North Carolina State University Athletics
TIM PEELER: Lowe's Homecoming a Family Affair
5/6/2006 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
May 6, 2006
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BY TIM PEELER
RALEIGH - A little over six years ago, not long after Nate McMillan became the head coach of the NBA's Seattle SuperSonics, he was asked if he might ever consider returning to the college ranks to be a head coach.
Specifically, he was asked if the might ever want to be the head coach at NC State, his alma mater.
"Nah," McMillan said without hesitation, "that job is for Sidney."
On Saturday, Sidney Lowe made that long-ago prediction come true, when he was introduced as the 18th head men's basketball coach in NC State history. The former Wolfpack point guard, a driving force behind the school's drive for the 1983 NCAA championship, called the day "a dream come true."
Funny that - there was never a bigger bunch of dreamers than Lowe and his teammates from that 1983 team, which won nine consecutive post-season games to earn the school's second national title in men's basketball.
Lowe left school following that 54-52 win over Houston in the national championship game, never really thinking he might one day return to this position. He spent time playing in the NBA and the Continental Basketball Association, before becoming a television analyst and assistant coach with the Minnesota Timberwolves.
He eventually had two opportunities to be a head coach in the NBA, with the Timberwolves and the Vancouver/Memphis Grizzlies. For the last three years he's been an assistant coach under Flip Saunders, with the Timberwolves for two years and with the Pistons this year.
Saturday, he was embraced following 35-day coaching search by a Wolfpack nation eager to see the program reach beyond its recent success under Herb Sendek, who took the program to the NCAA Tournament five consecutive seasons.
There are still some details to be worked out. Lowe must fulfill his degree requirements and get his bachelor of arts in Business Administration from St. Pauls College in Virginia in June. And he will remain with the Pistons until at least July 1.
But he already has part of his assistant coaching staff in place, mentioning at Saturday's announcement that long-time Sendek assistant Larry Harris will return as part of his coaching staff.
Mostly, however, Saturday was a day for Lowe to reacquaint himself with the NC State community and outline the program he plans to run. He held a brief introductory meeting with the team's returning players.
"I don't have a lot of rules, just a few," Lowe said. "Play hard, play smart and play together. The most important thing, the biggest rule I have, is to have fun.
"We are going to compete. We are going to continue to grow this thing and get it to where it should be."
It was a strong first impression for the players, who sat in a row of chairs at the front of the room. Included among them was junior forward and two-sport standout Andrew Brackman, still wearing his baseball uniform since he came directly from the Wolfpack's 18-4 victory over Longwood College.
"The fact that he was a player here," said senior guard Engin Atsur. "He is a big part of the NC State family. He was a big-time player who won a national championship. When a guy with all these titles comes and talks to you, you respect him big-time.
"He knows what it takes to win. He knows basketball. It's a great feeling."
Lowe was surrounded by his family, including his mother and father, Carrie Lowe and Willie Gwyn, who live in Raleigh. Lowe's immediate family - his wife Melanie, his son Sidney Jr. (20), and twins Lindsay and Lantzen (7) - also resides in Raleigh, where Lowe has maintained a home since 1983.
He also got support from several of the members of the team he helped win the national title - Cozell McQueen, Ernie Myers, Alvin Battle, Max Perry and Tommy DiNardo were all present at the Dail center. He also got big bear hugs from two of the assistants that were part of the late Valvano's staff, Ed McLean and Ray Martin.
Finally, Lowe made a triumphant march from the Dail center to the Paul Derr Track complex, where he was greeted by nearly 1,000 fans. They had gathered just across the street from Reynolds Coliseum, where Lowe played his entire college career, to greet the familiar old legend and the new head coach.
"You know for sure what you have in me," Lowe told the cheering crowd, "because I am somebody who believes."
You may contact Tim Peeler at tim_peeler@ncsu.edu.
