The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1285691
34 ■ THE WOLFPACKER BY MATT CARTER ike Summey guessed he was about 5 years old when he noticed his Aunt Susan, whose husband was going to NC State, wearing Wolf- pack red. Summey turned to his mother and said, "I think I like the red team." It was the beginning of Summey's lifelong love affair with NC State. He can still remember watching former Wolfpack coach Jim Valvano running around the court in Albuquerque, N.M., looking for someone to hug after NC State won the 1983 national title game. After witnessing that, Summey turned to his parents and said, "I want to do what he does. It looks fun." That was the beginning of a dream to coach for NC State. When he was 12 years old, Summey wrote Valvano asking to be a ball boy for the Wolf- pack. Valvano took the time to write back, saying in part: "Please forgive the delay of my response and keep working on your dreams. If you keep working, your dreams can become reality. Remember also, the ef- fort is more important than the outcome. If you continue to work, dream and try, you'll always be a success." Now 45 years old, Summey is living proof that working towards a dream can make it come true. He was hired in May by NC State head coach Kevin Keatts to become an as- sistant at his alma mater, the only university M A DREAM COME TRUE New NC State Basketball Assistant Mike Summey Has Wanted To Coach At His Alma Mater Since His Childhood " You always have a dream, but everybody in the world has a dream. My dream was to be back at NC State. " Summey