Debbie Yow said she wanted one special thing from her sister Kays estate.
Today, Debbie Yow is leaving her job as Marylands athletic director to become N.C. States athletic director. Her sister Kay served as N.C. States womens basketball coach for 34 seasons in a Hall of Fame career before succumbing to a long battle with cancer in January last year.
At N.C. State's news conference to announce her hiring today, Debbie will wear her most treasured possession from her sisters estate, a black onyx ring that Kay frequently wore.
A native of Gibsonville, State's new athletics director said this morning that she feels like she is coming home. Another sister of hers, Susan Yow, was N.C. States first womens basketball All-American. Susan Yow plans to be at todays news conference for her sister.
Their father, Hilton Yow, raised them to appreciate the basketball genius of legendary former N.C. State coach Everett Case, who brought fast-paced, fast-break basketball with him from Indiana to begin the great Tobacco Road tradition in the sport.
Its great to be home, Debbie Yow said. Its pretty simple. I feel energized and grateful and just very, very focused.
Yow said many factors contributed to her decision to leave Maryland for N.C. State. She was impressed with new N.C. State chancellor Randy Woodson, who she says shares her values.
She mentioned that Marylands president, C.D. Mote, is retiring Aug. 31, so there will be a change in the administration above her at her soon-to-be former place of employment. And she said she saw an opportunity to accomplish big things at N.C. State while coming home.
I actually believe this, that people have seasons in their lives, and this is the season for me to come home, Yow said. I already had an affinity for N.C. State and an affection for them.
Yow said shes not coming home to retire, either, adding that retirement is the furthest thing from her mind. She spoke respectfully of departing N.C. State athletics director Lee Fowler, who she considers a friend.
She said Fowler did an excellent job balancing the budget in difficult economic times. However, Yow also said there is improvement to be made overall in the Wolfpack program, and she plans to rely heavily on the assistance of longtime senior associate athletics director David Horning as she sets out to improve N.C. States performance on the athletic fields and in terms of the graduation rate of Wolfpack athletes.
Yow also said she plans to apply her own experience from her tenure at Maryland. Her goal is to get the schools athletic programs into the top 25.
Were going to ratchet it up competitively and find out what coaches need, Yow said. If theres something they need to get them into the top 25, were going to deliver it. And its not going to be Debbie Yow delivering it. Its going to be a team accomplishing it.
It didnt take long for N.C. States passionate fans to reach Yow. She said one fan already had texted her with a list of things she needed to do as she starts out as athletic director.
She said the most important thing is to unite N.C. States fans and bring them together because nobody can do this job alone. She said that while she isnt afraid to make difficult decisions, she likes to build consensus in an athletic program, and she takes great pride in seeing the results when things work out the way shed planned.
I have this joy in watching that kind of person [passionate fan] be happy when a national championship is won or an ACC title is won, Yow said. It doesnt get any better than that, at least for me.
Yow addressed the oft-reported idea that she had a stormy relationship with one of her most successful coaches, mens basketball coach Gary Williams, at Maryland. She said that two weeks ago, she nominated Williams for the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. She also has petitioned a campus committee to get Williams name place on the court at Comcast Center.
I dont know about stormy relationships, but thats not really the way you get even with somebody you dont like, Yow said.
She did say that shed had some discussion in the past with Williams about a mens basketball graduation rate that wasnt as high as she wanted. She said that the school now is on track for a third consecutive class with a 100 percent graduation rate.
Yow said she is proud of Williams and the support staff for the teams improvement in the classroom.
They figured it out and its to the benefit of the student-athlete, Yow said.
Now she hopes to help guide programs at N.C. State to the same type of academic and athletic success. She said this has been an emotional time, and she appreciates the kind and supportive messages she has received from Maryland fans.
And shes coming home to try to duplicate the success she had at Maryland.
Talking about it is one thing, Yow said. Doing it is another. Ive been through it and I know what it takes. . .When you achieve it, its so magnificent.