NC State Parts Ways With Dave Doeren After Stanford Loss

WHO:

WRAL - Doeren was hired from Northern Illinois after the 2012 season and played tight end at Drake in the early 1990s.

Bleacher Report - Before his dismissal, Doeren was the fourth-longest-tenured FBS coach.

WRAL - Athletics director Boo Corrigan said he appreciated Doeren’s leadership and passion, thanked him for representing the university with pride, and wished Doeren, Sara, and their family well.

WRAL - Running backs coach and special teams coordinator Todd Goebbel was named interim head coach for the rest of the season; he has been on the Wolfpack staff since 2019.

WRAL - General manager Andy Vaughn was also dismissed.

NY Post - Dave Doeren was NC State’s head football coach.

Newsweek - North Carolina State University announced Doeren’s dismissal.

Fox News - Doeren’s tenure as NC State football coach lasted 14 years.

WHAT:

Bleacher Report - NC State lost two of its first three games, including a 34-8 defeat at Virginia, then improved to 3-2 with wins over Appalachian State and Louisville before consecutive losses to Wake Forest and Stanford.

WRAL - Stanford entered the game averaging 18.3 points per game and ranked 127th nationally in scoring offense.

WRAL - NC State fired defensive coordinator DJ Eliot after Doeren’s dismissal; Eliot had been hired Dec. 31, 2024.

WRAL - Through the first six games of 2026, NC State ranked 104th nationally in scoring defense, allowing 27.7 points per game. In 2025, the Wolfpack allowed 411.9 yards per game, ranking 109th nationally, and gave up 273.2 passing yards per game.

WRAL - Charlton Warren will handle defensive play-calling for the remainder of the season, while Zac Roper will coach running backs and coordinate special teams.

WRAL - NC State’s 2021 Holiday Bowl game against UCLA was canceled by UCLA just hours before kickoff.

WRAL - NC State’s win over No. 9 Clemson in 2021 ended a 10-year losing streak against Clemson and was its first win over a top-10 opponent since 2012.

WRAL - Doeren said he was not considering retirement when rumors circulated that he might leave after the 2025 season.

WRAL - Doeren was 54 years old when NC State dismissed him.

WRAL - NC State had five games remaining: home games against Cal, Duke, and Syracuse, followed by road games at Florida State and North Carolina.

WRAL - NC State lost its season opener at Virginia and later lost at Vanderbilt after quarterback CJ Bailey fumbled in the end zone while trying to run out the clock, allowing Vanderbilt to recover for the game-winning touchdown.

WRAL - NC State was outscored 28-0 after halftime in a 38-14 home loss to Wake Forest.

WRAL - NC State fell behind Stanford 14-0 and never led; fewer than 13,000 fans attended the game.

WRAL - NC State beat Appalachian State 41-31 after Appalachian State rallied to tie the game late.

WRAL - Doeren’s teams went 9-4 against rival North Carolina, and he finished with five straight wins over the Tar Heels, including a 42-19 win the previous year.

WRAL - Doeren’s two signature wins included a 39-25 victory over Louisville and Heisman winner Lamar Jackson in 2017, and a 27-21 double-overtime win over No. 9 Clemson in 2021.

Bleacher Report - NC State allowed 28.1 points per game, the second-worst scoring defense in the ACC.

Bleacher Report - NC State made 10 bowl-game appearances during Doeren’s tenure.

WRAL - Doeren’s record at NC State was 98-74, and he was the program’s all-time leader in wins.

WRAL - Doeren’s contract ran through Dec. 31, 2029; the university owed him approximately $9.751 million in remaining base salary, and his total compensation exceeded $6.375 million.

WRAL - NC State began a national search for Doeren’s replacement; Philip Rivers was floated as a potential candidate, though he had never coached at the college or professional level.

WRAL - Thirty players were drafted during Doeren’s tenure, including Bradley Chubb, Jacoby Brissett, Ikem Ekwonu, Garrett Bradbury, Alim McNeill, and Payton Wilson.

WRAL - Doeren’s teams received 11 bowl invitations, never won more than nine games, and did not reach the ACC championship game. NC State has not won an ACC title since 1979.

NY Post - NC State fired head coach Dave Doeren in a shakeup described as costing $10.3 million.

Newsweek - North Carolina State University announced Doeren’s immediate dismissal.

Fox News - Doeren’s 14-year tenure ended after NC State lost to Stanford, 31-28; the loss left the Wolfpack with a 3-4 record for the season.

WHERE:

NY Post - The story concerns North Carolina State football.

Newsweek - The announcement was made by North Carolina State University.

Fox News - The story concerns the NC State Wolfpack football team and its game against Stanford.

WHY:

WRAL - Eliot’s firing followed persistent defensive struggles, particularly against the pass, over the previous two seasons.

WRAL - NC State’s 2026 season began with hopes of competing for an ACC championship, bolstered by quarterback CJ Bailey’s return.

WRAL - NC State’s losses to Virginia and Vanderbilt derailed its chance at its first 10-win season under Doeren.

WRAL - NC State’s 31-28 Stanford loss was the final blow; the team had lost two of its last games while allowing 69 combined points.

WRAL - Doeren said after the Stanford game, “It starts with me,” and, “It wasn’t good enough … not even close.”

Newsweek - Doeren was dismissed following NC State’s loss to Stanford.

Fox News - The 31-28 loss to Stanford dropped NC State to a 3-4 season record.

HOW:

WRAL - After beating Appalachian State, Doeren responded to reporters’ questions by saying, “By the way, we won that football game.”

WRAL - Doeren said after the Stanford game, “The guys didn’t play well enough, which means I didn’t have them ready.”

NC State has fired football coach Dave Doeren after a 31-to-28 loss to Stanford left the Wolfpack with a 3-4 record. The defeat was the team’s second straight, following a 38-to-14 loss to Wake Forest, and capped a season marked by defensive struggles. Doeren took responsibility after the Stanford game, saying the team’s performance was not good enough. He leaves with a 98-74 record, the most wins in program history, and 11 bowl invitations, though NC State never reached the ACC championship game under his leadership. Running backs coach Todd Goebbel will serve as interim head coach for the rest of the season. The university also dismissed general manager Andy Vaughn and defensive coordinator DJ Eliot; Charlton Warren will call defensive plays. NC State has begun a national search for Doeren’s replacement.