Coach Dave Doeren Fired by NC State; Wolfpack Search for Next Coach Begins

NC State fired head football coach Dave Doeren on Saturday, in the middle of his 14th season in Raleigh, after a loss at Stanford on Friday night left the Wolfpack at 3-4. The school's all-time leader in victories addressed the public for the first time since his dismissal on Tuesday, thanking people across the program and laying out what he believes the team needs to improve.

Doeren addressed his players in a team meeting on Saturday, after calling several of them beforehand to tell them the news. He told them to "Go be great," according to reporting by WRAL.

A farewell and a message on resources

In an 18-minute address before an NC State backdrop, Doeren said he left the university "with no grudges." He spoke without wearing team apparel and did not take media questions. "I leave here knowing that I made it better than I found it – on and off the field," he said. "I wanted so badly to win a championship here at NC State, but I will be cheering for this program to get there under their future leadership."

Doeren won 98 games over his 13-plus seasons in Raleigh, including four nine-win seasons, 11 bowl appearances and a 9-4 record against rival North Carolina, with five straight wins over the Tar Heels. The program, however, finished under .500 in ACC play, never reached 10 wins in a season and never played in the ACC Championship Game during his tenure, according to WRAL.

Doeren pointed to the financial structure of college sports as a central challenge. He said the program has lost an average of four NFL-caliber players each offseason over the past three years. "For this program to become what is wanted and expected, the resources need to match the expectations, and that is the reality in college sports," he said.

Depth and the NIL-era roster challenge

Doeren said player development had long been his approach, but that transfer-portal movement has changed the picture. Backups and third-string players are leaving for opportunities to start and be paid, he said, leaving many teams thin behind their starters. "This new NIL era doesn't work unless you stay 100% healthy," he said.

Athletics director Boo Corrigan and a segment of the fan base judged that the team's results were not enough. The four losses this season came at Virginia, Vanderbilt, Wake Forest and Stanford, with the Wake Forest game in which the Wolfpack were outscored 28-0 in the second half among the most damaging, according to WRAL.

Running back Duke Scott said Doeren was a great coach and that he was thankful for everything Doeren had done for the program.

Next steps and the coaching search

Doeren, who began coaching in college in 1994 after playing tight end at Drake, said he has no immediate plans. He is owed $9.75 million over the remaining three years of his contract, plus the balance of this season, according to WRAL. He and his wife, Sara, have also pledged $1.25 million to the OnePack Empowered program, which supports students with executive functioning challenges and those who are neurodivergent. He said the family will fulfill that pledge in March.

Todd Goebbel, who has been on Doeren's staff since 2019 and previously served as running backs coach and special teams coordinator, is serving as interim coach. He praised Doeren at his first media availability in that role on Monday.

Separately, CBS Sports reported that former NC State quarterback Philip Rivers has risen to the top of the search, citing industry sources. Rivers coaches St. Michael Catholic High in Fairhope, Alabama, and has no college coaching experience. The report has not been confirmed by NC State. CBS Sports also reported that general manager Andy Vaughn was fired after Friday's loss at Stanford, and that the program must now find a general manager as well as a head coach.

What we know so far: Doeren is out after 13-plus seasons, Goebbel is leading the team on an interim basis, and NC State has not announced a permanent successor. Any hire will face the resource and roster questions Doeren raised.

Tags: NC State, Dave Doeren, college football, coaching search, Wolfpack