Former HU Coach and Bibbs' Asst Resigns

[Maxell]

Interesting.

Former Hampton University women's basketball coach Walter Mebane has resigned as assistant women's basketball coach at N.C. State, citing "personal reasons."

Mebane, whose HU contract was not renewed after last season's 16-16 finish, was hired by new Wolfpack coach Kellie Harper in May as an assistant coach but resigned June 29.

"We appreciate the time Walter spent with us and respect his decision to do what is best for him right now," Harper said. "We wish him all the best in whatever his future holds."

The Wolfpack has named former Baylor assistant coach Richard Barron has Mebane's replacement.

www.dailypress.com/sports/dp-now-mebane-0707,0,6881083.story

[Bornthrilla]

Barron Named Asst. Women's Basketball Coach
Courtesy: NC State
Release: 07/06/2009

Richard Barron helped recruit the top-ranked class of 2009 at Baylor University.

RALEIGH, N.C. – NC State head women’s basketball coach Kellie Harper has announced a change to her coaching staff for the 2009-10 season with the hiring of assistant coach Richard Barron.

Barron spent the last two seasons as the Associate Head coach at Baylor. The Tennessee native was the recruiting coordinator for the Lady Bears that landed the consensus top-ranked player (Brittney Griner) and class of 2009.

“We are thrilled to have Richard Barron join our staff and family here at NC State,” said Harper. “The experience he brings, both recruiting and on the floor coaching, is invaluable. Because of his time in the Big 12, Richard will strengthen our programs ability to recruit on a national level immediately. He is a quality individual, a strong family man, and a great addition to our program.”

During his two seasons in Waco, Texas, Baylor owned a 54-13 record and made a pair of appearances in the NCAA Tournament, including a run to the Sweet 16 this past year, before falling to national runner-up Louisville at the RBC Center in Raleigh.

“I’m extremely excited for this chance to work with the coaching staff here at NC State,” said Barron. “I’ve known Kellie, Jon and Stephanie for sometime now and I respect them not only as coaches, but also as people and that’s what really pulled me in this direction. The people at NC State.”

Barron replaces Walter Mebane, who resigned Monday, June 29, citing personal reasons.

“We appreciate the time Walter spent with us and respect his decision to do what is best for him right now,” said Harper. “We wish him all the best in what ever his future holds.”

Barron spent six seasons as head coach at Princeton prior to joining the Baylor program. In his tenure at Princeton, Barron posted a 74-91 record after inheriting a team that went 2-25 in the season prior to his arrival. The Tigers posted an 11-16 record his first season and under his guidance, went on to claim the 2005-06 Ivy League title.

He honed his skills before Princeton by spending five seasons at the University of the South in Sewanee, Tenn. During his final season there, Barron led his squad to the first conference championship in school history and a No. 8 national ranking in Division III. He posted a 77-48 record with the Tigers and owns an 11-year head coaching career record of 152-139.

During his tenure at Princeton, Barron coached five players to All-Ivy League honors. In 2006, Princeton had two players, Becky Brown and Meagan Cowher, honored on the first team. It was the first time since 1981 that two of the five first-team positions went to Princeton players. Cowher repeated first-team honors in 2007.

Cowher is the daughter of Bill and Kaye (Young) Cowher – both former NC State star athletes. Younger sister Lauren also played one season at Princeton under Barron.

During the summer of 2006, Barron traveled to Treviso, Italy, with the Phoenix Suns to observe and learn under current New York Knicks head coach Mike D'Antoni. In 1998, he was one of three college coaches selected to serve as a floor coach for the American Basketball League (ABL) combine. Barron has also served as the basketball camp director for Pete Gillen, Jeff Jones and Terry Holland at the University of Virginia and has lectured at numerous high school and summer basketball camps around the country about basketball fundamentals. For three seasons (2003-06), he was the Ivy League Representative for the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA).

Barron, who grew up in Florida and Tennessee, is a 1991 graduate of Kenyon (Ohio) College where he majored in biology. He graduated cum laude after making the dean's list every semester. Barron played both basketball and baseball in college.

Barron and his wife, Maureen, a former Princeton softball coach, are the proud parents of five-year-old twin daughters, Lane and Rae, and a son, Billy, born in August 2006.

[Bornthrilla]

That's pretty weird. I wonder if Bibbs would now consider bringing him back to her staff.

[Maxell]

Sounds like Barron was a family friend that ultimately got the deal he wanted. Harper probably went to him first but he had to muddle it over. That would leave Mebane as the 3rd or 4th banana.

[Maxell]

Jul 7, 2009 10:03:30 GMT -5 Bornthrilla said:

That's pretty weird. I wonder if Bibbs would now consider bringing him back to her staff.

The bigger question is would he consider coming. If he was miffed at his role at NC State, I don't know. And could we pay him?

The job posting for Bibbs' assistant closes July 17th and position has a start date of July 24th.

[Bornthrilla]

She could probably on offer him 2nd assistant's type money, since Coach Murray has been promoted.

[Aggie911]

That's pretty weird. I wonder if Bibbs would now consider bringing him back to her staff.

I would not be surprised

[Maxell]

Jul 7, 2009 10:16:19 GMT -5 Bornthrilla said:

She could probably on offer him 2nd assistant's type money, since Coach Murray has been promoted.

Murray has been promoted to head recruiting but how far. Is he Associate Head Coach? If not, that may leave some money to play with also. If she could handle the egos, that would be a heck of a staff.

[Maxell]

Jul 7, 2009 10:16:20 GMT -5 Aggie911 said:

That's pretty weird. I wonder if Bibbs would now consider bringing him back to her staff.

I would not be surprised

Why the eye rolling?

[Bornthrilla]

Bibbs was very happy for Mebane when he got the NCSU job. Likewise, Mebane called Bibbs to personally thank her for the opportunity she gave him to get into coaching.

There is definitely a great deal of respect between the two, so the idea of a reunion one day would not be too far-fetched. I guess we'll just have to wait and see.

[oleschoolaggie]

i'm very suspicious of mebane's resignation. something's not quite right about that. i suspect dude just didn't measure up. and if that's true, why would we want someone who was "probably" fired shortly after being hired and long before the season even started?

something's not quite right about that...

[thefriscotxaggie]

I am with you that there is more than meets the eye to this story; however, I don't think there is any reason to question Mebane's ability to Coach at this time espically as an Assistant..

The guy did Coach (Hampton) to play several close games with us this year. They made to the MEAC championship. Plus they beat a few mid-majors as well as a couple majors in 2007. (beat Georgetown in 2007).

It seems to be a trend at Hampton that there Coaches are under performing; based on the their level of talent; however I would not hesitate to have Mebane or Nickleberry as an Associate Head Coach.

Probably a more likely scenario is that the guy from Baylor decided after the fact that he wanted the job. And if he was the top choice they may have asked Mebane to resign siting "personal reasons". If so he probably walked away with a decent severance.

[oleschoolaggie]

Jul 7, 2009 16:21:46 GMT -5 thefriscotxaggie said:

I am with you that there is more than meets the eye to this story; however, I don't think there is any reason to question Mebane's ability to Coach at this time espically as an Assistant..

The guy did Coach (Hampton) to play several close games with us this year. They made to the MEAC championship. Plus they beat a few mid-majors as well as a couple majors in 2007. (beat Georgetown in 2007).

It seems to be a trend at Hampton that there Coaches are under performing; based on the their level of talent; however I would not hesitate to have Mebane or Nickleberry as an Associate Head Coach.

Probably a more likely scenario is that the guy from Baylor decided after the fact that he wanted the job. And if he was the top choice they may have asked Mebane to resign siting "personal reasons". If so he probably walked away with a decent severance.

yeah, i guess i could go along with that under those circumstances. but it just strikes me as very peculiar that he resigned before he ever really got started.

i can see mebane as bibbs assistant since they've played that role before. but nick as eaves' assistant? i think ego would get in nick's way. to be an assistant at an hbcu in the same conference and see the same faces he coached against as a head coach? unless he can't find anything better, i don't see a nick and eaves marriage working...

[thefriscotxaggie]

Yea I agree with "Nick and Eaves would never work". But I was making the point, although both Mebane and Nickleberry were fired / forced out they both would make great Assitants probably at any level. Some people are not cut out to be head coaches but that does not take away from their ability to be a great position Coach or Assistant Coach.

Good example was Dave Campo with the Cowboys a really good position coach but a poor head coach. Statement probably holds true for Lee Fobbs tooo!!!!!

[truthseeker]

could be that nc state boosters didn't like the fact that a carolina guy would be on their coaching staff...

i mean les robinson caught hail for having buzz peterson on his staff... & when life long nc state fan jerry stackhouse signed to play for carolina instead of the wolfpack... buzz was accused of recruiting for the tarheels... even though buzz was employed at state...