North Carolina State University confirmed on Saturday the dismissal of head football coach Dave Doeren, concluding his 14-year tenure with the program.
The announcement followed the Wolfpack's 31-28 defeat to Stanford on Friday, which pushed their season record to 3-4.
"I want to thank Coach Doeren for his service and contributions to NC State, and for always representing the university with pride," stated Athletic Director Boo Corrigan. "I appreciate his leadership during his 14-year tenure and the passion he brought to this role. We wish Dave, Sara and his family the best in the future."
The university indicated that a "national search" to identify the next head coach for the team would commence "immediately."
Doeren's Tenure and Accomplishments
Doeren took the helm of the NC State program in 2013, having previously spent two seasons as head coach at Northern Illinois, which was his inaugural head coaching position. His initial season with the Wolfpack saw a 3-9 record, but he subsequently transformed the team into a consistent participant in postseason bowl games.
Under Doeren's leadership, the Wolfpack competed in 11 bowl games across his 13 full seasons, including an impressive streak of six consecutive appearances. However, the team's current Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) record stands at 1-3 for the season.
Following Friday's loss, Doeren reflected on the team's performance, stating, "It starts with me. The guys didn’t play well enough which means I didn’t have them ready."
His overall coaching record at NC State concludes at 98-73. Before joining the Wolfpack, he achieved a 23-4 record at Northern Illinois. Throughout his career, Doeren led his teams to a winning record in 10 of his campaigns.
Looking Ahead for the Wolfpack
Running backs coach and special teams coordinator Todd Goebbel, who has been part of the coaching staff since 2019, will assume the role of interim head coach for the remainder of the current season.
The post-Doeren era for NC State is set to begin on Halloween, when the Wolfpack will host California in their next fixture.
Doeren's departure marks the second head coaching change in the Football Bowl Subdivision this season, following the earlier separation between Maryland and Mike Locksley.
