N.C. State Coach Valvano May Stay

No resolution was reached on the fate of Jim Valvano during a 90-minute meeting today, but his attorney said he believed that Valvano could remain as the North Carolina State basketball coach.

“They were wide open, they were very receptive to all my ideas. They didn’t give me any ultimatums,” lawyer Woody Webb said of the school’s attorneys who were at the meeting.

Of the possibility that Valvano could remain, Webb said, “They didn’t reject it out of hand.

“I think there will have to be some amendments to the current contract. . . . He may have to take some control over (the academic standing of basketball players) . . . establish certain policies.”

Webb is a Raleigh attorney who was retained by Valvano’s agent, Art Kaminsky, as co-counsel.

The meeting was held in the office of Howard Manning, hired by the university to represent it in negotiations.

Valvano’s secretary said he was in his office but was not available for comment.

Manning left word with his secretary that he would not comment on the negotiations. Andy Vanore Jr., the chief deputy state attorney general who was also at the meeting, also did not comment.

Webb had said last week that he had heard that university officials are considering litigation to invalidate the contract by claiming that Valvano did not ensure academic progress for his players.

The possibility of litigation by either side was mentioned at today’s meeting, “but we quickly went on to something else,” he said.

Valvano wants to remain as Wolfpack basketball coach, with restrictions, if necessary, Webb said. But he said the university should spell out “what precise duties they want him to discharge so there won’t be any dashed expectations.”

Valvano is willing to be evaluated on a yearly basis, he said. But he said the university has been “vague and nebulous” on what kind of role they want him to take in assuring academic standards are met by his players.