The Downfall of Dino Gaudio

Prior to our broadcast Wednesday afternoon, another job opening popped up in the unlikeliest of places.

Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

After chalking up 20 wins this season and reaching the second round of the NCAA Tournament, the university parted ways with Dino Gaudio, a move that stunned everyone outside the Winston-Salem city limits.

Truthfully enough, Gaudio took over a difficult situation when Skip Prosser died from a heart attack in 2007 and managed to deliver a 17-13 record that season.

In 2008-09, with Jeff Teague and company, the Demon Deacons rose as high as No. 1 in the country, only to flame out in the ACC Tournament to Maryland and a few days later see their season end against Cleveland State in the NCAA Tournament.

This season, the Deacs snuck into the field of 65 after another February swoon by virtue of beating Clemson in the regular-season finale despite the fact Wake lost to 12th place Miami in the first round of the ACC Tournament.

And while Wake defeated Texas in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament, the record in ACC/NCAA Tournament games under Gaudio was 1-5.

North Carolina State, which made the NIT this season, won two games in this year’s ACC Tournament.

Wake, in contrast has no ACC Tournament wins in three years under Gaudio.

So in other words, a team that finished in the bottom half of the conference, won more games in a single ACC Tournament than Wake in three years.

Ironically, the last time Wake won a game in the ACC Tournament, was during the last season for Skip Prosser, a 114-112 victory over Georgia Tech in the opening round of the ACC Tournament.

The issue that drew the ire of Wake fans was the embarassing losses in the postseason and remembering what happened with Tommy Bowden at Clemson, who forgot to coach in the month of November, Gaudio simply forgot that basketball ended in March.

And with that, he joins the thousands of Americans who are unemployed.