NC State Fires Head Football Coach Dave Doeren

The university dismissed the longtime coach following a loss at Stanford.

Updated on Oct. 24, 2026 in Football

NC State Fires Head Football Coach Dave Doeren

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Should a college football program fire a consistent coach for failing to reach championships?

NC State fired head coach Dave Doeren after a 14-season tenure marked by a 98-74 overall record. Athletics director Boo Corrigan announced the move following the team's latest loss at Stanford.

Why it matters

The program decided to move on because it never achieved an ACC Championship or 10-win season during his tenure. Concerns over end-of-game management also influenced the decision to fire Doeren without cause.

Doeren concluded his time at NC State with a 98-74 record and an 8-29 performance against ranked opponents. The university owes the coach a $9.75 million buyout following his dismissal.

The players

Dave Doeren

He served as the head football coach at NC State for 14 seasons.

Boo Corrigan

He is the athletics director at NC State who announced the firing.

Todd Goebbel

He is the running backs coach who will serve as the interim head coach.

Gunner Rivers

He is a freshman quarterback expected to join the football program in 2027.

The details

Running backs coach Todd Goebbel, who has been on the staff since 2019, has been appointed as the interim head coach. The university has initiated a national search for a permanent successor.

Dave Doeren coached the team from 2013 through 2026.
The firing was officially announced on October 24, 2026.
NC State won a bowl game during the 2025 season.
The contractual deadline for a firing without cause is January 1, 2027.
Freshman quarterback Gunner Rivers is scheduled to join the team in 2027.

Season Trajectory

This coaching change resets the trajectory for an NC State program that struggled to reach double-digit wins or compete for the ACC Championship. The move marks a definitive pivot as the team looks toward the 2027 season and the arrival of new talent like Gunner Rivers.

Interim coach Todd Goebbel takes over for the remainder of the season, creating a period of transition for player development and recruiting. Fans can look for immediate changes to coaching staff roles and potential impacts on the incoming 2027 signing class.

The takeaway

NC State is now pivoting to a national search to redefine the football program's competitive identity. The dismissal highlights the high expectations placed on ACC coaches to reach conference title games.