The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1318516
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2021 ■ 21 C hris Corchiani and Rodney Monroe can never be sepa- rated, not from each other's accomplishments, not from their promotional nicknames, certainly not from the hearts of NC State fans. The record-shattering com- bination has not been replaced as the best backcourt in ACC history, not by a long shot, even as the days arrive perfectly like a Corchiani bounce pass or the years creep further on like a Monroe jump shot. The longtime friends recently got to- gether, with Corchiani traveling from Ra- leigh to attend one of Monroe's SouthLake Christian Academy basketball practices. It was like old times on the court of the private school in Huntersville, N.C. They traded some of the old jokes, talked about cur- rent challenges and pondered their places in Wolfpack history. The friendship that began with three fistfights in Carmichael Gymna- sium pick-up games is safe and secure. "That flame will never stop burning," Corchiani said. Would you expect Fire to say anything differently? Monroe's team — he's in his 10th season as the head coach and director of basketball operations at the private Christian school on the banks of Lake Norman, just north of Char- lotte — won its first two games of the season, and Corchiani dropped in to see what was happening. They took some pictures together and talked about — what else? — basketball. Monroe gathered his team together to be- gin their workouts, then came over to talk about his prospects for the most unusual season he has ever experienced, even though both were sophomores during North Caro- lina's 1989 rubeola (red measles) scare that forced every NC State student to show proof of vaccination before they could attend class. Monroe had to break the news to his team that North Carolina's governor had just man- dated that all high school athletes playing indoor sports would be required for the rest of the season to wear masks, not just on the sidelines, but also during games. It was not a popular decision. After a few minutes, Monroe tries to ex- cuse himself to rejoin practice. "What're you working on?" Corchiani asked. Monroe holds up a small slip of paper with the practice schedule on it. The first thing on the list? Defense. Corchiani snickers. He knows more than most about his former teammate's aversion to the non-scoring end of the court. "What are you going to teach them about defense?" inquired the ACC's one-time ca- reer leader in steals. "Who better to teach defense than some- body who knows how to score?" Monroe answered, somewhat, well, defensively. "Be- sides, one thing I learned a long time ago in coaching, they don't know what I don't know." In addition to still holding the school records in each category, Monroe ranks third in ACC history with 2,551 points scored, while Corchiani is second in NCAA annals with 1,038 assists. PHOTO BY KEN MARTIN CHRIS CORCHIANI Basketball (1988-91) Age: 52 Living: Raleigh Occupation: Partner, Tryon Title Insurance, Inc. Did you know? Just after Corchiani retired from professional basketball, he had a pizza restaurant in Raleigh's Mission Valley Shop - ping Center. When things got busy, he would load his car up with pizzas and deliver them around town, a much appreciated assist to his loyal customers. RODNEY MONROE Basketball (1988-91) Age: 52 Living: Huntersville, N.C. Occupation: High school boy's basketball coach at SouthLake Christian Academy Did you know? Before becoming a bas- ketball coach, Monroe was a player agent working with professional athletes in Europe for one of the larger agent corporations. He quickly decided it was not for him. Corchiani was the first player in NCAA history to eclipse 1,000 career assists and was the all-time leader when his college career ended in 1991. He also ranks third in ACC history with 328 steals. PHOTO COURTESY NC STATE ATHLETICS Monroe was the ACC Player of the Year and named a first-team All-American his senior season by Basketball Weekly and Sporting News. PHOTO COURTESY NC STATE ATHLETICS