NC State has parted ways with head football coach Dave Doeren after 14 seasons, ending his tenure as the program's winningest coach with a 98-74 record. The decision came one day after the Wolfpack fell to 3-4 with a loss to Stanford. Doeren led the team to four bowl victories but never captured a conference title or finished higher than 20th in the final AP Poll.
Coaching Search Underway
The search for a new head coach marks the first since 2012. Early candidates include James Madison head coach Billy Napier, who has the Dukes at 7-2 in his first season. Napier previously spent four years at Florida, posting a 22-23 record and reaching No. 13 in the AP Poll. From 2018 to 2021, he was a two-time Sun Belt Coach of the Year at Louisiana, earning three double-digit win seasons and two bowl wins. His overall head coaching record stands at 69-36 with a 3-2 bowl mark, including three upset wins over top-10 teams. A former Furman quarterback, Napier has deep ties to the Carolinas and served as an assistant at Clemson, South Carolina State, and Alabama under Nick Saban, winning two national championships.
Additional candidates are being evaluated, including one described as a risky hire who could potentially raise significant NIL funding for the program. The Wolfpack aim to elevate the program above the middle tier of the ACC.
