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
BOW TO THE DAWGS BOZOS
March 15th, 2011
3:40 pm
UGA HAS BEEN UNDEFEATED 4 TIMES BUT ONLY NAMED NC ONCE BY THE AP? HHHMMM BIAS INDEED FROM THE NORTHEASTERNERS WHO ONLY RECOGNIZED BAMA AND GT UNTIL THE 50S
BOW TO THE DAWGS BOZOS
March 15th, 2011
3:41 pm
NC STATE IS A DOG WITH NO BITE, A WEAK BARK, A COACH WHO FELL FROM GRACE B/C HE WAS A CHEAT, A SORRY HIGH SCHOOL STADIUM AND UGLY CHICKS
BOW TO THE DAWGS BOZOS
March 15th, 2011
3:42 pm
RACIST? WHAT DID I SAY THAT WAS RACIST? LOL
BOW TO THE DAWGS BOZOS
March 15th, 2011
3:42 pm
I HAVE A MASTER’S LITTLE MAN…IM TYPING AT MY DESK AT IBM BABY WHILE YOUR LOOKING AT OLD POSTERS OF THAT CHEAT JIMMY V-WHO ONLY BECAME FAMOUS WHEN HE DIED OF CANCER
MJC
March 15th, 2011
3:43 pm
@BOW
Well, if you go by any publication, then I am going to go create a publication and retroactively award Kennesaw State the national champ for every year. They have never lost a game.
BOW TO THE DAWGS BOZOS
March 15th, 2011
3:43 pm
FAMOUS-OUR COACH INVENTED THE FORWARD PASS-MORE IMP THAN ANYTHING THE CHEAT JIMMY V DID
BOW TO THE DAWGS BOZOS
March 15th, 2011
3:43 pm
OF COURSE LEGIT PUBS NOT YOU-YOURE NOT LEGIT
BOW TO THE DAWGS BOZOS
March 15th, 2011
3:44 pm
NOT PICKING ON THOSE WITH CANCER-JUST SAYIN HIS CLAIM TO FAME BEGAN AFTER HIS CANCER
BOW TO THE DAWGS BOZOS
March 15th, 2011
3:44 pm
NO BUT IT OPERATES FROM YOUR MOMS
BOW TO THE DAWGS BOZOS
March 15th, 2011
3:45 pm
NC PPL ARE HILLBILLIES
BOW TO THE DAWGS BOZOS
March 15th, 2011
3:46 pm
OUR COACHES ARE MORE REPUTABLE THAN JIMMY V-HE WON ON A SHOT THAT SHOULDA BEEN OFFENSIVE GOALTENDING
BOW TO THE DAWGS BOZOS
March 15th, 2011
3:46 pm
HE CHEATED HIS WAY TO A TITLE-JIMMY V WAS FIRED B/C HE WAS A CHEAT AND THAT HOW NC STATE KEPT UP WITH UNC-DONT TRY AND RIDE UNC’S BANDWAGON-UNC SPITS ON NC STATE
MJC
March 15th, 2011
3:47 pm
@NC State
Pot, meet kettle.
BOW TO THE DAWGS BOZOS
March 15th, 2011
3:49 pm
OH I KNOW YOURE NOT LITTLE-YOURE A FAT MAN-I MEAN YOURE A HILLBILLY FROM NC-BUT DONT TRY A KEMPO ARTIST MY FRIEND-AS WISE INSTRUCTOR ONCE TAUGHT-YOU DON’T MESS WITH DAWG ON FOOTBALL FIELD OR IN STREET FIGHT-COS IF YOU DO, YOU WILL FEEL BITE
MJC
March 15th, 2011
3:49 pm
@NC State
I’m not. I just like pointing out how both of you are on the intellectual level of a goldfish.
JIMMY V CHEATED AND WAS FIRED
March 15th, 2011
3:50 pm
BOW TO THE DAWGS BOZO
JIMMY V CHEATED AND WAS FIRED
March 15th, 2011
3:51 pm
MJC LIKES GEORGIA TECH-BBWAAHAHAHAHA-THERE’S A WINNER
MJC
March 15th, 2011
3:51 pm
@BOW
I do? This is news to me.
unifynormal
March 15th, 2011
3:54 pm
NC State bball went undefeated in ‘73 so I’ll tack on another NC for them, that makes 3.
goldfish
March 15th, 2011
3:55 pm
@MJC,
Dude, please give us more credit than that.
goldfish
March 15th, 2011
3:59 pm
Plus, even this “goldfish” (as MJC would say) can recognize the fact that BOW is a Techie. No Dawg fan would run any smack about basketball. No way in the deep blue sea a Dawg fan would run any smack on a BB blog.
hotdawg
March 15th, 2011
4:01 pm
Surely Coach Fox will have the wisdom not to taint his record by joining a school that employed the scumbag Jim Valvano. Yes, I say scumbag, despite Dick Vitale’s attempts to exhalt him to sainthood (the brotherhood of Italia is tight).
Ed Zachary
March 15th, 2011
4:06 pm
Yow!
FullMetalJacket
March 15th, 2011
4:15 pm
Jeff, I believe the NCSU basketball HC job is ultimately the better job than UGA. UGA fans (with chronic pigskin-brain disease) can’t appreciate the money and tradition that NC State can provide a basketball coach. As for facilities? Give me a break. The arena, practice, and workout facilities for State are much better than UGA’s. State could never compete with UGA for a football coach or budget, but I’d take the Wolfpack over a sickly inbred Bulldog any day in a basketball fight.
Snowgirl
March 15th, 2011
4:19 pm
“Was looking for Ashley Judd in the stands behind the Kentucky bench. Found Mike Woodson instead. Major disappointment.”
You’re still worrying about him? Grow up. This isn’t high school anymore. He’s moved on, you should be a big boy now and grow up too.
FullMetalJacket
March 15th, 2011
4:19 pm
If asked, Fox would go in a heartbeat, especially with the numbers you’re talking. UGA basketball has a great, rich tradition with lots of loyal followers and a state-of-the-art arena, right? Actually, UGA bball has Dominique. Hmmmmmm. Why would anyone want to go to the founding member of the ACC to coach basketball for more money when they could could spend their time explaining how a basketball isn’t a football in Athens? Get a clue, UGA fans. Fox may stay at UGA awhile longer, but if he’s really any good he’ll be leaving you someday, and soon. I think he’s a very good coach and State would be wise to consider him.
BOWdcked Dog in China
March 15th, 2011
4:21 pm
Bow. You are.
JIMMY V CHEATED AND WAS FIRED
March 15th, 2011
4:24 pm
JIMMY V WAS A DIRTBAG, LOW-CLASS CHEAT WHO WON WITH ILLEGAL RECRUITS-N.C. STATE ISNT A BLIP ON THE RADAR IN ANY SPORT IN COLLEGE ATHLETICS-TOTAL NATIONA TITLES-UGA DOMINATES THE WOLFIES-LOOK IT UP-JIMMY V ONLY BECAME FAMOUS B/C HE DIED OF CANCER AND HIS BUDDY DICKIE V EXALTED HIM-BEFORE THEN HE WAS A SCANDALOUS COACH WHO WAS A SECOND RATE BROADCASTER
JIMMY V CHEATED AND WAS FIRED
March 15th, 2011
4:25 pm
TO MY FRIENDS AT NC STATE-ENJOY THE TOURNEY…LOLOLOLOLOLOL-DREAM OF THE 80S WHEN YOU CHEATED 2 WIN-SINCE THEN-NOTHING BUT THAT BIG WHITE BOY-TIM GUGLIANNA OR SOMETHING
JIMMY V CHEATED ANNC STATE = 5TH BEST NC SCHOOLD WAS FIRED
March 15th, 2011
4:27 pm
NC STATE = 5TH BEST NC SCHOOL- UNC, WAKE FOREST, DUKE, UNC ASHEVILLE
NC STATE = 5TH BEST NC SCHOOL
March 15th, 2011
4:27 pm
JIMMY V COULDNT HOLD HUGH DURHAMS JOCKSTRAP
unifynormal
March 15th, 2011
4:35 pm
Not that goofball Mr ALLCAPS deserves a response, but the allegations against V came years after 1983 and did not involve that NC team.
unifynormal
March 15th, 2011
4:37 pm
Here’s a headline for you: UGA admits to NCAA violations in recruitment of linebacker Ray Drew
Read more: http://www.ledger-enquirer.com/2011/03/10/1492017/georgia-football-uga-admits-to.html#ixzz1GhcuW0dv
Einsteindawg
March 15th, 2011
5:20 pm
I agree with most of you that Coach Fox may leave one day, but not for NC State. Debbie Yow is an example of the “Peter Principle” (my apologies to the Dawgette posters here) and is almost as qualified for AD as our former AD.
Georgia football, Georgia Tech basketball, need major turnarounds | Jeff Schultz
March 15th, 2011
5:20 pm
[...] – Report: Mark Fox may be targeted for opening at N.C. State [...]
CrackDaddy
March 15th, 2011
5:40 pm
Durham’s jockstrap=Evan’s red panties
Pete
March 15th, 2011
5:53 pm
I’m a graduate of NCSU and old enough to remember the mid 1970s and early 80s when the Wolfpack competed at the highest levels. Unfortunately, they are going to have to rebuild gradually – find a talented young coach and go from there. Sure, NCSU is in the ACC and just down the road from Carolina and Duke – basketball country, for sure – but they’ve been stuck in mediocrity for too long (28 years since 1983) to expect to attract a name coach at this juncture.
We are not after Fox
March 15th, 2011
6:06 pm
He’s playing y’all for a raise – his reps puts this garbage out there. State is wayyyy better job than UGA though. I won’t argue why as it would validate the possibility of there being a contrarian stance.
Pete, Mark Fox is NOT a "name coach"
March 15th, 2011
6:12 pm
We are preparing to offer A list coaches upwards of 3 million not Fox. If we went to our B list he MIGHT be on there but I’m doubtful and we’d offer him 1.5 – 1.75. Sure UGA could match it but it is UGA. The team Fox would inherit has 3 5-star sophomores on it (2 of which are from ATL), 2 4-star juniors and an incoming 4-star center with top 150 3-star role players. Lowe’s leftovers are more talented than what he has this year.
woebegong
March 15th, 2011
7:45 pm
Darn Jeff.
You need to update this article to get more blog pages. Tim has you by double in the negative, stupid remarks bloggers today.
I am amazed how every blog sponsored by the AJC, turns into a pissin’ contest. Surely, there are some grown-ups that comment on these blogs aren’t there? You do realize that the AJC uses a lot of you as pawns and when they write an article such as this, that has no factual content, your negative comments make them feel as though they have readership. I will either assume that Jeff has some type of inside information or he is starting a rumor. Either way he has succeded in getting you all to spend time insulting each other, and therefore his pawns have done his job for him.
Brad
March 15th, 2011
8:11 pm
Truly surprising. I was expecting this coach to announce his interest before leading his team to the NCAAT. I should create a format for writers to follow. I (insert name of coach) am not willing to leave my (name of tournament bound team) in favor of (coaching position at whatever school). Feel free to follow this format for eternity.
J
March 16th, 2011
1:59 am
The last time NC State did anything was during the Jimmy V era. They are now a whipping boy for Duke and UNC, so why would Mark Fox even want to think about going there? He has a chance to win SEC championships at UGA. He would come in 3rd place, 4th place, or even worse at NC State.
Timbodog
March 16th, 2011
8:47 am
Not so fast, Jeff…you realize we’re talking basketball and not football right?
Like it or not, the ACC is a better conference and Tobacco Road is THE place to be for college basketball.
Now I think Georgia is (and long has been) a sleeping giant of sorts, but NC State is a top 20 destination for college hoops.
If Fox stays, it’s because either NC State doesn’t want him or he’s just really committed to our program.
It won’t be because we’re a more prestigious program. Not in basketball, Jeff.
Beer me (on sunday)
March 16th, 2011
3:15 pm
This one is to Georgia and alcohol on sundays!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6TOM_UuQzc0
Mark Fox to GT
March 17th, 2011
8:44 am
Have it on very good authority that Fox is talking to Tech. Would be a good move for Fox and Tech.
Stinger2
March 17th, 2011
6:17 pm
Mark Fox to GT: How could Fox be talking to GT while he geting his team ready to play in the NCAA?
ACC Fan
March 19th, 2011
11:58 pm
It’s funny to read all of these comments about NC State. I’m not even an NC State fan and I recognize that the NC State job is a huge step up from UGA. Listening to you people act like you have any basketball heritage whatsoever is laughable; it’d be like claiming that back in 2006 the Wake Forest head football job was a better job than Ole Miss because they made the Orange Bowl. You Georgia homers just keep right on thinking that the Georgia job is comparable to anything in the ACC and we’ll just keep on winning national championships.