|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dear Fans,
As many of you
know, my name
surfaced
last summer in connections
with the
opening for
Head men's
basketball
coach at South
Alabama. I am
grateful for
the confidence
they had in my
coaching
abilities to
consider me
for such a
good position.
Based on my
current
contract
situation at
Charlotte, I
owed it to
myself, my
family and my
assistant
coaches to
listen to that
opportunity.
Despite the
contract
situation,
Charlotte is
where I want
to be and we
have two years
to get back to
winning at the
level we are
accustomed to.
When I was
announced as
head coach
nine years
ago, I said it
was my dream
job. It still
is. I am proud
to be the head
basketball
coach at
Charlotte.
This is where
my heart is
and always
will be. This
is home. And
most
importantly,
this is where
I want to
leave my mark.
When I finish
my coaching
career my goal
is to remain
at UNC
Charlotte in
some capacity.
I am
accustomed to
success, and
make no
mistake, we
will be
successful on
and off the
court. Our
history here
at the school
speaks for
itself. We
have been to
post-season
play in the
NCAA on
numerous
occasions and
won conference
championships
and those days
are coming
again. My
commitment
level to those
goals is
stronger than
ever.
Last year was
not acceptable
and no one was
more
disappointed
in our record
and
performance
than me. I
take full
responsibility
for it. There
are a number
of factors
that led to
having a
subpar season,
but each of
them end with
me. I was not
happy, our
players were
not happy and
I know our
fans were not
happy with our
results. I
also know that
last year's
performance
was an
exception to
the normal
success we
have
experienced
during our
time here.
I am excited
and energized
about our
future because
of what we
have in place.
We will turn
it around
quickly and I
can't wait for
the first
practice,
first
scrimmage and
first game
next season. I
have a group
of players
currently
working
incredibly
hard during
this
off-season.
They are
committed to
getting back
to our winning
ways while
continuing to
excel in class
and in the
community.
We have a
great senior
leader in Lee
Goldwire who
will lead us
in every way.
It is
comforting to
have such a
natural worker
and leader
like Lee. Ian
Andersen is
working hard
to expand his
game and
become a more
complete
player. Mike
Gerrity will
provide a
quickness and
toughness that
is so needed.
Jerrell Lewis
has improved
his
consistency
and practices
with excellent
effort. Sean
Phaler
continues to
improve his
defensive
effort and can
obviously
shoot the
basketball.
Charles
Dewhurst has
totally
recovered from
his injury and
provides a
combination of
athleticism,
ability, and
skill. Kyle
Church is the
perfect
walk-on who
competes every
single day to
make everyone
else better.
Phil Jones is
concentrating
on academics
and strength
and
conditioning
and can't wait
to join the
team.
When you add
our signed
recruits (we
can only talk
about those
who have
signed by NCAA
rules) I can't
help but get
excited. Gaby
Ngoundjo is a
quick athletic
post player
who can run
the floor and
block shots.
Anjuan
Wilderness is
a proven
winner and
extremely
versatile
player with a
great
basketball IQ.
Javarris
Barnett is a
big wing
shooter with
great upside
and he is from
Charlotte. Our
staff has us
in excellent
position to
complete this
recruiting
class in the
next couple
weeks. They
are working
tirelessly and
I appreciate
their
dedication to
getting us
back to
winning. We
are all on the
same page.
There is a lot
to be
optimistic
about in
regards to UNC
Charlotte and
our athletic
program. Our
academic
stature rises
by the day.
Our beautiful
campus grows
seemingly on a
daily basis as
new buildings
are
everywhere. We
are exploring
football.
Women's soccer
won the league
title. Women's
basketball
went to
another WNIT.
The baseball
and golf teams
are nationally
ranked and the
men's tennis
team is
heading to the
NCAA
tournament for
the first
time. Men's
basketball is
going to be
back on that
list of things
that our fans
are proud of
and pound
their chests
about. I
promise you
that.
There are a
number of
adjustments we
are making and
I will share a
number of
those things
with you the
fans over the
coming weeks
and months.
Expect to see
a lot of me
throughout the
campus and the
community.
Speaking of
our fans, I
need you; our
team needs
you. Thank all
of you,
especially our
season ticket
holders and
members of
NINER NATION,
for your past
support. We
have a great
schedule this
upcoming
season which
will be
released
later. At this
point, we are
hosting sweet
sixteen
Southern
Illinois,
Maryland, Wake
Forest,
Davidson and
Appalachian
State in
additon to
High Point and
Gardner Webb.
We are playing
in a terrific
early season
tournament and
will have a
number of
great league
games to look
forward to.
When Halton
Arena is loud
and filled, we
are a tough
team to beat
as evidenced
by our 10 home
wins last
season.
I am not a
gambler by
nature, but
the bottom
line is this.
. . I AM ALL
IN! PERIOD! I
am not leaving
any chips on
the table. I
am proud to be
the basketball
coach at
Charlotte and
I am all in.
My family is
all in. Our
staff is all
in. Our
players are
all in. And I
am confident
that our fans
are going to
join us and be
all in as
well.
Sincerely,
Bobby Lutz |
|
|
|
|
|
|
