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
TruthSeeker
March 15th, 2011
12:00 pm
Correction to my previous post: NC State hadn’t made it to the Big Dance for 10 years from ‘92-’01, INCLUDING Sendek’s first five years there.
Sparticus
March 15th, 2011
12:22 pm
Shultz is wrong. State is a superior job to UGA right now. In fact, it’s almost the exact equivalent of the State football coach leaving for UGA: better facilities (and, no, Shultz, ours aren’t anywhere near as nice as State’s), much more passionate fan base, and right in the heart of basketball country. Leaving a traditionally lower-tier program for one who’s won it all before and still considers itself on the border of elite.
TruthSeeker
March 15th, 2011
12:30 pm
Sparticus, the fact that NC State “still considers itself on the border of elite” might be part of the problem. The fact is that it’s been a very mediocre program for two decades. They ran off the one coach during that time period who actually brought them some success. A struggling program with unrealistic expectations is never a good combination.
Mike Bobo 17 INT
March 15th, 2011
12:39 pm
Fox has to take the job, there is no future at UGA or the SEC in terms of basketball. Taking the NC State job is a step up, because you have Duke and UNC in your backyard.
BYRDDAWG
March 15th, 2011
12:40 pm
Sparticus, Notre Dame still thinks of it’s self as relevant in college football too……
donny ballgame
March 15th, 2011
12:48 pm
Archie Miller, maybe, not Sean.
Ernie
March 15th, 2011
12:50 pm
Hey DoolyDawg: What are you smoking, 4th best job in the state? The Wolfpack has 2 National Championships. Only 6 other schools have more and Wake Forest isn’t one of them.
DawginLex
March 15th, 2011
12:51 pm
interception dude,
Kentucky is going to be better than Duke or UNC next year and beyond. They are in UGA’s division. UGA plays them twice each year.
Florida is a very good program
Vandy is NCAA caliber every year and returns everyone next year.
Valvano died many years ago and coached years before that. NC State hasn’t been relevant in over 20 years.
Not A Dawg
March 15th, 2011
12:55 pm
For the uninitiated and very young, NC State has two NCAA Basketball National Championship banners hanging in our gym. How about the Dawgs?Lowe may not be much of a coach, but he had one of the best recruiting calsses in the country last year, and an excellent one on tap this year. You guys are having a good year, but NCSU has history.
DAWG GONE FAN
March 15th, 2011
12:55 pm
Enter your comments here
phil
March 15th, 2011
1:01 pm
N.C. State’s best days are in the past. Totally correct on the 2 titles to Ga’s zero. Excellent point but state is now irrelevant in basketball and will remain so. GA will be right back in the sewer next year, most likely, so our irrelevance will also continue…
GT Dude
March 15th, 2011
1:03 pm
Jeff,
you are simply showing you ignorance of college basketball
NC State is a far more esteem job than UGA where round ball will always take a backseat to the pigskin.
Maybe you show stay within your base of knowledge and write about baseball..
Blunder Dawg
March 15th, 2011
1:10 pm
Would be better if Fox leaves and UGA could get a coach that wouldnt blow leads and know how not to be a choke artist.
jesusislord
March 15th, 2011
1:13 pm
Mark—if Fox gets offered that much money to coach a basketball school in a basketball league, my guess is that he’ll jump on it pretty quick. UGA is a football school and always will be; NC State has 2 National Championships in round ball. Coaching on Tobacco Road is a far greater challenge that coaching in Athens, GA.
DawginLex
March 15th, 2011
1:17 pm
Florida had no history in basketball before Donovan showed up.
Fox could do the same thing at UGA
Sparticus
March 15th, 2011
1:17 pm
TruthSeeker: “a stuggling program with unrealistic expectations” Remind you of anyone? Now, I don’t think UGA’s football expectations are unrealistic, but it doesn’t counter my point.
BYRDDAWG: “Notre Dame still considers itself relevant in college football…” Yep, they sure do. And you’d get no argument from anyone that leaving NC State to coach ND in football wouldn’t be a good move. So, are you arguing or making my point for me?
Bring Tubby Back
March 15th, 2011
1:23 pm
Hope Fox leaves cuz we need Tubby who wont choke!
YoungDawg
March 15th, 2011
1:26 pm
When & if the Kansas or NC jobs come open then I’ll be worried Mark Fox may leave. Kansas is his dream job & he worked there in the past under Roy Williams who I think might recommend Fox to succeed him at NC. All NC State interest will do is get Fox a well deserved raise unless he wants more improvements to Stegeman instead.
Bring the Pack Back
March 15th, 2011
1:28 pm
You Dawg fans have nothing to worry about, we aren’t going to come after Fox. No need to cough up 2 mil for him when there are other candidates out there.
As for what job is better…that’s a no brainer; NCSU by far.
Better facilities, roster, tradition, fan support and more money if you are a winner. Only drawback is the competition in the TRI-COUNTY area.
Facts are facts…only 7 teams have one multiple NCAA tourney titles, NCSU is one of them.
10 ACC titles
3 Final Fours,
2 National Titles
Then NCAA and UNC Board of Gov castrated the wolf (1990)…
Its time to bring the Pack Back, 20 years is more than enough punishment for selling some shoes.
Kerryb
March 15th, 2011
1:28 pm
Sorry. Don’t see the step up. Why go to the ACC and have no chance of winning the conference from UNC or Duke every year.
Joey
March 15th, 2011
1:54 pm
Dang! I saw the headline and thought it was about Richt. Shoulda known better . . .
Joey
March 15th, 2011
1:58 pm
Well, Mr Pack, more schools than 7 would have multiple titles if they so brazenly broke the rules to get them, like, well, your school.
unifynormal
March 15th, 2011
2:11 pm
Just because State has been down doesn’t mean the program can’t return. Half the problem was the AD, and he’s gone too. Anyone UGA fan mentioning State’s previous coach proves they don’t know much. That dude had plateaued. Feel free to go get him from ASU where he crashed and burned this season. Heck, even Lowe beat that performance.
Bottom line, State can come back. There are good players in place, and Roy and K will be retiring soon, so a coach with big enough b*lls to step into State’s job will have the opportunity to rise above.
Lagdawg
March 15th, 2011
2:16 pm
Sounds like UGA better do what they need to do to keep him. Good coaches are hard to replace and UGA does not need to take a step backwards at this point.
Goober Pyle
March 15th, 2011
2:35 pm
Fox does a great job the first 7/8 of the game!
ryan
March 15th, 2011
2:49 pm
I don’t think Fox will leave but if he does bolt how about the San Diego St. coach i heard a lot of good things about him also like Buzz Peterson to .
PHIL
March 15th, 2011
2:55 pm
UGA WILL WIN THE NATIONAL TITLE-THEY HAVE 2 FIRST RD PICKS AND A GREAT COACH AND THE BEST PG IN THE NATION…BOW TO THE DAWGS BOZOS…WE WILL MAKE BELIEVERS OUT OF YOU HATERS FRIDAY NIGHT AND SUNDAY AFTERNOON!
BOW TO THE DAWGS BOZOS
March 15th, 2011
2:57 pm
WE WILL BE THE FIRST 10 SEED TO WIN IT ALL BABY
BOW TO THE DAWGS BOZOS
March 15th, 2011
2:57 pm
GERALD ROBINSON WILL LEAVE ISAIAH JR CALLING FOR DADDY THOMAS
BOW TO THE DAWGS BOZOS
March 15th, 2011
2:59 pm
NC STATE WON A TITLE ON A GOALTENDING AND JIMMY V IS A GONNA BABY…LONG LIVE THE REAL DAWGS
BOW TO THE DAWGS BOZOS
March 15th, 2011
3:03 pm
JIMMY V IS A GONNA AND NC STATE WON A TITLE ON A SHOULDA BEEN CALLED GOALTENDING FLUKE PLAY-DAWGS ROLL AND N.C. STATE IS A SECOND RATE SCHOOL…HOWS THE NIT-OH WAIT YOU DIDNT MAKE IT…BWAHAHAHA
gdawginkalamazoo
March 15th, 2011
3:10 pm
BOW. Really???? That is hilarious. A UGA basketball fan running smack. It has been so long since we have had a team that could beat anybody much less somebody that I forgot how to talk roundball smack. I am talking Dominique Wilkins days.
I pray that the dawgs do well and play a great game. It is nice to see them pull down the 20+win season and appear to be heading in the right direction. Hope Coach Fox sticks around and makes this HIS program and a winner.
Goober Pyle
March 15th, 2011
3:12 pm
Dawgs year is next year with Kentavious and Nick arriving.
BOW TO THE DAWGS BOZOS
March 15th, 2011
3:13 pm
JIMMY V IS A GONNA AND NC STATE WON A TITLE ON A SHOULDA BEEN CALLED GOALTENDING FLUKE PLAY-DAWGS ROLL AND N.C. STATE IS A SECOND RATE SCHOOL…HOWS THE NIT-OH WAIT YOU DIDNT MAKE IT…BWAHAHAH
Goober Pyle
March 15th, 2011
3:18 pm
Would report some of the above posts but that’s even more aggravating than entering the Final Four Fiasco. AJC, ever heard of user-friendly?
Mr. JiggyFly
March 15th, 2011
3:18 pm
“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.”
This is sooooo hilarious. NC State’s basketball heritage makes GA look worse than a mid-major. How many National Championships does GA have? Someone said the NC State job is only the 4th best in the state. Maybe….. but its still better then the best basketball program in GA. And as far as facilities, I have been inside GA’s barn twice. NC State has the nearly new state of the art RBC Center in Raleigh that seats 19,000+ for Bball and 18,400+ for hockey. Brand new state of the art jumbotron, ribbon boards, 30 luxury boxes, etc., etc. Its a Pro arena. And best of all, NC State is located in the heart of basketball country, called Tobacco Road. How did this reporter even fathom GA had more to offer. LMAO!!!!
BOW TO THE DAWGS BOZOS
March 15th, 2011
3:27 pm
uga has 6 football titles and nc state none
BOW TO THE DAWGS BOZOS
March 15th, 2011
3:28 pm
compare nc state to UGA In football baby-not even close-the pack stink
gdawginkalamazoo
March 15th, 2011
3:28 pm
NC State has 2, this dawg has no problem with NC State basketball. Jimmy V was one enthusiastic coach who loved the game. You don’t see too many guys like that anymore.
BOW TO THE DAWGS BOZOS
March 15th, 2011
3:30 pm
UGA = 6 NATIONAL TITLES, 12 SEC TITLES, TOPE 15 ALL TIME IN TOTAL WINS, TOP 5 ALL TIME IN BOWL WINS, 2 HEISMANS, TOP 5 IN NFL PLAYERS, MORE ALL-AMERICANS, BETTER STADIUM, BETTER MASCOT, BETTER GIRLS, BETTER CONFERENCE AND BETTER CITY AND STATE-WOW WHATS IN NC? CHARLOTTE-WOW
BOW TO THE DAWGS BOZOS
March 15th, 2011
3:31 pm
OH AND FLAIR—WWWHHHHOOOOOOO
Mr. JiggyFly
March 15th, 2011
3:31 pm
BOW TO THE DAWGS BOZOS: “compare nc state to UGA In football baby-not even close-the pack stink”
You’re real bright. So Mark Fox should remain your BASKETBALL coach because you have a good FOOTBALL team? LOLOLOLOLOL
unifynormal
March 15th, 2011
3:35 pm
Jimmy V was the man, and he got hosed by his own school. The admin over-reacted to the infractions (which were very minimal compared to what gets by the NCAA these days *cough* Cam Newton *cough* ) and the downward spiral of NCSU bball was self-inflicted. Much has changed, there’s new leadership in place, and it’s time for State to rebound (literally and figuratively). It’s sad to see Lowe go, since he was instrumental in ‘83 run, but his time has come.
BOW TO THE DAWGS BOZOS
March 15th, 2011
3:35 pm
RALEIGH SUX…ITS AN ANCIENT CITY WITH NOTHING TO DO-RANKS WITH COLUMBIA, S.C. AS THE MOST SUCK CAPITALS IN THE SOUTH
BOW TO THE DAWGS BOZOS
March 15th, 2011
3:36 pm
RALIGH WOULDNT BE GEORGIA’S 3RD BEST CITY
BOW TO THE DAWGS BOZOS
March 15th, 2011
3:37 pm
RALEIGH-SCOFFS AT THAT UGLY DORK DOG OF NC STATES-LOOKS LIKE THE WOLF FROM THE THREE LITTLE PIGS WITH PAJAMAS ON
BOW TO THE DAWGS BOZOS
March 15th, 2011
3:37 pm
SHUTUP SCHULTZ
MJC
March 15th, 2011
3:37 pm
@BOW
UGA has 6 football titles? I think this is news to anyone who abides by facts.
BOW TO THE DAWGS BOZOS
March 15th, 2011
3:38 pm
SCHULTZ JUST FINISHED EATING A SWISS CHEESE SANDWICH AT THE ATL DELI
BOW TO THE DAWGS BOZOS
March 15th, 2011
3:39 pm
CHECK THE # OF TIMES UGA WAS NAMED NATIONAL CHAMPIONS BY DIFFERENT PUBS SIR-YOU CHECK THE FACTS-THE AP MAY BE SELF-PROCLAIMED BUT UNTIL THE MNC IS WON ON THE FIELD ANY PUB CAN DECLARE SOMEONE A WINNER-CHECK THE RECORD BOOKS-1942,1980,1968 AND SO FORTH-GO AHEAD