NORFOLK, Va. -- Pete Adrian was hired as head football coach
at Norfolk State on Wednesday.
Adrian, a defensive coordinator at Bethune-Cookman the past
seven seasons, is the first white head coach of a revenue-producing
sport at Norfolk State.
President Marie V. McDemmond said Adrian, with 35 years of
experience in collegiate and professional football, "brings the
expertise to turn the Spartans into a winner."
"I believe that NSU is a gold mine waiting to happen," Adrian
said in a statement. He vowed to bring a winning tradition to the
school, "and hopefully a lot quicker than people think."
Adrian, the Spartans' third head coach in four years, succeeds
Willie Gillus, who was fired Dec. 4 after a 2-19 record, including 1-8 in 2004. The school cited NCAA violations for his dismissal.