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
Who Cares
March 15th, 2011
9:45 am
Hope N.C. state gets Fox. He will lose at least 2 games per year with his inablility to coach in a tight game. Would welcome Fox leaving, and then maybe McGarity could hire Grant the second time around. Grant is head and shoulders above Fox when it comes to coaching and recruiting. He beat Fox twice on the court, and he has beaten him at least twice now in recruiting players from the state of Ga. for next year’s class. Also, the 2 best players from Al. are from the state of Ga. Does that sound familar? Also, McGarity was at Florida when Grant was an assistant under Donovan, so they know eachother. UGA once again has to watch as teams like Bama get coaches that know how to win, and recruit in Football & Basketball. UGA fans on the other hand are stuck with mediocre coaches like Richt &Fox that can’t coach a lick during games, and they have no clue on how to make adjustments during games. Both coaches have proven now that they choke just like their teams do in pressure situations, and neither coach has won a big game when it counts. Come on wolfpack, do us a favor for once.
Hewitt Fan
March 15th, 2011
9:50 am
@ormewood
I doubt Brownell will win once Purnell players leave..Donahue failed to make the NCAAS..Both were horrible hires..I know people who know people, so basically i am a insider due to my connections with the ATLANTA CELTICS…Donahue was the 5th choice at best..They called Pearl, he said hell no..they called Mooney from Richmond, he said no way, they even call the worst coach in Michigan history Amaker, he said no…they called Donahue who had one lucky sweet 16 appearance and he accepted….Clemson really wanted Drew,Baylor, he said no way, they actually tried to get Al Skinner, he said no way, he had just felt the rafts of the ACC…Herb Sendek said no way..At least all the SEC mid majors were very hot names..these ACC guys are a bunch of nobodys
Hewitt Fan lives in a strange world
March 15th, 2011
9:51 am
Let me see – SEC hires good coaches with a resume, ACC gets no-names from mid majors – Really???
Recent hires
UGA – Mark Fox – previously 5 years HC at Nevada
ALA – Anthony Grant – previusly 3 years HC at VCU – the very definition of a no-name from a mid-major
AU – Tony Barbee – previously 4 years HC at UTEP
UVA – Tony Bennett – previously 3 years HC at Washington State – a Big 6 conference school
Clemson – Brad Brownell – previously 4 years HC at UNC-W and 3 years HC at Wright State
BC – Steve Donahue – previously 10 years HC at Cornell – 3 consecutive NCAA appearances.
OK – UK hired Calipari, but they can hire anyone they want – somewhat like UNC hiring Roy Williams from Kansas.
Hewitt Fan lives in a strange world
March 15th, 2011
9:58 am
Now I understand – because Hewitt Fan has “connections with the ATLANTA CELTICS” he has super duper inside information and knows as much about college basketball as Joe Lunardi, Dickie V, Jay Bilas et al.
Matt
March 15th, 2011
10:01 am
Georgia has a coach that has me noticing, even caring, about the basketball program for the first time since Tubby. Please don’t let that change.
Hewitt Fan lives in a strange world
March 15th, 2011
10:01 am
Hewitt Fan “knows people who know people” which makes him an expert
My mother-in-law met Dickie V back in the early 90’s when he was in Starkville for an MSU game – I must be an expert too.
GStateBen
March 15th, 2011
10:07 am
Ha! If NC State fires Sidney Lowe they’ll again take the step back. That list is hot garbage. Why in the world would any of those 4 leave their current situations to take the 3rd best job in North Carolina.
Come on Wolfpack fans! Know Your Role!
ormewood
March 15th, 2011
10:08 am
Hewitt Fan. You’re simply wrong. Brownell after year one has to be considered a success. True, in five years he could prove to be “horrible” but we don’t know that at this moment. Just because you hire a guy from a Big 6 conference does not mean they will be succssful. Example: Bzdelik, the guy Wake hired from Colorado.
FYI, Coach K was coming off a 9-17 season at Army when he was hired. No one was beating down his door at the time.
I’m happy that you “know people.”
TruthBKnown Returns
March 15th, 2011
10:18 am
NC State is a sleeping giant. It is a MUCH better job than the Georgia gig — better facilities, better fan base, better basketball tradition. Sure, we’ve held ourselves down for the last 20+ years. But the dark times are coming to an end. NC State is the best gig no one knows about. Yet.
We’ve had bad coaches for 20 years because we’ve had a bad administration for 20 years. That has finally changed.
http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/story/14797346/nc-state-basketball-finally-has-chance-to-be-great-again
woebegong
March 15th, 2011
10:20 am
Coach Fox might be pursuaded to leave for bigger bucks I suppose. I am still not sure that UGA is serious about BB. Time will tell with the AD we have whether or not, this is true. He was at Florida so I hope he hasn’t changed since arriving at UGA. With all the talent available in this state, I would sure hope they are, although I am not that big of a fan in BB. I think it is just great though, as long as it increases the stature of UGA in a positive way.
Ohio-on-the-Gulf Dog
March 15th, 2011
10:21 am
McGarity should do what’s prudent to keep Fox.
We’ve had much heralded basketball coachs who’ve caused more trouble than they were worth and good coaches who departed at the first opportunity to bigger and better opportunities.
We need someone to stay for awhile and build the program over time. Fox seems as good a prospect as any to accomplish that.
That Bulldogs are even discussing backetball is a revolution.
In my nine years in the Classic City as a student and then as a college-hanger-on,. I attended exactly ONE (1) basketball game at the Pregnant Oyster, against Bucknell circa 1973.
Like most of my fellow Dogs of the era, I was a pathetic basketball fan. That I bother to add a comment here evidences a sea change at Georgia.
Rabun Dawg
March 15th, 2011
10:27 am
I do hope that CMF stays at UGA and continues to keep the program headed in the right direction. But, NC State is not a graveyard. Yes, Duke and UNC are the king bees now, but NC State has great tradition, facilities, fan base. Some of you may not be old enough to remember, but that program was the King years back under Everett Case at Reynolds Coliseum. They put the ACC on the basketball map, and I think much like what happened with UF in football. As the old Bear said about the Gators years ago, if they ever get the right guy in there , look out. NC State is in that same position now, and the right guy could make them relevant again. Is CMF that guy, I do not know, but if they came calling with a 3 mil package, I would think that it might get his attention. Is there less pressure to win at UGA, absolutely, but all of these guys have big egos and they just might think that are the ones to make it happen. JMHO
hey....
March 15th, 2011
10:28 am
NC State is a better hoops job than UGA. Great tradition, ACC, tobacco road, etc, etc….Don’t be suprised if he listens…..
jarvis
March 15th, 2011
10:30 am
Rabun, NC State is nothing like Florida. It’s not the State’s flagship large university. That one is down the Tobacco Road in baby blue.
ormewood
March 15th, 2011
10:31 am
Fact: NC State has been completely irrelevant in college hoops for nearly 30 years. No one cares, certainly not would-be recruits, that Everett Case was an ACC pioneer 60 years ago. Please.
THe NC State job is a very difficult one. The Ga Tech job is much better. Improvingt facilties, very fertile recruiting ground, two Final Fours since NC State’s last appearance
CrackDaddy
March 15th, 2011
10:32 am
The 2-mil payback is all that would stop Fox for leaving for State, who has two Nat’l Championships under their belt, and a much, much, greater BB tradition than UGa. Have you seen their arena? Their fanbase is as rabid as UGa’s in football. The state of NC serves as the college BB capitol.
Duncan Dickinson
March 15th, 2011
10:32 am
Wonder what favor Schultz owed Fox’s agent to publish his silly rumor. NCSU is paying up for experience and has no interest in Fox.
CrackDaddy
March 15th, 2011
10:36 am
Fl would not have Nat’l Championships had UNC players stayed. To Fl’s credit, Noah et al did stay. If UNC players stay for next year, and given their recruiting class, the rest of the BB world will be watching from the sidelines.
joe
March 15th, 2011
10:40 am
NC St has zero shot at Barnes, Smith and Miller…but Fox, I could see that since he has no ties to UGA…plus the ACC school has a better hoops tradition than UGA. Still, I doubt he’ll leave after just 2 years, but stranger things have happened.
CrackDaddy
March 15th, 2011
10:40 am
“NCState hasn’t been relevant in BB for 30 year”. Well, they do have two National Championships, which leads me to ask, “when has UGa EVER been relevant in BB”?
ormewood
March 15th, 2011
10:45 am
CrackDaddy, the Georgia job is better because two of the four or five best programs in college basketball aren’t witihn 30 minues of Athens, as they are in Raleigh. Less pressure, and much better local talent pool of prospects.
Promethius
March 15th, 2011
10:46 am
It amazes me how UGa fans are putting down NCState BB. NCState has earned its reputation as a top BB school, albeit it has been on hard times under Sidney Lowe. I believe its former coach, now at Arizona State, took State to the NCAA Tourney 5 times. Now what has UGa done that allows its fans to berate NCState? Will some UGa honest fan stand up.
whatsthefuss!
March 15th, 2011
10:47 am
State needs to go after Jeff Capel… I’m telling you it is the right fit. He knows the ACC he is from North Carolina. HE can recruit. Yes he had some issues at Oklahoma but think people who want to go to Oklahoma and be irrevlevant to football. He was in a tough situation there!
Promethius
March 15th, 2011
10:48 am
Ormewood, those two schools have always been less than 30 minutes from State to my knowledge. Being a great distance from Duke and UNC doesn’t make UGa a better program. The’ve always been farther from those schools that NCState. Explain your reasoning.
Hewitt Fan
March 15th, 2011
10:50 am
@ormewood I agree clemson had a good year, but those are Purnells players…Do you honestly see him being able to recruit, time will tell?…And one more ?…Out side of NC and duke, what program do you consider on the rise in the ACC?
@Hewitt Fan lives in a strange world
It took Donahue 5 years to have a winning season..6 years to make the NCAAS..do you think BC will wait on him that long?
William Satterwhite
March 15th, 2011
10:53 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”
That’s an interesting cut date considering that it starts right after a run of three consecutive championships the ACC won just prior to 94.
ormewood
March 15th, 2011
10:54 am
Promethius, to beat UNC and Duke you need to get players who UNC and Duke get, i.e. the nation’s elite. When is the last time that NC State got a commitment from a player that Duke and/or UNC wanted? David Thompson?
Arthur Redding, Jr.
March 15th, 2011
10:56 am
After his quick–amazing, actually–success at UGA, Fox’s name is going to come up often when there are coaching vacancies at major universities.
What will happen? I think he is committed to developing the UGA program; he has built relationships across the state with high school coaches and athletes; he has the fan base excited; the quality of incoming players is going to improve.
Fox’s salary at UGA is going up, perhaps significantly: the athletics program at UGA has plenty of money, and it will keep his salary competitive with any real offers that Fox gets. No way he goes to NC State. It will take a more prominent school to lure Fox away. And there are just not that many top basketball programs.
Promethius
March 15th, 2011
10:56 am
Fox will more likely leave UGa because of his inability to compete w/Fl and Ky. Ky has 4 of the top 15 players in HS coming to Ky in 2012. Fl has several top 50. UGa ain’t much of a destination in view of its prospects for competing in the SEC. UGa is more on the level of Alabama, SC, while lagging behind Vandy, and possibly Mississippi State.
Promethius
March 15th, 2011
10:59 am
People who know understand quality know that Wake is a school that has a better draw than UGa. They are still suffering from Skip Prosser’s untimely death. Wake will be back sooner than UGa will make real progress in my opinion.
Skeezix
March 15th, 2011
10:59 am
If Fox wants to be immersed in an environment where college baskeball is a part of the conversation 12 months a year, is forever embedded in the regional culture, yearns to compete against two programs just a short drive away that are disappointed any year they don’t win an NCAA title, and go head to head with two Hall of Fame coaches (UNC and Duke)–then he should go to NC State which has its own very rich basketball history and multiple NCAA titles. But, he should first make a call to Herb Sendek.
Paul in RDU
March 15th, 2011
11:07 am
CrackDaddy – I agree with your fellow Tarheel, ormewood, on this one. NCSU is a much more difficult job than UGA because of the proximity to Durham and Chapel Hill
Paul in RDU
March 15th, 2011
11:07 am
ormewood
Last player that State got that UNC or Cuke wanted? How about CJ Leslie?
Worm
March 15th, 2011
11:09 am
2700 tickets available in Charlotte per the Charlotte Observer.
Hahaha
March 15th, 2011
11:12 am
Saying that State is not a better basketball job than UGA is like saying UGA is not a better football job than State (even though we finished 25th in the country how’d y’all do?)
2 National Championships (for those in Athens that’s twice as many as the 1 AP Championship you have in football in 1980)
10 ACC Titles (in spite of being irrelevant since 1989, V’s last year, we are 3rd in ACC with the next closest being Wake with 4!!)
20,000 seat arena
20,000 person athletic association (only 4 are bigger and UGA is NOT one of them)
Indoor practice facility (UGA does NOT have one)
Located on tobacco road where college basketball is discussed 365 days a year
BTW Fox is NOT on our A list (if even on our list), John Feinstein, the author of that blog is good friends with Gary Williams and has a bone to pick with Debbie Yow.
woebegong
March 15th, 2011
11:17 am
Worm,
Ticket money is probably not the reason there are 2700 tickets availoable. Gas money is, LOL. You have got to plan trips considering four and a half bucks a gallon soon.
TruthBKnown Returns
March 15th, 2011
11:21 am
Fox no doubt started this rumor, himself, when in reality Debbie Yow has probably not even contacted him.
Coaches do this sort of thing to get themselves raises.
Jack P
March 15th, 2011
11:25 am
Under Fox, the Dawgs have fizzled out of many games in the latter stages of the second half. If he decides to stay, some improvements need to be made before the team can advance to the upper tier of the SEC. Some of you jock sniffers seem to think the guy walks on water. He is potentially a top notch coach as long as improvement is shown and he recruits good players, which he seems to be doing thus far.
dawgfacedboy
March 15th, 2011
11:29 am
Why would Barnes or Fox take that job??
SuperB
March 15th, 2011
11:29 am
Jeff: Your sports editor must be “Dilbert’s” boss! No. 1, do not believe the rumors– because No. 2– Yow does NOT tip her hand, (ala Lee Fowler.) and No. 3: the NC State job has vastly more potential than Georgia– or 10 of the SEC schools. They have a rich tradition, 2 national championships, and by far– the best coliseum in either the ACC or SEC. I bet you haven’t even been in it. and probably never graced historic Reynolds Coliseum before that.
Do you just make up stuff in order to write your columns?
Paul in RDU
March 15th, 2011
11:31 am
TruthBKnown Returns
Maybe Fox’ agent knows the agents for Bud Foster and Kirby Smart.
Seriously – Fox has had a good season at UGA and when that happens your name comes up when jobs come open.
Fox Presser
March 15th, 2011
11:34 am
Has fox scheduled a presser to explain all these coaching rumors and whether he will stay at UGA? if so, will it be televised so I can watch it on my Ipad 2?
Go back to fl
March 15th, 2011
11:36 am
mcgarity needs to hit the road and head back to fla–UGA needs a big time AD who can step up and get the money to build a huge new arena like they have at NC State.
SuperB
March 15th, 2011
11:39 am
To all the dyed-in-the-wool Dawgs– and I am one of them– the Georgia job is NOT better than the NC State job. No way, no how– not even close. And to the Dawg who said the Wolfpack job is the fourth-best in NC– you have no idea what you are talking about. A good coach can win a national championship there– as two have done. Take away Kentucky and Florida, and the SEC has what?
The SEC is superior in FB every year. And the ACC is superior in BB (this year is an anomoly.) It’s been this way for more than 50 years.
TruthSeeker
March 15th, 2011
11:40 am
Not so fast, NC State fans. You guys are overrating your program’s stature. Do you know what your record in the ACC since Jim Valvano left is? 125-209. You’ve only been to the Big Dance five times in the last 20 years (Georgia has been 6 times). You haven’t been to the NCAAs since 2006. Despite all of this mediocrity, you ran off the one coach who brought you some success over the last two decades (Herb Sendek).
I’m not going to pretend UGA is some basketball powerhouse, but to act like NC State is leaps and bounds ahead of them is ridiculous. Why would Fox leave the best college town in America and an improving program for one that has been irrelevant for five years and has unrealistic expectations?
I wish you guys well, but you’ve got no shot at getting our coach.
Paul in RDU
March 15th, 2011
11:43 am
SuperB
You mean Stegeman isn’t as good an arena as the RBC Center? Heck, Stegeman is not as big as Reynolds and NCSU uses that for practice.
TruthSeeker
March 15th, 2011
11:55 am
What fantasy world are you guys living in thinking that NC State is some great job? They didn’t make the NCAA Tournament for 10 years before Herb Sendek got there. And they haven’t made in the five years since he left. Their ACC record since Jim Valvano was fired is 125-209. They’ve been to fewer Big Dances than UGA over the last 20 years.
NC State has a fine basketball tradition, but so what? That tradition hasn’t done them a whole lot of good over the last two decades. Past success doesn’t win you any games in the present. Fox has a better opportunity to win at UGA now, and that’s why he won’t leave to take the NC State job.
BYRDDAWG
March 15th, 2011
11:56 am
I guess none of you acc faithful have ever been to the Bud Walton Arena or Thompson -Boling….ACC 12 SEC 9 in the NCAA tournament HISTORY!! That doesn’t sound like a beat down to me….Take out UF & UK?? Why don’t you take out duke & nc and tell me what ANY of the others have done lately!!! Bring it….
I have built a brand name and it IS ....
March 15th, 2011
11:57 am
Having spent 35+ years in bidnezz in a marketing/sales capacity, it IS ALLURING for a man to build a nationally known brand name and go where no one else has before. THAT IS why CMF will remain for awhile at UGA. If he can continue to grow his program into a consistent NCAA March madness team ……….. he also WILL MAKE THAT DOUGH !!
He could ride it for a long while. THAT is also called stability and maybe his wife and kids prefer being in Athens and close to Atlanta. Who would not?? Lake Oconee, Lake Sinclair, Lake Lanier, golfing is second to none and fine private Athens schools and proximity to an international city with world class dining and shopping.
SEC is also big boy ball and frankly, EQUAL NOW to the ACC.
Go Dogs and Go SEC Tourney teams !!!
DawginLex
March 15th, 2011
11:57 am
I think a good comparison can be made to Florida regarding UGA’s basketball program.
Other than a fluke under Lon Kruger, Florida had no basketball history at all.
Georgia had the post Dominique Final 4 and nothing else.
Fox can become UGA’s Billy Donovan.
Anyone really think Florida could win back to back national titles?
And for all of you idiots mouthing off, ACC is now Duke and nothing else. SEC is about to go back to Kentucky running the show again.
Why not stay where he is and play Kentucky twice every year?
You idiots like Dog Smell can’t accept the FACT that the SEC East with Kentucky, Florida,Georgia, Vandy and Tennessee combined was better than any combination of five teams the ACC could run out on the floor.