Head women’s basketball coach Kellie Harper followed one of the most iconic sports figures in sports history — former head women’s basketball coach Kay Yow.
Yow reached the NCAA tournament 21 times and had 20 teams finish the season in the top-25 Associated Press rankings. Harper had big shoes to fill from the get-go.
In her first season, the team finished 20-14, 7-7 in Atlantic Coast Conference play and reached the NCAA tournament, the only time Harper has reached the 20-win plateau and clinched a spot in the big dance while at N.C. State. But that squad was inherited from Yow’s recruiting and coaching contributions.
Through four years at the helm of the women’s basketball program, Harper has a 63-58 record, 18-35 in ACC play. Yow finished 96-22 in her first four years with State—each team finishing in the AP top-15 rankings and clinched a berth in the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women tournament.
This season through 21 games, the team is 10-11 and 2-7 in the ACC.
The slogan for this season’s women’s program is “our time.” The pregame routine includes the slogan, there are commercials on the team website with the phrase, but nothing the team has accomplished this season, thus far, has exemplified that this is “their time.”
Senior guard Marissa Kastanek and junior forward Kody Burke, along with junior college transfer center Markeisha Gatling looked poised to lead the team in the right direction this season, but the squad continues to struggle.
The team has been in many close games, losing six games by 10 or fewer points. Losses to UNC-Chapel Hill, Florida and Northern Iowa have been back-breakers for the team.
They went 1-7 from Dec. 20 to Jan.20—a full month—all seven losses to ACC opponents.
As the head coach, it’s Harper’s responsibility to have a finely tuned machine, ready to compete night-in and night-out. Harper’s squad still has a chance to salvage the season and make it a special one. Close losses have prevented the team from a better record—they need to find ways to get it done.
The team could go on a run. They could win the ACC tournament and save her job. But if they don’t, I see Harper’s time with the Pack drawing to a close.
It is the women’s basketball program’s time. It’s time to become relevant again in the ACC. It’s time to make the necessary changes in order to make that happen. Are all choices easy? No, but collegiate athletics is a business, and something needs to be done to make it a success.
Athletics Director Debbie Yow will not continue to put up with programs that deliver sub-par performances. As fans know, she was quick to fire former head football coach Tom O’Brien after finishing the season with a winning record and taking the team to its third consecutive bowl game appearance.
Last year alone, Yow made coaching changes in football, women’s soccer, softball and wrestling. Men’s soccer, basketball and the swimming and diving program have also seen coaches leave under Yow’s watch.
If the next year’s squad wants Harper around as its head coach, they better take their game to another level — more importantly, a winning level.
The culture is changing at N.C. State, and Harper could be next in line if results don’t turn around quickly for the Wolfpack. I don’t think Debbie Yow would think twice about making the decision to fire Harper if it’s right for the program.
