After a seven-year stint as the coach of Coastal Carolina from 1998-2005, Pete Strickland was introduced May 26 at the Weisiger-Brown Athletics Building as one of head coach Sidney Lowe’s assistants for next season’s basketball team.

While Strickland and the rest of the staff scrambles to prepare for next season, he said the assistant coaches are doing fine without coach Sidney Lowe, who is in Detroit as an assistant for the Pistons — at least for the time being.

“It’s not for an extended time,” Strickland said. “I’m rooting against the Pistons. I told Sidney, ‘I’m finally sure I’m definitely rooting against you. I wasn’t, but I definitely am now.'”

Even though Lowe is still in Detroit, Strickland has also yet to settle down in Raleigh. Until his son graduates from high school, his family will not fully make the move to N.C. State.

“My family is in Myrtle Beach,” Strickland said. “My son graduates from high school June 8. Then we’ll be able to make a transition from there.”

Throughout the 33-day search for the Wolfpack’s next basketball coach, Strickland said he kept up with the search because he knew the area would be good for his family.

“I was kind of keeping my eye on it,” Strickland said. “Because it was such a great fit for me geographically and for my family. [Washington,] D.C. is my home, but I started to acknowledge that the south is our children’s home.”

Now that the staff has been completed, Strickland said all the coaches are working hard to keep up with Lowe, considering he has obligations to Detroit. He said on days when the Pistons aren’t playing, the staff talks to Lowe quite a few times, but game days are much more difficult.

“At this point, we’re getting to be [in touch with him], on a non-game day, at least three times a day,” Strickland said. “On game days, we tip-toe around a little bit. I was supposed to call him after the game the other night, but they lost. So I thought maybe I’d wait.”

Strickland praised former coach Herb Sendek, saying Sendek brought a winning mentality to the players.

“First of all, the kids here are used to winning. That’s the biggest thing,” Strickland said. “Herb’s done an excellent job with this program. This program is in great shape.”

Strickland, who played at DeMatha Catholic High School, said the staff is made up of guys from the same age group.

“One thing that has become clear, that is kind of intriguing that you guys might want to keep an eye on, is that the four of us are in the same generation,” Strickland said. “All of our peers’ children are players. It’s already showing up. I obviously can’t share with you the details, but it’s already showing up.”