NC State University has fired 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 won an Atlantic Coast Conference title or finished higher than 20th in the final AP Poll.
Coaching search begins
The school has launched its first coaching search since 2012. Among the early candidates identified is James Madison head coach Billy Napier. In his first season at JMU, Napier has guided the Dukes to a 7-2 record, though they have lost back-to-back games to Appalachian State and Troy. He previously spent four years at Florida, posting a 22-23 record and reaching No. 13 in the AP Poll. Napier first gained prominence at Louisiana (2018-21), where he was a two-time Sun Belt Coach of the Year, recorded three double-digit win seasons, and won two bowl games. 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, having coached at Clemson and South Carolina State, and spent five years as an assistant under Nick Saban at Alabama, earning two national championship rings.
Additional candidates are being considered, including one described as a risky hire who could potentially attract significant name, image, and likeness (NIL) funding. The Wolfpack aim to elevate the program above the middle tier of the ACC.
