The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/266935
MARCH 2014 ■ 31 PLAYERS Tommy Burleson, center, Newland, N.C.: The "Newland Needle" returned to the North Carolina mountains after his professional basketball career and a brief dal- liance with speed boat racing. The third overall pick in the 1974 NBA Draft, Burleson played for Seattle, Kansas City and Atlanta. He's been involved in politics and serves as the Avery County inspections and planning director. Along with annual local and inter- national mission work, he makes multiple trips to Raleigh to see the Wolfpack play and, at Christmas, to sell Fraser firs at his Christmas tree lot in Cary. Mike Buurma, center, Willard, Ohio: A freshman on the 1973-74 team, Buurma lives in his hometown and owns produce farms in Michigan, Ohio and Georgia. Bruce Dayhuff, guard, Walker - ton, Ind.: Another freshman member of the team, Dayhuff lives in North Liberty, Indiana. Ken Gehring, forward, Akron, Ohio: No information available. Greg Hawkins, forward, Hun - tington, W.Va.: The Hawk trans- ferred to NC State after two years at Tennessee and was a senior on the 1974 team. He returned to his home- town of Huntington, W.Va., but is still close to good friend Tommy Burleson and makes frequent visits to North Carolina. Dwight Johnson, guard, Ra - leigh: A freshman member of the team, Johnson lives in Manson, N.C. Craig Kuszmaul, guard, War- ren, Ohio: A sophomore reserve in 1974, Kuszmaul spent 33 years as a high school carpentry teacher in Smithfield, N.C. He now does residen- tial construction. Bill Lake, center, Carmel, Ind.: No information available. Mark Moeller, guard, Canfield, Ohio: After finishing his career at NC State, the Ohio native stayed in Ra - leigh, working for various companies, including the Wolfpack Club. Recently, he was on the selection committee to choose the artists that will memorial- ize Wolfpack coaches Everett Case, Norm Sloan and Jim Valvano outside Reynolds Coliseum. Steve Nuce, forward, Rockville, Md.: He now lives in Covington, W.Va. Mo Rivers, guard, Brooklyn, N.Y.: The junior college transfer added speed and defense to the Wolfpack lineup over his two-year career in Raleigh. A native of Brooklyn, he has worked for the New York Human Resources Department and lives in the Bronx. He attended the team's 35th-anniversary. Phil Spence, forward, Raleigh: A Raleigh native and graduate of nearby Broughton High School, Spence transferred to NC State from Vincennes Junior College in Indiana and moved into the starting lineup. After his playing career ended, Spence spent three decades as a high school and college coach in the Triangle. He's retired now, but is a mainstay behind the NC State bench at most home men's basketball games. Steve Smith, forward, East McDowell, Ky.: No information available. Tim Stoddard, forward, East Chicago, Ind.: A two-sport star in basketball and baseball, the burly forward from East Chicago, Ind., enjoyed a 13-year career in the major leagues, where he pitched in 485 games, all in relief. He posted a 41-35 record with 76 saves and was a member of the Baltimore Orioles 1983 World Series champions. He's one of only two men to play in the NCAA Final Four and the World Series. For the last 20 years, he has been the pitching coach for the Northwestern baseball team. David Thompson, forward, Shelby, N.C.: Nearly four decades after his final college game, Thompson is still regarded as the ACC's greatest player. Unless someone comes along to completely change the college game — from freshman eligibility, to expanding the postseason tournament, to restoring the dunk to the game — his title is unlikely to be usurped. He was both an ABA and NBA All-Star during his professional career, and he settled in Charlotte in retirement, where he has worked for the Char- lotte Hornets and Bobcats in community outreach. He's still in demand as a motiva- tional speaker. Thompson returned to NC State in 2002 to finish his degree along with his oldest daughter. He was a unanimous selection for the inaugu- ral class of the NC State Athletic Hall of Fame in 2012. Monte Towe, guard, Converse, Ind.: The diminutive guard was the little engine that drove the Wolfpack. He spent a little time in professional basketball, but returned to Raleigh to become Norm Sloan's right-hand man. He was an assistant for Sloan at NC State and Florida, and had head coach- ing positions for the professional Ra- leigh Bullfrogs, Santa Fe Community College in Florida and New Orleans. After five years as an assistant for Sid- ney Lowe at NC State, Towe is now an assistant at Middle Tennessee State. COACHES Norm Sloan, head coach: After he retired from coaching, Sloan did a little broadcasting and played a little golf. The man who built the ACC's most successful two-year team split his time between homes in Raleigh and the North Carolina mountains and learned to be a college basketball fan. He died on Dec. 3, 2003, from complications of pulmonary fibrosis. His wife, Joan, who sang the national anthem before games throughout Sloan's career, still lives in Raleigh. His son Mike and his future son-in-law Biff Nicholls were both managers on the '74 title team. Last fall, Sloan was inducted into the NC State Athletic Hall of Fame. Eddie Biedenbach, assistant coach: After 17 years as the head coach at UNC Asheville, Biedenbach retired after the 2013 season and moved to his home on the North Carolina coast, where he is now an assistant coach for UNC Wilmington. Sam Esposito, assistant coach: After retiring as baseball coach in 1987 after a 21- year career in which he guided the Wolfpack to 521 wins and the 1968 College World Series, Esposito worked in administration and compliance at the school until 2003. He remained in Raleigh until recently, when he moved to a retirement community in the North Carolina mountains. Art Musselman, assistant coach: A standout player for Norm Sloan at The Citadel, Musselman came to NC State in 1970 and helped the Wolfpack win three ACC titles and the 1974 NCAA championship in his five years with the team. He retired from coaching just after the 1974 title and settled in the eastern Wake County town of Knightdale. At 75, he still works for the Wendell Parks and Recreation Department. He was recently selected for induction into the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame. — Tim Peeler Where Are They Now? Monte Towe, a point guard for the 1974 national champions and an assistant coach at NC State for five seasons, now coaches at Middle Tennessee State. PHOTO BY KEN MARTIN 28-31.1974 BKB Anniversary.indd 31 2/25/14 4:10 PM