Kevin Clifford/Nevada Appeal
RENO -- Make no mistake, David Carter worked his entire life for a moment like this. But when it finally happened he had no idea how to react.
"When they told me I was real quiet," smiled Carter, who was introduced as the 17th head coach in Nevada Wolf Pack men's basketball history Friday afternoon at Legacy Hall. "I wasn't shocked but I didn't really know what to do. I guess I just sat down and let reality set in."
Carter, a Wolf Pack assistant coach for the past 10 seasons, replaces Mark Fox, who accepted a six-year contract at $1.3 million a season to coach the University of Georgia Bulldogs on Thursday. Rhonda Lundin, Nevada's Director of Media Services, said Carter agreed to a five-year deal with the other details of the contract to be announced next week.
"This is such an exciting day for me and my family," said Carter, who was joined at the press conference by his wife Kimberly and children Alexis (10) and Cameron (8). "I talked to Mark (Fox) and (former Pack head coach) Trent (Johnson) and I really didn't want to let my emotions get the best of me. I tried to hold back the tears but it was tough."
The 42-year-old Carter, who began his coaching career in 1989 as a graduate assistant at the University of Washington, admitted he always had dreams of becoming a head coach.
"I've paid my dues," said Carter, who has also been an assistant at Diablo Valley Community College (1992-95), Eastern Washington (1995-97) and his alma mater Saint Mary's (1997-99) before joining Trent Johnson's Nevada staff in 1999. "I've had chances to interview at other places but nothing ever felt right. This just feels right."
Nevada athletic director Cary Groth didn't hesitate to name Carter as the Pack's newest head coach.
"I wanted it to be quick because of the timing," Groth said. "We needed to make a quick decision to help with recruiting. I also didn't want any of our kids to have any thoughts about leaving the program. It is my responsibility when and if we have a vacancy to prepare to move quickly to fill that vacancy with a quality candidate. We believe Coach Carter exemplifies all of the qualities we need and then some as we move the program forward."
Nevada President Milt Glick praised Fox and set the expectations for Carter.
"He (Fox) left us with a team with tremendous potential," Glick said. "He inherited a great team and he leaves a legacy of great teams. Anything less than a winning team, all of our players graduating and showing good citizenship in the community and on campus is a failure. Success is having all three of those things."
Fox campaigned publicly for Carter to get the job in the post-game press conference after the Pack's 71-70 victory over Virginia Commonwealth on Feb. 20. In that game Fox was ejected after receiving his technical foul with 8:20 to play. Carter took over the team and engineered the victory as the Pack outscored Virginia Commonwealth 20-10 down the stretch.
Groth said that Carter was her choice to succeed Fox even before Fox told her Wednesday that he was leaving the program. "You always have to have a 'what-if' plan," Groth said.
"It means a lot to me that she (Groth) had confidence in me to hire me right away," Carter said.
Fox, who will now compete in the Southeast Conference at Georgia against Johnson at Louisiana State University, compiled a 123-43 record in five seasons as the Pack's head coach. He leaves Nevada tied with Jack Spencer (123-72) for the second most career coaching wins in school history behind Jake Lawlor (201-159). Under Fox, the Wolf Pack won four Western Athletic Conference regular season titles, one WAC tournament and went to a postseason tournament five times (three NCAA Tournaments, two College Basketball Invitationals).
Fox's five years as Pack head coach were constantly filled with rumors that he was looking to leave the program. After his second season in 2005-06, he interviewed at Nebraska and was rewarded with a new five-year deal at Nevada through the 2010-2011 season. He then was given a three-year contract extension (through the 2013-2014 season) after the 2006-07 season after talking to Oklahoma about their coaching vacancy. He also interviewed at California after last season.
Fox, who takes over a Georgia team that went 12-20 this past season, earned a base salary of $270,000 a year on his original three-year deal he signed before the 2004-05 season. His base salary was upped to $400,000 in 2006 and this past year he earned a base salary of $450,000. Fox, though, under the terms of the 2007 contract extension, is required to pay the university $250,000 because he is leaving before July 2011.
Groth said she wasn't upset with Fox for not giving her a chance to entice him to stay at Nevada.
"We couldn't have kept him," Groth said. "Georgia is a great opportunity in a great conference. It was just a great opportunity for him. You know, sometimes it is just time to go. And this was the time for him. He got a great deal at Georgia and we're just not in position to do that."
Groth added that Fox grew more and more frustrated at Nevada over the past couple years.
"The three players getting in trouble before the season really upset him," Groth said. "JaVale (McGee) and Ramon (Sessions) leaving (early for the NBA draft) bothered him. It bothered him that in our conference you have to win the (Western Athletic Conference) tournament to go to the NCAAs. A lot of things added up to the decision he made."
Carter will now have to hire two assistant coaches. Fox is taking Wolf Pack assistant Kwanza Johnson with him to Georgia while Doug Novsek will remain at Nevada and assist Carter.
"I am going to take my time and make sure we get the right fit," Carter said.
Carter said he expects to continue the winning ways of the Johnson and Fox regime (148-52 since 2003-04).
"We'll compete every year for a championship," Carter said. "I'm built to win championships. I won in high school, I won in college and I've won here as a coach. This program is not going to go backwards. I promise you that."