New Athletic Director at N.C. State Named

Connecticut Athletic Director Todd Turner today was named athletic director at North Carolina State, the first permanent athletics chief the school has had since Jim Valvano dropped the title last year.

Turner said Valvano’s dismissal as basketball coach earlier this month played a role in his decision to take the job.

“The fact that the university stood up and made a decision about the future of the program was a factor in my decision,” he said. “It’s a time to look forward and not look back at history.”

Turner said his top priority is rebuilding trust in the athletics department.

“You don’t earn trust until you prove that academics is the first priority,” he said.

“I’m very excited about this appointment because Todd has exhibited great leadership in an athletics program which isn’t too dissimilar from ours,” said Larry K. Monteith, interim N.C. State chancellor.

“We have an exciting, comprehensive and competitive athletics program, and a lot of people have contributed to that. All of us who participated in his selection are confident that he can carry us to new levels in all aspects of our program.”

Turner, a Raleigh native, will assume the post July 1, succeeding interim Director Harold Hopfenberg. Hopfenberg was named to the position last fall after Valvano’s dismissal as athletic director. Valvano was relieved of his coaching duties on April 7.

Turner has been the athletic director at Connecticut since 1987.

Turner and a yet-to-be-named basketball coach will be called upon to help lead N.C. State out of a controversial period in the history of the school. For the last 15 months, the Wolfpack basketball program has been the subject of scrutiny stemming from the book “Personal Fouls.”