Report: Mark Fox may be targeted for opening at N.C. State (UPDATED)
Mark Fox is already a coach in demand after two years.
(UPDATED below on Tuesday, 6:50 p.m., with Mark Fox’s response to report)
Georgia is about to find out what it means to have a coveted basketball coach: Mark Fox is in the rumor mill.
The sports website SportsByBrooks is quoting sources saying Fox will be one of four top candidates targeted by North Carolina State for its impending coach vacancy. Wolfpack coach Sidney Lowe is meeting with athletic director Debbie Yow on Tuesday and many are speculating that he is going to be fired.
The four candidates listed by the website are Fox, Rick Barnes (Texas), Sean Miller (Arizona) and Tubby Smith (Minnesota).
♦
UPDATE:
Fox just released this statement through Georgia sports information director Claude Felton: “I’m not a candidate for any job. All of my focus is on the Georgia team.”
It’s not an emphatic, “I absolutely guarantee I will be at Georgia next season,” but it’s about what you would expect in these circumstances, especially if he wants to use another offer as leverage for a better contract.
♦
Here’s my thought on the rumor: No way.
Fox, who in only his second year has coached the Bulldogs into the NCAA tournament, may not necessarily be a lifer at Georgia. But if he leaves, it would take a better job than North Carolina State. While the Wolfpack reportedly are willing to pay up to $3 million annually — far exceeding Fox’s current $1.3 million salary at Georgia — it’s not a program with any more potential than the one in Athens. The facilities enhancements at Georgia has elevated the stature of the basketball program, as has the SEC’s overall improved strength.
Fox’s contract also stipulates that he must pay the UGA Athletics Association a $2 million buyout if he resigns before 2015, when the contract runs through. More than likely, if an offer does come Fox’s way, he can leverage it for a raise.
Here’s an excerpt from the SportsByBrooks story:
An ACC head basketball coach told me today that Yow has been asking around for months about who she should hire as Lowe’s replacement.
From talking to several sources the past week, including one inside the N.C. State athletic department, I can confirm that – at least at the moment – Yow’s top choices for the job are Rick Barnes, Sean Miller, Tubby Smith and Mark Fox.
Yow has no shot at Barnes, and Smith is likely pining for a contract extension at Minnesota. (As he does with perpetual outside job interest every offseason.)
Though even at $3 million per, candidates like Miller and Fox are no lock for Raleigh when you saddle an uphill job with the weight of Yow’s notorious managerial reputation.
Fox may have to deal with a few more of these stories.
By Jeff Schultz
♦
Earlier
– Jeff Capel fired — should he be a candidate at Georgia Tech?
– NCAA tournament: SEC (Georgia) has passed ACC (Tech)
– Paul Hewitt was undone at Georgia Tech by more than just losing
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297 comments Add your comment
William
March 15th, 2011
12:57 am
NCSU has won 2 national championships. Only 6 other schools have won more. They have top rate facilities, great tradition from 1950-1990 and a huge, passionate fanbase. Its a job that someone can go to and succeed if they’re the right person to take on the rebuild (and with a top 5 class from last year he’ll have a lot of talent at his disposal). However I don’t want Fox. SEC basketball is not ACC basketball.
money talks
March 15th, 2011
1:10 am
Ga can’t compete with NC State basketball money, facilities, fans, tradition…. Plus, Ga has that dumpy arena (former rodeo barn) while NC state has a state of the art palace to play in. For $3 mil plus, Fox will be off to Raleigh—book it.
5150 UOAD
March 15th, 2011
1:21 am
Some Dawg Fans have already called for FOX’s head after the clock management in the last game against Bama. The dawgs say they are not a Bball school. They then cuss an OK coach for losing to a bad Bama team. The dawgs get in the tourney and now maybe NCSU wants Fox. The dawgs now say UGA is a better job than an ACC job. YOU DAWGS kill me. How soon until the the Fire Richt Chants start again? Dawgs say Tech people didn’t support Hewitt? What have 1/2 of the dawg bloggers been doing for most of a year to Richt? Pot Kettle or Tail Dawg which fits better?
TampaDAWG
March 15th, 2011
1:24 am
hmm, we don’t win all the UF recruits but UGA does win some, I mean Charles and Murray come to mind right away, and Ramik Wilson from this year. And are we comparing NC State against UGA or UGA against everybody, just curious
TampaDAWG
March 15th, 2011
1:26 am
Not all DAWG fans are going to agree about a coach or players, I am sure I can go to an NC State blog ( if there are any ) and find disagreements about firing a coach or if a certain player is good or not. Comeon man
tony
March 15th, 2011
3:37 am
I believe Mark Fox realize that the State of Ga has more talent than any state in america so it would be to his advantage to stay at uga and build a championship team there. He’s only a few players(Shaquille Goodwin.Tony Parker and Evan Nolte)away from winning one. He already has the best sg(Kentavious Caldwell-Pope) in the country coming next season..
Right now he’s getting it done mostly with 3 star athletes. If he fill his roster up with 4 and 5 stars…WATCHOUT!
D_Up
March 15th, 2011
4:26 am
It looks like NC state needs to lower the bar a little…. why would Sean Miller leave Arizona for nc state? Or Rick Barnes leave Texas? That’s a big downgrade from where they already are! stupid story
D_Up
March 15th, 2011
4:30 am
The state of Georgia “has more talent than any state in America” tony?! Haha, are you smoking crack? Have you heard of California? or Texas? (Sorry if I’m being thick, and that was a joke)
DrRT
March 15th, 2011
4:53 am
I doubt very seriously Yow has been asking for months who should replace Lowe so I give the link no credibility. From the list of candidates, the link appears to get his list from the NC State message boards, again no credibility.
Billy
March 15th, 2011
5:52 am
Leaving UGA for NC State would be a lateral move at best.
Douglas
March 15th, 2011
6:52 am
Fox could do like Durham did and build a strong program here. What he needs is a great recruitor. If he could keep most of the Ga. basketball players in state and sign them to play with UGA, he would never have to go anywhere else to win a National Championship — just look at the number of Ga. players going out of state.
ormewood
March 15th, 2011
7:00 am
NC State needs to realize who they are. Two of the four best programs in college hoops, the last two national champs, share their media market. Who would want to go into that cauldron? Their fanbase, and evidently their AD, have very unrealistic expectations.
Fox is in a much better spot in Athens. Georgia is a much more fertile recruiting ground than NC, too.
NC State needs to look at mid-major candidates, maybe the guy from Wichita St (Marshall). He was very successful at Winthrop, a school in the Charlotte suburbs.
Hewitt Fan
March 15th, 2011
7:06 am
No way fox leaves the SEC for the Coach K conference…He understands the ACC is ran by the refs..He is a solid coach but would get fired in 3 or 4 years..no one wins in the ACC on the road and you are usually going to be playing for 3rd every year no matter how much talent you have..the SEC lets the kids play over there….Hell, just ask Hewitt!
Jesse Stone
March 15th, 2011
7:15 am
Fired coach fan- you need to amend that statement. No one wins on the road…unless Paul Hewitt is coaching the home team. Seriously…let it go. He’s gone.
Gordon
March 15th, 2011
7:19 am
“While the Wolfpack reportedly are willing to pay up to $3 million annually — far exceeding Fox’s current $1.3 million salary at Georgia — it’s not a program with any more potential than the one in Athens. The facilities enhancements at Georgia has elevated the stature of the basketball program, as has the SEC’s overall improved strength.”
Yeah, Fox will turn down 1.7 million because UGA put an open councourse at Stegeman. He may not take this job (it may not be offered), but if Fox turns out to be a great coach, he will leave because great coaches don’t like playing second fiddle to football. Billy Donovan is the only guy I can think of that has stayed long term at a football school. UGA is a destination program in football and a stepping stone program in basketball.
Jimmy Crack
March 15th, 2011
7:32 am
“Yow’s notorious managerial reputation”
That’s all I needed to hear. Fox isn’t going there.
Salinsa
March 15th, 2011
7:33 am
As Gary Parrish of CBSSports explained in early Feb, NC State is perhaps the worst great paying job in college sports when one factors in the expectations of the fanbase, proximity of national powers Duke and UNC and what the school has actually accomplished the last 25 yrs. Here’s an excerpt from his story:
Still, a very passionate and vocal segment of the N.C. State fan base refuses to acknowledge this reality, which is why the school will have a helluva time hiring Lowe’s replacement. No coach who is accomplished, comfortable and already at a nationally relevant program has any interest in walking into that world. When I explained this on a radio show in Raleigh earlier this week, the host asked if Xavier’s Chris Mack would do it for $3.5 million per year.
Now I think the world of Chris Mack. He would be a fantastic hire for N.C State athletic director Debbie Yow. But if she has to pay $3.5 million to get a second-year coach from Xavier, I think my point is proved. Like I said, the worst great-paying job in America is in Raleigh. Apply for it at your own risk.
http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/story/14667646/nc-state-fans-must-realize-theyre-the-ugly-duckling/rss
Jimmy Crack
March 15th, 2011
7:39 am
“Yow’s notorious managerial reputation”
Fox stays.
Buckeye
March 15th, 2011
7:41 am
The good news is that Fox wouldn’t have to buy any red ties.
J Dog
March 15th, 2011
7:53 am
Let’s see $3 million to play for NC State, or $1.3 to play for Georgia. Tough decision? I don’t think so.
lawdawg
March 15th, 2011
8:07 am
Jeff ,could you tell us the salaries of all the SEC coaches?
ormewood
March 15th, 2011
8:11 am
Fox might milk it to get a salary hike, something all coaches do.
J Dog
March 15th, 2011
8:17 am
Look it up yourself, Jeff’s not your personal little researcher.
J Dog
March 15th, 2011
8:18 am
ACC is where it’s at salary & facility ise if you want to be a big time basketball coach. $150 million facility, $3 million salary, NC State is at the top of their game when it comes to investing in their basketball program.
AthensDawg
March 15th, 2011
8:30 am
Mark please don’t leave us. We can build a winning program every year if you stay.
JoeFan
March 15th, 2011
8:34 am
Fpx certainly hasn’t proven he’s worth a mega deal but can’t blame him if he gets one and takes it. Sure can question the common sense / wisdom of NC State for offering it though and UGA for matching any offer. Fox really hasn’t proven anything yet. Lets see what he does with his own recruits before worrying whether he will stay or not if another program comes calling.
Richard
March 15th, 2011
8:37 am
State couldn’t get anyone bold enough to butt heads with Mike and Roy the last time, why is this time any different?
Hewitt Fan
March 15th, 2011
8:41 am
@Jesse Stone
Just look at all the coaches who have been fired in the ACC in the last 4 years..All these guys won at their previous job but failed to win in the ACC…Oh i get it, all of them were bad coaches right?..then look at the guys who filled those vacant positions, a bunch of no name coaches from mid majors..UGA had no problem finding a good coach with a resume..I wonder why?.The SEC is a better conference than the ACC and the players are the stars not the coaches!..NO COACH WITH ANY RESUME WILL COME TO THE ACC, IT’S LIKE PLANNING YOUR OWN FUNERAL..Oliver Purnell got the hell out of the ACC very quick..After the refs failed to start the clock against Duke and he lost at the buzzer, he realized very quickly..
C C
March 15th, 2011
8:41 am
UGA as a basketball program is nowhere near as good as NC State: They don’t have the fan support, history, or facilities, and we are talkign about SEC vs ACC *basketball*, not football here. But M Fox does have UGA heading in the right direction at least. I wouldn’t assume he’d stay put if offered the NCSU job. Of course the UGA AA does have plenty of money to up his salary.
As far as “the SEC’s overall improved strength”… Jeff apparently now thinks the SEC is significantly better in basketball. I’m laughing at his (and others’) comments on some of these blogs about the SEC being as good as the ACC in basketball all of the sudden. Although the ACC is down this year it’s still ahead of the SEC overall. Look at any measure/rating, and top-to-bottom the ACC is better. The SEC did get one more team into the tourney, but lets see how many teams are left after 2, 3, or more games. There were TWO ACC teams which just missed the cut (and we all know VA Tech got hosed0. Meanwhile the ONLY other SEC team which had any hope of getting in was Alabama…who had by far the worst RPI of any bubble team.
IMO this year, the top 2 ACC teams are better than the top 2 in the SEC. Comparing the 3rd and 4th best teams in each conf, the SEC is probably better although it’s close (and UT has al lot of bad losses for example). On average, the middle 4 teams and the lower 4 teams are better in the ACC.
For example Sagarin’s conference ratings for this year have the ACC 4th overall, the SEC 7th. The ACC has almost always been in the top 2 or 3 conferences for at least 25 or 30 years, often #1, and never anywhere near as bad as 7th. The current Sagarin order:
1 Big East
2 Big Ten
3 Big 12
4 ACC
5 Mountain West
6 Pac 10
7 SEC
Not even close.
Dogs Smell
March 15th, 2011
8:44 am
Billy , NC has a basketball history. Uga has a basketball story.NC state will pay more and a more loyal fan base. Get your head out of uga’s rear !
PMC
March 15th, 2011
8:44 am
Ha, Gugliotta is not walking tru dat door.
Dawgfan79
March 15th, 2011
8:52 am
I do fear Fox eventually leaving UGA for greener pastures BUT NC State is not greener prastuers. They will alwayse be 3rd fiddle to UNC and Duke in that state.
Heck, they are 4th fiddle to Wake Forest now. Wake has much greater recent history then the Wolfpack.
At UGA Fox has the top basketball program in the state and has Georgia Tech against the ropes.
The greenest pasture for Mark Fox right now is still UGA.
Mtn Dawg
March 15th, 2011
8:52 am
Give him a raise just in case. We’re headed to the promised land and Fox is at the helm.
Tech Tard
March 15th, 2011
8:53 am
To those who are against Coach Fox: Take your expertise and go root for another program NOW. RUN!
RxDawg
March 15th, 2011
8:54 am
I duno Jeff, there is a big difference between 1.2 million and 3 million. If I was offered the same job in my field for 3x’s the pay, it be hard not to take it.
Mtn Dawg
March 15th, 2011
8:56 am
CC – all you have is basketball. I’d defend it too but you have to admit, if it wasn’t for Duke and UNC there we wouldn’t be having this conversation. The ACC is fading fast. The Big East is now the sustained crowned jewel of men’s college basketball.
Tech Tard
March 15th, 2011
8:57 am
Jeff,
Was your major in journalism or stirring the pot?
PMC
March 15th, 2011
9:03 am
This post makes me miss Jim Valvano.
Great coach, and probably the best college basketball show ever on espn
McGarity
March 15th, 2011
9:08 am
Someone appears to have a personal grudge against McGarity. I would think if you polled UGA fans, Greg would score very high. Going by the comments of Georgia coaches, major and minor sports, they are all enthusiastically on board with Greg.
Sure NC State has a better basketball history than UGA, but how many schools had a better football history than Florida before 1990? How many now? The basketball situation at Georgia is an awakening sleeping giant. Look at the fertile recruiting situation an hour away. And contrary to some posters, the upgraded Stegeman is now a quality venue. The practice facility is second to none. We have just been waiting on a coach like Fox to blow the lid off the so-called ceiling for UGA basketball.
Mark in ATL
March 15th, 2011
9:11 am
All of you GA homers…if another company came and offered you more than 2x what you are making now you’d leave in heartbeat. If NC State does offer him $3M he’d be a fool not to leave.
BYRDDAWG
March 15th, 2011
9:15 am
All you delusional acc fans need to WAKE UP! Since ‘94 the SEC has won 5 NCAA tournaments and the acc 5!!!!! Just sayin
Buzz 2010
March 15th, 2011
9:18 am
Fox should jump at NC State job if offered. The Dogs could bring back a coach
that better meets that thug mentality…. Jimmy Harrick Sr…
Destination of stepping stone?
March 15th, 2011
9:19 am
TIme will tell if Fox leaves, but going by history, UGA is not a stepping stone job. As far as I know going back at least 60 years, Georgia coaches that left volutarily, of their own accord are two, and both involved special situations.
Tubby turned down Ohio State, but left for the bluegrass. No one would argue that UK is not one of the elite BB programs in America, so who could blame Tubby. Ron Polk left to return to the school where the baseball stadium is named for him, another speciall situation.
So, if you go by history, Fox might leave for Kansas, or a similar type job, but I don’t think NC State will get him. In fact, history is screaming that UGA is a destination job, for any sport. Just the facts.
ormewood
March 15th, 2011
9:20 am
The ACC has won five championships in hoops in the last 10 years. As a conference, they are not waning. Plenty of Mickey D all-americans end up in the ACC, and not just at Duke and UNC. FSU, NC State, Ga Tech, Clemson, all have elite players that otehr teams in other conferences wanted. BTW, the Big East has not won a championship since 2004, I believe.
Hewitt Fan, mid-majors is where BCS conferences find their hoops coaches. Brownell and Donahue were excellent hires by Clemson and BC, respectively. Off the top of my head, here’s a list of SEC coaches who came from mid-major programs: Donovan, Horn, Fox, Pearl, Stallings, Grant, the recently-fired Pelphrey, Barbee. That’s five of the six coaches from the SEC East. Do your homework.
schmeckdawg
March 15th, 2011
9:21 am
He’s not going anywhere…end of story!
Carl
March 15th, 2011
9:23 am
He will eventually leave. No committment to hoops at UGA.
phil
March 15th, 2011
9:23 am
As I said about a month ago, this guy Fox will be as good as gone just as soon as some other program decides he’s a savior and throws a ton of money at him. Fortunately, he isn’t a savior, obviously, based on the boneheaded coaching decisions he exhibited the other day against Bama. So why pay him a bunch of money to come continue the status quo at a place like NC State? I kinda like Fox and hope he hangs around. If we just tread water each year, make the dance and go down in round one, we can keep him.
Dawghater
March 15th, 2011
9:27 am
UGA fans went off the deep end, AGAIN after the ALA game so if I’m Fox I’d let them get what they want. ANOTHER b’ball coach.
ED SINGLETON
March 15th, 2011
9:36 am
WITH COACH K AT DUKE AND ROY AT NORTH CAROLINA, WHOEVER TAKES THAT JOB , WILL BE A DEATH SENTENCE!! STAY AT UGA COACH FOX!!
southernborn
March 15th, 2011
9:37 am
You guys are funny. NC State fans while having high expectations have supported their program and continued to fill the arena[note not pour barn] during the losing seasons. If its the 4th best basketball job in the State that makes it among the top 10 jobs in the country. Barnes and Miller have ACC and NC state ties and Barnes almost came when Sid was hired. Fox looks like a good coach who should jump at the opportunity to leave the hicksville program he is burdened with and move up to a real basketball conference with a commitment to winning. You guys should realize both K and Roy are at retirement age and a young coach with NBA quality facilites for games and practice will go far in climbing to the top of the PACK