolina State University's inaugural Hall of Fame class will be inducted Friday night in a ceremony at Reynolds Coliseum.
Friday's ceremony, hosted by WRAL-TV's Jeff Gravley, will feature video vignettes of each inductee and appearances by Chancellor Randy Woodson and Director of Athletics Debbie Yow.
Selected in June by a committee of alumni, faculty and university administrators, the inaugural class features seven former athletes and three former coaches.
Kay Yow was the first full-time women’s college coach at a North Carolina school. In 34 years at NC State, she led the Wolfpack to 680 wins, 20 NCAA Tournament appearances, 11 Sweet Sixteens and the 1998 Final Four. She also led Team USA to gold medals at the 1988 Seoul Olympics and the 1986 World University Games in Moscow.
As both men’s basketball coach and athletics director, Jim Valvano is one of the most recognizable figures in NC State history. He guided the Pack to both the 1983 ACC and NCAA championships in just his third year as head coach. In addition to winning regular-season ACC titles in 1985 and 1989, he also won the 1987 ACC Tournament and was selected 1989 ACC Coach of the Year.
Joining Yow and Valvano from the coaching ranks is Everett Case, who coached the men's basketball team from 1946-64 and won nine conference championships during a 10-year span.
David Thompson, the high-flying forward who led the Wolfpack to the 1974 NCAA Championship, highlights the group of former athletes. Thompson, a native of Shelby, N.C., led the Wolfpack to the 1973 and ’74 ACC titles and helped Norm Sloan’s team break UCLA’s streak of seven consecutive national titles by beating the Bruins in double overtime of the 1974 semifinals in Greensboro, N.C. Two days later, the Wolfpack beat Marquette to secure the first team championship in school history.
Seven-time national champion Julie Shea, perhaps the school’s most decorated female athlete, was the top finisher on the 1979 and ’80 cross country teams that won NC State’s and the ACC’s first national championships in women’s sports.
Three football players are in the first class, including the ACC’s all-time rushing and scoring leader, tailback Ted Brown, whose records have stood the test of time since he played his last game in 1978. He is joined by teammate and center Jim Ritcher, one of the most accomplished offensive linemen in college and professional football history. Ritcher was the winner of the 1979 Outland Trophy, provided to the best college football interior lineman in the nation.
The third football inductee, Roman Gabriel, was a two-time All-American as a quarterback in 1960 and ’61.
Festivities for the inaugural class will continue on Saturday before and during NC State's home game against No. 3 Florida State. Fans will have a chance to greet inductees in person around 6 p.m. in the Fan Zone, located between PNC Arena and the north entrance to Carter-Finley Stadium.
The class will also be honored in an on-field ceremony at halftime of the game.
Copyright 2013 North Carolina State University. All rights reserved.
Most Recent Comments
RE: NCSU to induct first Hall of Fame class Friday
State should have done this long ago, a great first class though. I could not have picked a better group.
- Posted by Dreamchaser
State should have replaced bad chancellors and bad athletics directors a long time ago (say about 20 years ago?)
It kinda takes care of itself when you hire good people to begin with.
Athletic directors I definitely agree with. I think MA Fox was a good chancellor though. Can't say much about Oblinger, though. Woodson seems to be getting things back on track at least. He made a great hire with Yow.
Until Woodson's arrival, Maryanne Fox was the only good chancellor we had since I can remember. She worked with Amato to get some good football facilities in place. But she left for greener pastures, probably when she figured out State will probably always be a basketball school (as much as I wish we were a football school).
Greener pastures being the fb powerhouse that is san diego state? the school that lost their coach to michigan two seasons ago?
RE: NCSU to induct first Hall of Fame class Friday
Valvano was a average coach but that translates into one of States best! Guess this is the best they could do!
- Posted by larrys080
A national championship winner was an average coach. LOL
Valvano did more with less than probably any coach in the country. If he was an average coach, the well-oiled Carolina corruption machine would not have called in their minions to do whatever it took to get him ousted. In the end, players sold some tickets and shoes. But they got their target... an "average coach" in Jim Valvano.
Let me preface my comment with this; I liked Jimmy a lot and truly miss his personality. I also am sorry that he was run out of coaching. I believe the game, heck all games, could use more people with his energy and charisma.
With that said, I do wonder why some State fans think that Carolina wanted him gone. He was like 8-20 against the Heels in 11 seasons. Surely they could stomach losing to him 8 times in 11 years. Doesn't seem like that much of a threat really... I am honestly interested to know why you think they wanted him gone. Not saying I doubt it (I really don't know), but I've never heard why some think he was such a threat to UNC basketball.
Because they're nuts, that's why.
RE: NCSU to induct first Hall of Fame class Friday
Trivia question: Who was the last Head BB Coach to lead the Pack to an undefeated season? I wonder why this man who coached Thompson, Burleson, Towe and Co. wasn't elected? Got no problems with Valvano, he was an entertainer as well as a heckuva Coach, but Case and the man in question should've gone first in my opinion.
RE: NCSU to induct first Hall of Fame class Friday
Valvano was a average coach but that translates into one of States best! Guess this is the best they could do!
- Posted by larrys080
A national championship winner was an average coach. LOL
Valvano did more with less than probably any coach in the country. If he was an average coach, the well-oiled Carolina corruption machine would not have called in their minions to do whatever it took to get him ousted. In the end, players sold some tickets and shoes. But they got their target... an "average coach" in Jim Valvano.
Let me preface my comment with this; I liked Jimmy a lot and truly miss his personality. I also am sorry that he was run out of coaching. I believe the game, heck all games, could use more people with his energy and charisma.
With that said, I do wonder why some State fans think that Carolina wanted him gone. He was like 8-20 against the Heels in 11 seasons. Surely they could stomach losing to him 8 times in 11 years. Doesn't seem like that much of a threat really... I am honestly interested to know why you think they wanted him gone. Not saying I doubt it (I really don't know), but I've never heard why some think he was such a threat to UNC basketball.
RE: NCSU to induct first Hall of Fame class Friday
You guys find somewhere else to be ugly please!! This is about State heros!!!
For those that never saw DT play basketball, first-that was in the no dunk era!! David Thompson would soar over everyone else and "lay" the ball in the basket. He could take a quarter off the top of the backboard and leave change!!
Everyone knows what a lady Kay Yow was-and Jimmy V-for all his faults, got it right at the ESPYs-establishing the V Foundation with ESPN. "V" was the best situation coach I ever watched. Julie Shea could run like a deer-only faster, Ted Brown was as fast as any man I've ever watched coming off the ball, Roman was a natural leader as was Jim Ritcher(who play pro for years in Buffalo).
Other area schools have many heros. This set epitimizes talent, hard work, leadership, and everything a good Wolfpacker should be in life.
Tonight will be very special!!
- Posted by baldchip
Sounds like you have some wonderful memories:) This is a terrific first HOF class.
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