Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, April 20, 1990 TAG: 9004200219
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Landmark News Service
DATELINE: RALEIGH, N.C. LENGTH: Medium
Also, published reports say that Les Robinson, head basketball coach at East Tennessee State University, will be introduced as the school's basketball coach early next week.
N.C. State officials would not confirm Turner's appointment, but the Raleigh native and athletic director at the University of Connecticut has been considered the front-runner for several days.
Turner would replace interim athletic director Harold Hopfenberg. The News and Observer in Raleigh reported that Turner, 39, is expected to sign a five-year contract.
Turner is a former sports information director and associate athletic director at the University of Virginia.
Sources told the Greensboro News & Record that Turner had almost unanimous support from the search committee and he and interim chancellor Larry K. Monteith had two good days of discussions.
Turner and Robinson would fill positions once held by Jim Valvano.
Valvano stepped down as athletic director amid claims of academic abuses in the basketball program. He was ousted as coach April 7 after his team was slapped with a two-year NCAA probation for selling complimentary tickets and basketball shoes, and after allegations that players had received money and engaged in point-shaving.
At Connecticut, Turner was in charge of a Division I-AA football program and an athletic department with an annual budget of $7 million. N.C. State's budget should top $12 million this year.
Turner is a 1973 graduate of the University of North Carolina. He received his master's degree in sports administration from Ohio University in 1976 and spent 11 years at UVa before going to Connecticut in 1987.
Since Turner took over, the school's athletic contributions have risen to more than $800,000 per year. He helped raise more than $7 million for an on-campus athletic facility and season-ticket sales in basketball have risen to almost 10,000. This past season, the Huskies' men's basketball team won the Big East Conference title, was ranked No. 3 in the final Associated Press poll and lost to Duke in the NCAA East Regional final.
Turner also has helped implement drug education and testing programs for Connecticut's student-athletes and established a code of conduct for athletes, which requires class attendance and satisfactory progress toward a degree as conditions of participation and financial aid.
Robinson, in a telephone interview Thursday, confirmed that he would be in Raleigh early next week, but said he did not know what would happen. He would not confirm that an offer had been or would be made.
The News & Observer in Raleigh reported Thursday that Turner and Robinson would be hired this weekend after approval by the board of trustees, which meets in Raleigh. The report said Turner and Robinson may be introduced at a joint news conference next week.
by CNB