The Wilmington Star’s Andrew Jones listens to Gary Barnett’s sales pitch.
In a telephone interview Wednesday afternoon, Barnett said nobody from N.C. State or representing N.C. State had called. But he™d be willing to discuss the position, vacated when Chuck Amato was fired this past weekend.
œI am interested in getting back into coaching, Barnett said. œBut, it™s got to be the right school.
œN.C. State would be a great job and I™d be interested in it.
Barnett believes the ACC is a great league for coaches and that it™s the right time to enter.
œWith the ACC being in the position it is in, not a dominant conference this year, this is a good time to get in there, he said. œButch Davis is now down at North Carolina, and he™s a great coach, but (Wake Forest coach) Jim Grobe may be in position to move.
Barnett says former Wolfpack coach Chuck Amato did a great job generating enthusiasm for football and increased its importance among the fan base and university. He doesn’t see N.C. State as a basketball-first school.
œIt™s tough any time you™re the second sport, he said. œIt™s got to be the right fit.
Jones is careful to point out that Barnett was “exonerated of all wrongdoing” at Colorado.