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August 31, 2007

Corbean leaving for Wake Forest

Grenadier coach joins Gaudio's staff with Deamon Deacons

By MIKE HUTSELL

Walt Corbean spoke openly about keeping the memory of his former college head coach alive following his unexpected death last month.

Friday, Corbean resigned from his position as Indiana University Southeast men’s basketball coach to become a part of the program that Skip Prosser helped turn into a national power when he accepted the director of basketball operations position at Wake Forest University.

Corbean joins the staff of new Wake Forest coach Dino Gaudio, who was picked last month to replace Prosser following the coach’s untimely death due to a heart attack in August.

“It’s very important for me and for the rest of the coaches at Wake Forest to build on the goals that Skip Prosser set for the program,” said Corbean. “After speaking with people that I trust and discussing all of my options with my family, I knew this was an opportunity that I had to be a part of.”

Corbean played for Prosser at Xavier University and was approached about accepting a position on the Wake staff five seasons ago when the coach was preparing for his second year as Grenadier coach.

“At that point, after stating our goals that we had for the IU Southeast program, I did not feel comfortable leaving so soon in our efforts,” Corbean said. “I don’t regret not taking the job then at all because I feel we did some important things during our time here.”

As director of basketball operations, Corbean will be responsible for handling administrative details of the position and will coordinate the daily organization of practices. Wake’s previous director of basketball operations Mike Muse was promoted to an assistant head coach on Gaudio’s staff on Tuesday.

Corbean worked previously as an assistant with Gaudio at Army from 1994-97 and the two have been longtime friends.

“We spoke the night he was hired as head coach at Wake,” Corbean said. “He was interested in having me join from the day he accepted the job.”

In seven seasons at IUS, Corbean guided the program to a 140-95 record and the school made three trips to the NAIA National Tournament. He also claimed four Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championships.

His most successful campaign came in 2005, when IUS went 30-4 and finished the year ninth in the final NAIA Division II poll.

“When I met with the team on Friday, I told the men that I expect them to carry on with what we were able to do during my time here and continue to push forward,” Corbean said. “We were not able to win a game in the national tournament during my tenure, but that will remain very important to the players in this program.”

Corbean’s wife Kathy, who held the position of IUS director of campus life, also resigned her position on Friday.

“Walt, Kathy, and (son) Trey are going to be missed by the IU Southeast family,” athletic director Pat Mrozowski said. “Walt is a valued member of our athletics staff, who has developed a stellar men’s basketball program during his time as a Grenadier. We wish coach Corbean and his family all the best in their newest adventure at Wake Forest University and in the Atlantic Coast Conference.”

The search to replace Corbean will begin immediately said an athletic department spokesperson. No timetable has been given to making an announcement.

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