Pat Garrett shouted with joy when he learned that Rick Duckett was rehired as Fayetteville State’s men’s basketball coach on Tuesday.
Roy Parker called it a great day for the university.
 Duckett |
“I’m sitting here with chill bumps,” said Parker, president of FSU’s Athletic Club. “It’s an excellent day for Fayetteville State. It’s an excellent day for this community. I want to walk outside and shout for joy.”
Fayetteville State alumni and fans shouted when they learned that Duckett had been fired.
But it wasn’t out of joy.
Members of the community and from across the state flooded the school with calls on Tuesday, a day after Athletic Director Horace Small said he would not renew Duckett’s one-year contract. Sources in the athletic department, who asked not to be identified, said they received hundreds of phone calls in support of Duckett.
Duckett was given a one-year extension following an afternoon meeting with Small and Chancellor Willis McLeod.
“I think they righted a wrong that should have never happened in the first place,” Parker said.
Garrett said he didn’t care how it happened. He was just glad to have his coach back. The Pine Forest graduate paused momentarily when he learned the news.
Then, he let loose of his emotions.
“What?” he screamed through the phone. “Really? I’m happy now. I’m really excited. I’m glad they did the right thing by keeping him on.”
Duckett expressed more relief than anything.
“It’s been a difficult time,” he said. “I really feel bad for my wife (Letita). But she remained positive. She is a strong woman.”
Mrs. Duckett said she drew strength from her husband.
“Rick was bothered greatly by it,” she said. “But he told me, ‘If I had been given everything I needed to be successful and they still wanted me to go, I could live with that. But with what I had to work with, I did my very best and I was still successful. I can look in the mirror and know I did the very best I could.’
“He has tremendous love for those boys,” said Mrs. Duckett. “That’s his life. They’re everything to him. That’s what keeps my husband going. He is teaching them how to be men, how to be good citizens. It’s not just about basketball. It’s about life.”
Duckett learned he was being fired Friday morning, but he did not tell his wife until later that night, even though she called him twice during the day.
“I didn’t want to ruin your day,” Duckett told her. “I’m sorry. I did the best I could.”
“That tells you what kind of man he is,” Letita said. “He had nothing to be sorry about. I have more faith in my husband now than I ever have in my life.”