 After the season, Lowe was rewarded with a contract extension lasting through the 2012–13 season, but after a disappointing 2010–11 season, Lowe resigned his position as NC State's coach.Lowe was revered for his role as starting point guard on the "Cardiac Pack" team that won the 1983 NCAA championship.He returned to Raleigh in 2006 to replace Herb Sendek as coach, but the Wolfpack struggled to sustain any momentum in Lowe's five seasons.