Assistant coaches would typically get the blame when suspensions would happen from Bateman and not Lavell. Bateman ran things more like a business as that's his background, and Norm had a great relationship with Rex Lee, hence the CIW understanding.

Norm also had a good relationship with Rondo, but he left and Val took over. Reputation of Val amongst coaches was more of a PR guy/kiss up type and once those things happened, Lavell let Norm know it wasn't going to happen.

Chuck Amato, then the newly named HC of NC State called Norm one day wanting to get a referral for his new OC, Norm threw his name into the hat and the rest is history.