NC State’s Bobby Lutz takes new role with basketball program

Bobby Lutz has a new role at N.C. State, and Mark Gottfried’s coaching staff continues to get a makeover.

The school announced Tuesday that Lutz has been reassigned as a “special assistant to deputy athletic director for external operations.”

His new administrative duties with the basketball program will include assistance with the personal and academic development, housing arrangements, planning and logistics associated with the team’s foreign tour and other special projects.

Lutz, 58, spent the past five seasons at N.C. State, where he helped the Wolfpack make the NCAA tournament four times. Lutz is regarded as one of the best X-and-O coaches in college basketball.

He was in charge of the pregame scout and the defensive game plan for each opponent during his time as an associate head coach on Gottfried’s staff. Lutz could often be seen on the Wolfpack bench calling out the opponent’s offensive sets before they ran them.

After Gottfried’s first losing season at N.C. State, the team finished 16-17, two-thirds of his staff will be different for next season.

Lutz’s new role means only assistant Orlando Early remains from Gottfried’s original staff. Lutz, Early and Rob Moxley were Gottfried’s assistants for the past five seasons.

Moxley was Gottfried’s primary recruiter before a health scare last May. Moxley was re-assigned to director of player personnel when the Wolfpack’s season ended after the ACC tournament in March.

Butch Pierre, a former assistant at Oklahoma State and LSU, was hired earlier this month to replace Moxley. CBS Sports reported Tuesday that N.C. State is in pursuit of Florida Gulf Coast head coach Joe Dooley to take Lutz’s spot.

Dooley, 50, led the Eagles to the NCAA tournament this year, and his team won a “First Four” game before losing to North Carolina at PNC Arena in the first round. He has a 65-38 record in three seasons at FGCU.

Dooley, a longtime assistant at Kansas for Bill Self, was the head coach at East Carolina for four seasons from 1995 until 1999.

Lutz is a popular figure in both Raleigh and Charlotte. As the Charlotte 49ers head coach, Lutz won a school-record 218 games in 12 seasons, from 1998 until 2010. He led the 49ers to the NCAA tournament five times and on three trips to the NIT.

The 49ers haven’t made the NCAA tournament since Lutz was fired after the 2009-10 season and have only one NIT appearance in the six seasons since his departure.

Lutz declined to comment but issued a statement through the school.

“My family and I have loved our five years at N.C. State and are very proud of what we have accomplished,” Lutz said. “I look forward to aiding the program in my new role and will continue to give my very best effort.”

Gottfried also issued a statement through the school.

“I’m grateful for all of Bobby’s contributions to our program and am pleased that he will continue to be of benefit to our student-athletes,” Gottfried said.

This story was originally published April 12, 2016 at 6:36 PM with the headline "NC State’s Bobby Lutz takes new role with basketball program."