By CJ Guion

After weeks of speculation and rumors, the inevitable finally happened. Earlier today, Sidney Lowe stepped down as the head coach of the Men’s Basketball team. Lowe who has been the head of the team for five years leaves his position with an 86-78 overall record, 25-55 in the Atlantic Coast Conference. Officially Sidney Lowe resigned, but sources have said that he was given the two options:  either step down or be fired. Lowe was hired by formed Athletic Director Lee Fowler after former head coach Herb Sendek went to Arizona State University.

The Wolfpack was predicted to finish fourth in the conference in a pre-season poll, but never managed to make it past ninth place since the beginning of Lowe’s tenure. Despite the disappointing record, Lowe did manage to pick up several upsets during his time as head coach such as upsets against ranked opponents Duke and UNC which would mark the beginning of the “Fear the Blazer” slogan.

Reporters caught up with Sidney Lowe as he left the basketball office early Tuesday afternoon. Lowe stated that he was very fortunate to coach at his alma mater and feels blessed to have had the opportunity. Furthermore, Lowe said that he “looks forward to the next opportunity that the Lord puts in front” of him and that he’s proud to be a part of the Wolfpack family. First year Guard Lorenzo Brown stated that he didn’t blame Sidney Lowe for the Wolfpack’s poor season and that any fault for that is placed on the team as a whole.

Current Athletic Director Debbie Yow announced in a press conference that the search for a new coach will begin immediately and that she would not comment during the duration of  the search. She did however say that several of the potential coaches for the position are currently a part of the NCAA Tournament and that she wants them to focus on that aspect first before thinking about becoming the next head coach of NC State. Associate coach Monte Towe, will remain in his current position and head the team in the interim part of the season.

The men’s basketball team finished the season with a 15-16 record which came to a conclusion after the pack suffered a loss to Maryland this past weekend. Several of the top names on a wish list for the next coach announced on ABC11 included Sean Miller of Arizona, Rick Barnes of Texas, and Mark Turgeon of Texas A&M. Lowe had two years remaining on his contract, and as it stands right now he will be paid  for the remaining portion of it.

Photo Courtesy of: Scout.com