The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
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26 ■ THE WOLFPACKER "Having the chance to play for Coach Valvano for two years means a lot to me," Gugliotta said. "What he did through the game of basketball is pretty incredible. "If you look at it, basket- ball is a silly game. But if you have the proper coach, you can learn a lot of life skills, a lot of positivity and energy. He helped you reach for and achieve your dreams. I was fortunate that I was able to play for both Coach Valvano and Coach Robinson for two years." The Washington Bullets took Gugliotta with the sixth overall pick of the 1992 NBA Draft. His career was excep- tional, though he had some setbacks. He averaged double figures in scoring and nearly seven rebounds in each of this first eight seasons in the league. He reached his pinnacle with the Minnesota Timber- wolves, averaging more than 20 points a game in back-to-back seasons (1996-97, 1997-98) and becoming a 1997 NBA All-Star. He signed a six-year, $58-million contract with the Phoenix Suns prior to the 1998-99 season, which was shortened by an own- er's lockout. After surviv- ing a near-death experience following a severe reaction to a sleep aid, Gugliotta saw his health and production began to decline. After being selected as a member of the 2000 USA Olym- pic Dream Team, he had to undergo reconstructive knee surgery after the 1999-2000 season, forcing him to give up his spot on the roster for the Sydney Games. He played sparingly over the final five years of his ca- reer, retiring in 2005 after splitting the season with the Boston Celtics and the Atlanta Hawks. He scored 9,895 points, grabbed 5,589 rebounds, had 2,140 assists and made 1,079 steals in his NBA career. Gugliotta has spent the last 15 years raising a family and vol- unteering for charitable organizations in the Atlanta area. He and Keri work with multiple organizations, including Merging Vets and Players, which was started by sportswriter Jay Glazer to help both professional athletes and combat veterans return to civilian life. They work with Force Blue, which works with former Navy SEALS to preserve coral reefs around the world. And they sup- port research to cure cystic fibrosis, a debilitating pul- monary disease, especially for children. "We try to give back as much as we can to causes we feel strongly about," Gugliotta said. "I was given some great opportunities in my life, and I want to help create some for others." Running from place to place, taking his kids to practice, visiting his daugh- ter and doing family activi- ties has kept Gugliotta busy and unable to attend as many NC State basketball games as he would like — heck, it's been nearly seven years since he and Chris Corchiani were kicked out of one. Every month or so, someone will remind him of that game against Flor- ida State at PNC Arena, when rabbit-eared referee Karl Hess booted the two Wolfpack legends out of the nationally televised ACC contest, one of the more embarrassing mo- ments in league history. That was another mo- ment one of Gugliotta's kids put it into perspective for him. After the jawing at the scorer's table, all the ruckus with the fans and the security escort ready to take Googs and Corch on the long walk out of the building, he turned to Greer, his then 15-year-old daughter, and said: "Honey, I guess we have to leave." "Dad," she said. "I didn't get kicked out. You guys did." And she stayed until the end. For Gugliotta, it was just another example of how his kids keep him grounded. The support he and Corchiani got afterwards also reinforced why his father was right to push him to NC State more than 30 years ago. An ordinary life? Hardly. Few players in the history of the program made a longer trek from ordinary to extraordinary that Gugliotta did. ■ Tim Peeler is a regular contributor to The Wolfpacker and can be reached at tmpeeler@ncsu.edu. Gugliotta, flanked by his wife Keri (right) and daughter Greer (left), spends his time coaching his youngest sons, Charlie (left) and George, in sports and volunteering with charitable organizations in the Atlanta area. PHOTO COURTESY NC STATE MEDIA RELATIONS "We try to give back as much as we can to causes we feel strongly about. I was given some great opportunities in my life, and I want to help create some for others." ■ Gugliotta on himself and his wife