The much anticipated coaching search at N.C. State will reportedly come to an end this afternoon where Athletic Director Debbie Yow is expected to name Dana McCall, DDS as the next Wolfpack head coach. McCall isn’t well known in coaching circles, but has 11 years of head coaching experience, including one Jaycee Championship on his resume.

McCall’s press release states: "I am thrilled to be given this opportunity to get back into coaching. My experiences with 11 and 12 year olds will prove invaluable coaching at the ACC level. We had great success and loved coaching the kids, but took a break because of unreasonable demands and behaviors by the players’ parents. At least in ACC basketball my coaches and I won’t have to deal with that problem."

McCall is well known as the best dentist in Raleigh and Cary, but said that he will miss the profession. "My patients are just that: patient. I really enjoy seeing them daily, especially the ones who can shoot the rock. As far as the profession goes, we practice Dentistry because one day we’ll get it right. I already have basketball right, having run circles around Ledford season in and season out." McCall doesn’t plan on converting his dental staff when transitioning back into coaching. "Yeah, we contemplated the transition, and felt that while the hygienist is excellent, she just doesn’t have the shooting form needed at this level."

McCall plans on making a few changes at the RBC Center for State home games as well. The classic wolf howl will be replaced by the revs of a dental drill. Also during player introductions, the visiting players will have the bright lights shined in their eyes followed by obligatory apologies. Finally old magazines will be dispersed throughout the lobby of the RBC Center for those awaiting entry. McCall also said that all season ticket holders will get a courtesy text message reminder the day before each game. At the conclusion of each game, each fan will get a toothbrush and a sample of floss. Particularly well behaved student fans will get a chance to visit the toy box on their way out of the RBC Center.

Coaching has always been a dream for McCall. "I remember being on the playground as a kid. My classmates would play the games and work on their shooting while I was out there coaching. For State games my friends all wore players’ jerseys to the games while I wore a grey suit just like the coach." McCall’s mother told us,"He used to stay out long after dark at the neighborhood park coaching. In this area basketball is such a big deal that kids will break into a basketball game if there is a piece of paper and a wastebasket, but Dana would always break into coaching mode."

NCSU stands to save much money on this hire in a slow economy as well. Financial details haven’t been released, but it seems that the school will pay far less for the head coach than they did with Sidney Lowe and his $500,000 base salary. The real test comes next season, where McCall hopes to improve upon NCSU’s ACC road record of just 5 wins over the last 5 seasons.