Valvano Negotiations Get State Involvement

At the request of the University of North Carolina Board of Governors, a representative of the state attorney general’s office and a private lawyer will help North Carolina State negotiate a contract settlement with basketball Coach Jim Valvano, state officials said Wednesday in Raleigh, N.C.

Andrew Vanore Jr., chief deputy attorney general, will represent the state. John Simmons, a spokesman for Attorney General Lacy Thornburg, said the school will be represented by Raleigh lawyer Howard Manning, who specializes in civil litigation.

Manning is scheduled to meet Friday in Chapel Hill with the UNC system board.

Chairman Robert (Roddy) Jones said the meeting may give board members a chance to learn about issues “that we may not now know.”

Jones told The News and Observer of Raleigh that he didn’t expect negotiations with Valvano to continue until after the board meeting.

The school reportedly wants to avoid a costly settlement such as the one reached with North Carolina football Coach Dick Crum, who received $800,000 after resigning after the 1987 season.

Valvano has been under fire since former Wolfpack star Charles Shackleford admitted receiving $65,000 while in school. Shackleford and three unnamed former N.C. State players also were accused of point-shaving in an ABC News report. Shackleford has denied the allegations, which are being investigated by the State Bureau of Investigation.

If N.C. State fires Valvano without cause, it must pay him $500,000. However, the payment isn’t required if the coach is found guilty of a felony or a major NCAA violation.