Jan. 19, 2005
SportsLine.com wire reports

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 on Dec. 4 after a 2-9 season. The school cited NCAA violations for his dismissal.

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