The Daily Tar HeelTuesday, April 17, 19905 Valvano's greed leaves State in shambles Editor's note: It's no secret that money runs the world of sports, but every once in a while, its effects hit close to home. Over the past two weeks, ACC schools have served to remind us that kids' games have become big busi ness. This is the first in a four-part series. Bv MARK ANDERSON ' Assistant Sports Editor J On April 7, N.C. State terminated ; the contract of head basketball coach Jim Valvano "without cause," but not without cost. Valvano will receive ' $488,500 from the school and from its . athletic boosters. It's fitting that a ten ' ure ruled by money from the hiring to the firing ended in contract negotia tions. Legally, Valvano is entitled to that money maybe more but morally, i Valvano should have forfeited the terms ' of his contract and resigned. Instead, i his greed added five weeks of messy ' negotiations to the 15-month storm cloud he had already drawn over the . university. Valvano's five-year contract called ; for N.C. State to pay him $100,000 for every year remaining on the contract if ; he were fired for anything less than a felony conviction or a NCAA rules ; violation for which he was personally ; responsible. Failing to prove either ; stipulation, N.C. State was forced to : negotiate for a firing "without cause." ; : But the termination was without cause in "legalese" only; Valvano ; skirted the edges of several of his ' contract's provisions. ; . In December, his basketball program ; was placed on two years' probation and ; barred from postseason play for one ; year for two major NCAA violations. ; But the NCAA said only that the uni ; versity "failed to control its intercolle ; glate athletics program." It did not di ; rectly blame Valvano. ; How could a man who oversaw the ; basketball program and also served as ; athletic director not be reponsible for ; the sale and misappropriation of the ; tickets and shoes that he distributed? ; The NCAA apparently had an answer, ; and its soft ruling allowed Valvano to ; slip through the legal cracks in his ; contract. ; Another gray area was the academic ; standing (or lack of it) of Valvano's ; athletes. The situation came to a head ; when N.C. State's attorneys threatened ; to sue Valvano for failing to ensure his ; players' academic progress toward Club Sports Friday, April 20 .MEN'S LACROSSE, Tournament, at Durham, TBA Saturday, April 21 MEN'S LACROSSE, Tournament, at Durham, TBA .WOMEN'S LACROSSE, vs. N.C. State, at Raleigh, 2 p.m. RUGBY, vs. Duke Graduate, Chapel 'Hill, TBA Sunday, April 22 EQUESTRIAN, Show vs. Yonals, TBA EgriMtniD J0G fennttKEODCDip IlimijHStLQSirJ vfrt rr.r rar?i UMIIIIL "fa 1 Tnn nf 1 1 li I Si ATTENTION MAY GRADUATES! At Crown Honda we have a large selection of new and used Hondas. Through our College Graduate Program you may qualify for: Special Financing! Minimum Downpayment! and Trades are welcome! Contact Michael Leake, UNC class of 1987, at 929-0242 for an appoint ment or stop by Crown ' HondaVolvo anytime! MLS Ft r H ITT HONDA &3V&kS VV1M volvo 1730 N. Fordham Blvd. Chapel Hill graduation as required in his contract. Although rumors of academic abuse had been flying since the 1984 recruit ment of Chris Washburn (he of the 470 SAT score), Valvano's program did not come under official scrutiny until last year. A commission appointed by CD. Spangler Jr., president of the University of North Carolina system, found that NCSU players were kept eligible by abusing academic standards. As a result, one of Valvano's biggest supporters, Chancellor Bruce R. Poul ton, resigned. Last month, Poulton's replacement, Interim Chancellor Larry K. Monteith, delivered a report to the NCSU trustees stating that many basketball players had made little progress toward gradu-. ation under Valvano. N.C. State rec ords show that only 1 1 of the 41 players who played for Valvano through 1988 had "C" averages or better. Of the 12 players on the 1988-89 team, 10 were under academic warning. In addition to this swirl of contro versy, Valvano was faced with the revelations that he had covered up the arrests of eight N.C. State wrestlers and that Charles Shackleford received more than $60,000 while playing for the Wolfpack. Yet, he refused to submit quietly, coming to the bargaining table demanding full payment. The threat of a lawsuit brought Valvano's price down, but N.C. State's legal ground was shaky at best. In the end, the university will pay Valvano $238,509 two years' salary at $106,000 a year and $26,509 for the rest of this academic year. This will be payed from public funds out of the UNC system. Because the settlement was not termed a resignation, Valvano is also eligible for a provision allowing him to collect a $250,000 annuity from the Wolfpack Club (Why is a booster group involved in paying coaches? That's another column). Valvano carried the popular support of Wolfpack boosters and the vocal support of his athletes like Chris Corchi ani throughout this affair. His defend ers blamed the NCSU trustees and asked us to look at what Valvano has done for the school. On the plus side, Valvano was a winning basketball coach (209-114 overall). He was 14-6 in the NCAA tournament, including his magic 1983 title, and won two ACC titles. Because of his success and his personality, he returned N.C. State to the recognition level it received in the early '70s and recognition means financial contribu tions. On the negative side, Valvano de stroyed the academic reputation of a university. He recruited athletes who were questionable as people, as well as students. Shackleford and Washburn were among those in and out of legal trouble. Valvano made a financial killing off the school's name. Besides his salary and settlement, he received about $500,000 a year in outside income: $ 1 60,000 a year from a Nike contract, at least $212,500 from a speaking con tract, at least $50,000 from a summer basketball camp and unknown amounts for his radio and TV shows and his contract with South Square Motors. Why did Valvano stay until the bitter end? Because he was making money, lots of it. Why did N.C. State stick with him as long as possible? Because he was making the school money, lots of it. That's what the university hired him to do, and, ironically, it's what brought about his downfall. After Norman Sloan went 20-8 in 1980, N.C. State basket ball was among the nation's elite pro grams and could have selected any number of coaches. Yet, Wolfpack officials picked the unknown Valvano out of Iona. He was plugged as an outstanding recruiter who could also unify the fi nancial supporters Sloan had alienated. School officials knew Reynolds Coli seum was going to be replaced, and they needed someone who could head the drive. And head it Valvano did. By the time he won the NCAA championship in 1983, he was unstoppable. He was a national hero, which allowed him to concentrate on coaching and speaking, his two loves. Unfortunately, the more he spoke, the more responsibility in his program he turned over to others. His program was recruiting athletes unworthy of a college education, and Valvano had lost control of the every day workings. Yet in 1986, N.C. State hired him as athletic director, namely because the drive for a new coliseum was kicking in. Valvano had much more influence on donations from his dual position, but he had even less time to supervise his team. So the monetary greed of both par ties is to blame, but Valvano made out like a bandit. He gets to keep all the money he made, plus some after the fact. On the other hand, N.C. State has to use some of the funds Valvano col lected to pay him, and the plans for the new coliseum have been put on hold. In the end, the university is the loser. Youthful Jones givea Cays' coaching post From staff and wire reports CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. Assistant Jeff Jones was named Monday as Virginia's basketball coach, ending a search that saw three more prominent coaches turn down a chance to succeed Terry Holland. The 29-year-old Jones, who be comes the youngest coach in the basketball program's 84-year history, became an assistant at Virginia in 1982 and played under Holland in 1979-82. "Any success that we accomplish will be built on the foundation he has established," Jones said of Holland, who left after 16 years to become athletic director at Davidson. "There will be some changes, but I promise you that the physical and mental toughness and pride with which play ers wear the Virginia jerseys will continue." Player reinstated after arrest UNC baseball coach Mike Roberts reinstated reserve infielder Cy Richardson last week after Richardson received a deferred prosecution for a larceny charge. Richardson, who was caught steal ing merchandise from the UNC Stu dent Stores on March 29 and subse quently suspended indefinitely by Roberts on April 5, appeared in Or ange County District Court in Hillsborough on April 6. He agreed to pay a $ 1 00 fine and serve 50 hours of community service over the next six months in exchange for having his' case dropped by the district attorney ; at the end of that period. ; Richardson, who will reappear in ) court on October 4 for review by the; ; district attorney, also agreed to stay j out of the Student Stores "except to ) buy and sell books." ' ;' The redshirt sophomore from! Hartsdale, N.Y., rejoined the TarJ Heels late last week and traveled with ;! the team to Virginia over the week;! end. " r. Baseball ranked 11th and 24th The UNC baseball team garnered a ; No. 1 1 ranking in this week's Collet giate BaseballESPN poll and No.24 j: spot in Baseball America's ratings. ! ; The Tar Heels, who improved td' 33-8 and 13-2 in the ACC by taking; two of three at Virginia over thO; weekend, stayed at the 1 1 spot in the Collegiate Baseball poll for the sec-; ond straight week. In the Baseball; America poll, however, UNC dropped four slots from a No. 20 rating last; week. ; " Also over the weekend, senior shortstop Ron Maurer extended hi$ record-threatening hitting streak to J 26 games. Maurer, who holds the' second-longest streak in UNC his--tory, went 2 for 3 in a 6-5 loss to the.' Cavs Sunday to edge ever closer-to" Scott Bradley's 30-game mark set in 1980. ' : CHINE5E RESTAURANT 790 Airport Road, Chapel Hill -next to Save-A-Center Come Join Us For Our New Special Luncheon Menu.. .$4.29 38 Items Among them: Appetizer Combo 'Chicken & Shrimp Spinach Chicken & Shrimp Asparagus "Combination Lo Mein (Chicken, Shrimp, Pork) All Selections Choice of Hot & Sour SoupEgg Drop SoupWonton Soup Include: Choice of Fried RiceSteamed RiceLo Mein We Specialize in Hunam, Szechuan & Cantonese Dim Sum Sat. & Sun. Only, 11:30-2:30 pm jgg For Take-Out Service call 967-6133. Convenient, fast H OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK FOR LUNCH & DINNER E 0 Private. Confidential. Caring. Personalized Women's Health Care including: BIRTH CONTROL GYNECOLOGY FREE PREGNANCY TESTS ABORTION ( up to 20 weeks) BREAST EVALUATION PMS TREATMENT TRIANGLE WOMEN'S HEALTH CENTER 101 Conner Dr., Suite 402, Chapel Hill, NC Across from University Mall 942-0011 OR 942-0824 Because you have enough to worry about. Now You Can Donate Plasma In 12 The Time With Our Automated System It's SAFE, QUICK & EASY! NEW DONORS-RECEIVE $1500 on your first donation with this ad CALL TODAY 942-0251 SERA-TEC B10LCGICAIS 109V2 E. FRANKLIN ST. (above Rite-Aid) 942-0251 'IS? Duke University Technical Night Special Hours for TechnicalResearch Professionals Tuesday, April 24, 1990 Duke University Employment Office 4:30pm-7:30pm 705 Broad Street Duke University is actively seeking applicants for a variety of Technical and Research positions. Employment office representatives and departmental representatives will be available on April 24th to talk with you personally about openings in the following job classifications. Research Technician Phlebotomy Technician Research Technician Senior Respiratory Therapist Research Analyst Radiologic Technologist Laboratory Research Analyst Pharmacist Data Technician Pharmacy Technician Medical Technologist Pharmacy Technician Trainee Emergency Medical Technician Hiring and retaining high-quality professionals is a priority at Duke. We offer competitive salaries, excellent benefits and a variety ofon-campus privileges. To learn more about these opportunities at Duke University, please visit us on Tuesday evening, April 24th, from 4 30pm-7:30pm at the Employment Office, 705 Broad Street, (919) 684-2015. Mxtkt BSmujermttr rv ui nveioevji wpjui iui niy Duke University is an Equal OpportunityAffirmative Action Employer. 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