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Assistant #1: Orlando Early

By Steven Muma

Various reports this afternoon have South Carolina assistant Orlando Early joining Mark Gottfried in Raleigh. Both Pack Pride and the N&O are reporting the move.

The Wolfpack's new basketball coach is expected to hire Orlando Early as one of his assistants. Early spent this past season as an assistant at South Carolina, he previously worked with Gottfried at Alabama.

Gottfried was hired by State on Tuesday ending a three-week search for Sidney Lowe's replacement. State athletic director Debbie Yow promised a "top-notch" staff, "second to none" in the country during Gottfried's press conference on Tuesday.

South Carolina's Scout.com site has heard the same thing. Gottfried knows Early quite well--they worked together at Alabama for four years, and Early was on staff when the team made its Elite Eight run. In addition to South Carolina, Early has spent time as an assistant at Gardner-Webb, Western Carolina, Charlotte, so he's familiar with this region. Early also spent five mostly unsuccessful years as the head coach at Louisiana-Monroe.

Addionally, Pack Pride and The Wolfpacker have heard that Rob Moxley will also be joining the staff. Moxley is an assistant at Middle Tennessee currently; he spent 12 years at Charlotte and one season with Gary Williams at Maryland. His bio suggests he's a well-respected recruiter, and again, he knows the territory.

The Fayetteville Observer is reporting that Monte Towe is lobbying for a place on the staff, but I don't think it's likely he will be retained.

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