Panel members are appointed by the Chancellor, and are chosen for their expertise in amateur and professional sports, law, broadcasting, business, life coaching and financial management. Chasity Melvin, Dereck Whittenburg, Debbie Antonelli, DD Hoggard, and Shawn Troxler currently serve on the Panel.
Chasity Melvin was a member of NC State’s women’s basketball team, and led the Wolfpack to a Final Four appearance her senior year. After graduation she spent twelve seasons playing for the Cleveland Rockers, Washington Mystics, and the Chicago Sky; was a WNBA All-Star in 2001; and traveled the world playing professional basketball. Currently, Ms. Melvin is an Assistant Coach for the Charlotte Hornets’ G League team, the Greensboro Swarm, and is the first female coach in Hornets and Swarm history. In addition to coaching basketball, she also she coaches individuals on the importance of confidence, balance, and positivity in achieving personal and professional success. Ms. Melvin uses her experience and insight to help athletes and non-athletes to overcome their fear of change, especially when they are stagnant, in transition, or approaching change.
Dereck Whittenburg was one of two guards that led NC State’s basketball team to the 1983 NCAA national championship, and was drafted by the Phoenix Suns in the NBA Draft. In 2015, after thirty years of serving as assistant or head coach at various universities, Mr. Whittenburg became NC State’s Associate Athletic Director for Community Relations and Student Support. In this position he develops and promotes programming for current and former student athletes; cultivates relationships with local and regional businesses to generate future employment opportunities for Wolfpack graduates; contributes to athletic department events; supports on-campus recruiting initiatives for the Wolfpack’s twenty-three varsity program; and encourages former student athletes to return to complete their degrees. Because Mr. Whittenburg has been both a student athlete and a coach he understands what it takes to be the best and how to overcome adversity, and enjoys meeting with and advising student athletes.
Debbie Antonelli was a forward on NC State’s basketball team under Coach Kay Yow, whose guidance enabled the team to make the NCAA tournament four times and the Sweet Sixteen twice. Ms. Antonelli graduated with a double major in business management and economics, and holds a Master’s degree in sports administration from Ohio University. She began her career as the Director of Marketing at the University of Kentucky and at Ohio State University. Currently, Ms. Antonelli works as a college basketball analyst for ESPN, Big Ten Network, CBS, FOX, and Westwood One, and is the main play-by-play voice of the Indiana Fever. In 2007, Ms. Antonelli won the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association’s Mel Greenberg Media Award, an award that recognizes a member of the media who has best displayed a commitment to women’s basketball and to advancing the role of the media in promoting the women’s game.
William “DD” Hoggard graduated from NC State in 1984 with a B.S. in political science. As a student athlete, he earned four letters in track and field, three letters in football, and was a member of NC State’s 1979 ACC Championship team. Mr. Hoggard played professional football from 1983-88 with the Washington Redskins, Washington Federals (USFL), Cleveland Browns, and Philadelphia Eagles. While with the Browns, he was a member of three AFC Central Division Championship teams. Currently, Mr. Hoggard serves as NC State’s Director of Student-Athlete Welfare, and is responsible for overseeing student athlete programs regarding housing, mentoring and advising, transitions, agent education, parent education, football community service, spiritual development, Wolfpack Summer Jobs, football lettermen awards distribution, and services for former student-athletes.
Shawn Troxler is Chair of the Panel and an attorney in NC State’s Office of General Counsel. The Chair’s role is to coordinate the efforts of the Panel, the University, and the athletic department in assisting current student athletes with their career decisions. In addition, the Chair may coordinate contact between agents and student athletes, as well as review professional sports contracts.