Technician
wednesday march
16 2011
Raleigh, North Carolina
technicianonline.com
Lowe resigns as head coach
SG candidates campaign, prepare for debate Signs, hats and rhetoric signify the beginning of election season. John Wall Staff Writer
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Assistant coach Monte Towe and coach Sidney Lowe stand together during the the first round of the ACC tournament in Greensboro Coliseum against Maryland March 10. Lowe stepped down Tuesday from the Head Coach position. Towe was named the interm head coach during the search for a new coach.
After end-of-the-year meeting between Atheltics Director Yow and Lowe, head coach steps down Story By Taylor Barbour & Cory Smith
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fter weeks of speculation, Sidney Lowe is out as head coach of the N.C. State men’s basketball team. Lowe finished with an overall record of 86-78, while winning only 25 of 80 games in ACC play during his five-year tenure.
“I was very fortunate to coach at my alma mater,” Lowe said. “I feel very blessed to have had this opportunity and I look forward to the next challenge that the Lord puts in front of me. This is my family here, the Wolfpack family. I appreciate every opportunity. I appreciate the opportunity Lee Fowler gave me to come back here.” When asked about his plans going forward, Lowe said he had not given it any thought yet but was optimistic about the future. “No, I haven’t [thought about the future] but something will come up though.” The news about Lowe’s resignation began to trickle out earlier Tuesday after the end of the year meeting between Lowe and Athletic Director Debbie Yow. “I had conversation with coach Lowe today that started at noon and lasted about it hour,” Yow said. “It was two people in the room who care about each other and simply disagree about the way in which to get to the next level in the program. He is a good man
and I think a lot of him personally.” However, Yow said the decision was not an easy one and one that was not decided until Tuesday right before the meeting. “When I have a very important decision to make I turn it over in my mind every way I can, inside out, upside down and I gather information,” Yow said. “So it is accurate to say the decision was not made until today.” Lowe had two years remaining on his contract and his buyout is worth $900,000, which Yow made a point to say that he will receive every “penny of it.” Even with Lowe stepping down, Yow made sure to stress to the former coach that he is always welcome at State and that the former point guard is irreplaceable in the hearts of the Wolfpack. “One of the things I said to him is I always want him to be apart of the Wolfpack family,” Yow said. “I don’t ever want him to be awkward about being in our world and in our lives. There is no one like him; no one will
insidetechnician
ever fill his position in the hearts of people in Wolfpack Nation.” The former State player attempted to bring the program back to the level it was at when he won a National Championship during the 1983 season, by bringing in some of the best talent in the nation over the course of his five seasons, but was unable to have that talent translate over onto the court. Lowe built up high expectations heading into the beginning of this past season with a talented group of freshmen, led by forward C.J. Leslie, and the return of senior forward Tracy Smith, who was named second team All-ACC a year before. However, an early knee injury to Smith sidelined him for most of the season. From there, the Pack was unable to ever get back on track finishing 15-16 (5-11 in ACC), with its final loss during the first round of the ACC Tournament against Maryland. “This is my school, I love this school,” Lowe said after the game. “I pored my sweat for four years here and gave it my best. It was my hope and dream to come back here and do something special again.” Lowe was originally hired in 2006, after former N.C. State coach Herb Sendek bolted to Arizona State. After a very public coaching search led by for-
NCDOT reopens bridge after semi-trailer wreck. Justin Rose Staff Writer
Yow looks ahead after Lowe’s resignation
Athletics Director says that the search for the next men’s basketball coach has begun. See page 8.
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The Pullen Road overpass spanning outbound Western Boulevard is safe for traffic after being hit by a truck last Wednesday, according to transportation officials. During spring break, an 18-wheeler carrying a large piece of construction equipment struck the underside of the bridge when the driver failed to lower the boom on the equipment below the legal height, according to a police report. There were no injuries
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Pullen Rd .
Obama’s administration has ordered courts to stop defending the Defense of Marriage Act. See page 5.
NC STATE CLASS RING
sg continued page 3
Officials: Pullen Road bridge safe after collision
Obama calls Defense of Marriage Act into question
viewpoint features classifieds sports
mer Athletic Director Lee Fowler, which included State being turned down Rick Barnes and John Calipari, Lowe finally accepted the job. In Lowe’s first season, the first time college head coach started off strong, beating Carolina and Duke once each during his first regular season while making a run in the ACC Tournament before losing to Carolina in the championship game. However, it was downhill from there as Lowe failed to guide any of his five teams to an NCAA Tournament appearance while struggling against the Triangle rivals, going just 1-16 against Duke and Carolina the next four seasons. Lowe made his name coaching at the NBA level, starting as an assistant coach for the Minnesota Timberwolves from 1991-1993. He also had two heading coaching stints, first with the Timberwolves and later for the Memphis Grizzlies. He resigned from the head coaching position in the 2002 season and began working as an assistant coach for Flip Saunders until he took the State job in 2006.
As candidates for all elected student government positions began campaigning Tuesday, Student Body President candidates are preparing for a debate to be held on campus in the Student Senate Chambers in Witherspoon Student Center on March 24. Campaign signage inundated campus Tuesday. Although candidates were allowed to talk about their intentions to run for their chosen offices, they were not allowed to officially begin campaigning or say things such as “vote for me” until Tuesday, according to student government advisor Eileen Coombes. Student Body President candidate and junior in biochemistry Leo Verceles-Zara said he had people calling him all day Tuesday asking him where his campaign signs were. Verceles-Zara said he is taking an alternative approach to the campaign by “thinking outside the box.” “Yes we are going to have signs, most likely starting next week, but they’re not going to be those stationary signs that everyone sees laying on the ground. They are going to be something new.” Verceles-Zara did not say exactly what “something new” will entail, but did say that his signs will be big and in highly trafficked areas. Chandler Thompson, a junior in economics, is also running for Student Body President. Students could be seen wearing yellow and red trucker hats with “Chandler SBP” on campus Tuesday. But hats are only one aspect of her campaign strategy. “I am going to try to meet as many people as I can and tell them about my ideas and what I want to make happen at N.C. State,” Thompson said. Kelly Hook, current Student Body President and senior in political science, said her campaign strategy mostly revolved around her campaign team. “Probably the biggest thing was that on voting day I had a large amount of people willing to help me out. I had a really great team helping me on voting day and throughout the whole campaign,” Hook said. Hook went on to say that name recognition is “probably how you win.” The Student Body Presidential candidate debate hosts, WKNC and the Technician, plan to ask questions “solicited by students,” according to debate moderator and senior in English, Chris Cioffi. Students who have questions are invited to send them to the Technician editor-in-chief. The debate will be aired live on
Western Bl vd.
Graphic by Catie yerkes
LAST CHANCE TO ORDER in time for the Ring Ceremony Mon. - Wed. March 14-16 12-6pm NC STATE BOOKSTORE