Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, April 24, 1990 TAG: 9004240064
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: RALEIGH, N.C. LENGTH: Medium
For a school that forced out coach Jim Valvano partly because of the poor academic records of the players he recruited, Robinson's academic record is a welcome relief.
"There are enough good basketball players out there that can be successful in the classrooms here at North Carolina State," Robinson, a 1965 N.C. State graduate, said Monday at a news conference to announce his hiring. "Every young man I coach, I'm going to ask him if he wants to get a college degree, is that foremost in his mind."
Robinson, whose contract begins on May 1, was coach and athletic director at East Tennessee State, where he led the Buccaneers to a 27-7 record and the Southern Conference title last season.
Robinson, 47, takes over a program that has been under scrutiny for nearly 1 1/2 years and still has another year of NCAA sanctions to serve. The program remains under investigation.
Robinson said the East Tennessee State team's grade-point average increased from 1.5 to 2.5 after he took over in 1985. And he predicted similar results at N.C. state.
"I don't think it's that complicated," he said. "These guys here now are mine. I'm responsible for them. I told them you need to be functional in this society to be happy."
The appointment of Robinson came 16 days after Valvano was forced out when school officials agreed on a settlement of almost $600,000.
Last Friday, N.C. State appointed Todd Turner as its new athletic director, a post Valvano was forced to give up last year after the basketball program was placed on two years' NCAA probation when it was found that players sold complimentary tickets and sneakers.
"We're not here to talk about the past," Turner said. "Certainly, Les Robinson has a proven record of success with the academic part of the basketball program.
"It's important when you rebuild that you be able to build with discipline."
Robinson, who signed a four-year contract at $95,000 per year, also faces the task of trying to keep point guard Chris Corchiani from leaving. After Valvano left, Corchiani said he would transfer but he has yet to do so.
Despite all the problems, Robinson welcomes the opportunity.
"There is no other coaching job in the United States that I would rather have," Robinson said. "I don't know how long they will want me here, but I'm going to be here until they run me off. This is a very, very exciting moment for me, one of the biggest days of my life."
In his first year at East Tennessee State, Robinson inherited a situation where three players were suspended for six games. The NCAA stripped the Buccaneers of scholarships later that year, but the program remained competitive.
Robinson, who coached at The Citadel before going to East Tennessee State, also was an assistant under Georgia Tech coach Bobby Cremins last summer on a U.S. team that qualified for the 1990 World Games. Among the players on that team were N.C. State's backcourt of Corchiani and Rodney Monroe. There is no other coaching job in the United States that I would rather have. Les Robinson New N.C. State basketball coach
by CNB