WRAL Sports Fan

North Carolina State University

Yow: Keep the faith Wolfpack fans

By Erin Summers

Apr 5, 2011

In a letter to Wolfpack fans Monday, North Carolina State University athletic director Debbie Yow provided an update on the status of the ongoing search for a new head basketball coach.

Yow said there have been several telephone conversations with several "successful coaches" that did not develop into meetings due to different levels of interest on either side.

“I realize there are multiple rumors surfacing about the nature of the search on websites and in newspapers,” Yow wrote. “Once our new coach is hired, I will be in a position to bring perspective to a number of those rumors.”

Reports from varying media outlets stated Monday that Virginia Commonwealth’s Shaka Smart and Wichita State’s Gregg Marshall had conversations with N.C. State about the open position, but both decided to remain with their current school.

Yow said that, despite these reports, the university and fans need to remain focused on finding a “talented collegiate coach who is a fighter, full of confidence and appreciation for the opportunity to lead [N.C. State’s] basketball program back to national prominence”.

“That will happen in spite of those who believe this cannot occur,” Yow stated. 

Yow said she has been honest with the coaches about the challenge that lies ahead in rebuilding the N.C. State basketball program. She said the university's absence from the NCAA for five consecutive years is evidence that the program is in poor shape and will "require a special effort to rebuild."

“Wolfpack Basketball is destined for a revival. We will accept no less," Yow said. "Please keep the faith while we continue the search.”