NC State Fires Head Football Coach Dave Doeren
I can’t say I’m shocked; the signs have been evident for quite some time now.
NC State University announced on Saturday evening that head football coach Dave Doeren has been let go. This season began with the Wolfpack struggling to a 3-4 record, with their latest defeat coming from a loss against Stanford on Friday night, 31-28. Doeren had three years left on his contract, and ESPN’s Pete Thamel reports that he is owed approximately $10.3 million.
Todd Goebbel, who has been serving as the running backs coach and special teams coordinator, will step in as the interim head coach for the remainder of the regular season.
Over his 14 years with the Wolfpack, Doeren achieved a record of 121-78, which includes a 5-6 performance in bowl games.
The pressure on Doeren has been mounting since the offseason, so this decision isn’t particularly surprising. In fact, it’s what I was about to write about.
While I was putting this together, however, some breaking news came through:
Alongside the expected roster of coaches and coordinators, former quarterback Philip Rivers is anticipated to be considered in the coaching search. His son, Gunner Rivers, is a promising quarterback recruit set to join the program in the Class of 2027.
The prospect of Rivers, a Wolfpack icon and potential NFL Hall of Fame inductee, returning to take the reins at his old university is certainly captivating.
Throw in the fact that his son is involved, and it seems like the makings of something significant. But here’s the reality: to compete seriously for a national title these days, you’ve got to be deeply invested. It requires a considerable financial commitment.
The current landscape demands robust NIL support, a substantial collective, and a university admin willing to back spending that aligns with a championship-caliber program.
Unfortunately, NC State doesn’t possess those resources.
The idea of Rivers stepping in as head coach is intriguing. But unless Raleigh is prepared to invest seriously in this venture, one might question if that opportunity would be worth pursuing for him.
