The Real Problem

Back when NC State fans were souring on Herb Sendek and ready for a change, the best argument for keeping him was that unless you felt comfortable with Lee Fowler making the hiring decisions, you didn't want a change.

Well, sadly, Lee Fowler proved that argument a very good one against any change. Granted, Herb wasn't fired, but Fowler has proven had he know business hiring a basketball coach.

Forget the parade of coaches who publicly turned down the job, let's look at the man he hired. But not yet - let's look at the likely qualifications for the Head Coach of Men's Basketball at NC State:
*Previous successful experience as a head coach at a Division 1A school - preferably from a major or mid-major conference.
*Previous successful experience recruiting high school athletes to a major Division 1A program.
*A proven track record developing college basketball players and building a successful college basketball team.
*Previous successful experience as a Head Coach or Assistant Coach at an elite Major College basketball program.

It's understandable that a coach wouldn't meet all of these require - after all, when Roy Williams went to the Kansas Jayhawks he had never been the head coach of a major college basketball program. But any candidate should at least have one of these qualifications.

Lowe, of course, had none of them. He didn't even have a college degree. He did have extensive NBA experience - as both a head coach and an assistant. His head-coaching experience, couldn't be called successful - by any stretch. However, all 3 of those stints were with expansion franchises - doomed for failure for seemingly any coach. Sidney did - and still does love NC State. The fact that Lowe surrounded himself with a very experienced staff seemed to address his college shortcomings.

And here NC State is - looking like a team that is being led college coach who doesn't quite know what he's doing. But, NC State shouldn't get rid of Sidney.

Someone else needs to go first. This someone is a man who has insulted NC State fans who did nothing but question whether the basketball program was heading the right direction 4 years ago. A man who went on a national college football show to say an NC State wasn't on a hot seat, only to fire him later that same year. The same man who hired a coach who didn't meet any of the qualifications for a job: Lee Fowler.

Sidney needs a chance - Lee has had his. It's time for him to go.