When his colleagues and former players are asked about Bill Curry, the conversation doesn't usually begin with wins and losses. It starts with character.

"You meet him, and the credibility and the integrity is right there," said Ted Roof, who played linebacker for Curry and is now the defensive coordinator at Minnesota. "You talk about his leadership ability, his integrity. You talk about what kind of person he is, what kind of man he is. He's been there, done that, at the highest level."

Curry was hired Thursday to begin the football program at Georgia State. The former Georgia Tech player and coach agreed to a five-year contract with the Panthers, who will begin playing football in 2010.

"If you were going to pick someone to get a program off the ground, Bill is the best person they could have found," said former Georgia Tech All-American Randy Rhino, now a successful Atlanta chiropractor.

Most of his former players credit Curry for having a tremendous influence on their life.

Ken Whisenhunt, the coach of the NFL's Arizona Cardinals, said, "A big part of the reason I'm doing my job is Bill Curry. A player coming out of high school can have no bigger role model."

In addition to his analyst duties at ESPN, Curry has been teaching a leadership and ethics class at the Baylor School outside Chattanooga. He'll complete one final summer session later this month and start at Georgia State on July 1.

It's a class he's well-equipped to teach. Curry preaches — and lives by — a high ethical standard. He has always followed the rules. His programs never have been sullied by the stench of misconduct. And Curry has never been asked to explain why his program was going on probation.

"His high character will bring so much to the program," Whisenhunt said.

Curry's name recognition won't hurt, either, although today's generation of players know him only as a television announcer, not as a former football coach. That won't be a hindrance, they said.

"He'll dust off one of those Super Bowl rings [Curry has two] and put it on and go into a house and recruit," said former Tech quarterback John Dewberry, now a successful Atlanta businessman.

Robert Lavette, a running back at Tech under Curry, said, "It's very impressive when he comes to visit. He's going to look a kid in the eye, and he's going to do whatever he promises. He's very honest and up front."

Rhino said, "If you're a parent, there's nobody else you'd like to see come to your house."

— Staff writer Mike Knobler contributed to this article.