The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1113082
MAY 2019 ■ 73 ■ PACK PAST $100,000 in debt into a $9 million annual budget that was always in the black when he retired in 1986. Shortly after the passage of the 1972 Education Acts, Casey became one of the first leaders at a Division I school to em- brace women's athletics. He hired Kay Yow to start women's athletics at NC State and would approve a total of 50 scholarships for female athletes in volleyball, slow-pitch softball and basketball. Casey had an uncanny knack for iden- tifying talented young coaches. His many successful hires included Yow, Lou Holtz and Dick Sheridan in football, and Jim Valvano in basketball. Perhaps Casey's greatest achievement was paying off the untenable financing agreement for Carter Stadium — which required that all profits from football ticket sales, concessions and parking go to retire the stadium debt — some 23 years early, freeing up money for the athletics operat- ing budget. In addition to his recent induction into the NC State Athletic Hall of Fame, Casey is in the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame and the National Association of Col- legiate Directors of Athletics Hall of Fame. Jim Valvano (1986-89), Les Robinson (1996-2000) Valvano and Robinson were the last of the administrators who primarily came up through the coaching ranks to lead the de- partment. Valvano was the choice of all the other Wolfpack coaches to replace the retiring Casey as athletics director, with the hope of sustaining the successes that most pro- grams were enjoying because of the foun- dation Casey built. However, Valvano won the only ACC title of his short tenure when his men's basketball team beat No. 2-ranked North Carolina in the 1987 ACC championship game in Landover, Maryland. Among his major accomplishments as AD was keeping his good friend Dick Sheridan, NC State's football coach, from accepting any of the multiple job offers he had during Valvano's four years as the leader of the department. In the end, Valvano's dual role as bas- ketball coach and AD, as well as all of his other outside activities, ended his tenure in both positions. He was forced to resign his AD post by UNC System president C.D. Spangler by Dec. 31, 1989. He later resigned as head basketball coach following the 1989-90 season. NC State alum Robinson took over as AD not long after his tenure as basket- • Lush, verdant landscaping • Nationally accredited, locally owned, not-for-profit • Dedicated to independence, security and peace of mind y p LIFESTYLES CREATED ONE PERSON AT A TIME. • A 42-acre urban oasis LIFESTYLES CREATED ONE PERSON AT A TIME. S pringmoor is 1500 Sawmill Road 1500 • Raleigh, NC 27615 C 27615 CALL 919-848-7252 FOR YOUR FREE INFORMATION KIT WP George Pickett & Associates 1021 Goodworth Drive Apex, NC 27539 Phone • 919-290-2901 Fax • 919-290-2979 Manufacturer's Representative Serving the electrical industry in the Carolinas and Virginia since 1962 Howard Pickett '76 George Pickett 1927-1998 SALES SERVICE INSTALLATION Carpet • Ceramic • Vinyl Hardwood • Laminate Custom Rugs • Binding Cabinets • Countertops GO PACK!! Office: (919) 661-2361 Cell: (919) 369-5216 raysfloorsandmore@nc.rr.com