Dave Doeren fired — NC State announced Saturday that Dave Doeren has been fired as head football coach, ending a 14-season tenure in the middle of a season that had already slipped away from the Wolfpack. The decision came one day after a 31-28 loss at Stanford, a result that left NC State at 3-4 overall and 1-3 in ACC play.
Why the Stanford loss ended Doeren's tenure
NC State opened 2026 with expectations of contending in the ACC, but the season came apart early. The Wolfpack lost 34-8 at Virginia in the opener, fell at Vanderbilt on the final play, and then dropped a 38-14 home game to Wake Forest. Each loss deepened the pressure on Doeren, and Friday’s defeat at Stanford proved to be the final trigger.
The timing is notable: the firing came in the middle of Doeren’s 14th season, with five regular-season games remaining. It also leaves NC State searching for a permanent coach while trying to steady a roster and a staff for the rest of the 2026 schedule.
Todd Goebbel takes over as interim coach
Athletic director Boo Corrigan named Todd Goebbel interim head coach for the remainder of the season. Goebbel has been on the NC State staff since 2019 and coaches running backs and special teams. His first game in the interim role is set for Oct. 31, when the Wolfpack hosts California.
Corrigan released a statement thanking Doeren for his service and leadership, praising his passion and extending best wishes to Doeren’s family. The school said a national search for Doeren’s replacement will begin immediately.
Doeren leaves as NC State's winningest coach
Despite the abrupt ending, Doeren departs with the most wins in program history. He went 98-74 over 14 seasons and led NC State to 11 bowl games. At the time of his firing, he was the fourth-longest-tenured head coach in the FBS.
Those numbers illustrate the tension in the decision. Doeren built a long, largely successful run in Raleigh, but the 2026 collapse — a 3-4 start and a 1-3 ACC record — convinced the administration that a change was necessary now rather than at the end of the season.
Contract and buyout details
Doeren’s contract runs through 2029. He is reportedly owed more than $9.75 million if fired without cause, a figure that reflects the remaining term on his deal. The exact final buyout number was not immediately known beyond the reported amount.
What comes next for the Wolfpack
Goebbel now oversees a program in transition. His interim debut against California on Oct. 31 gives NC State a short window to regroup before the final stretch of the season. Meanwhile, Corrigan and the administration will begin the national search immediately, with the permanent hire expected to shape the program’s direction beyond 2026.
For Doeren, the exit closes a tenure that included 11 bowl appearances and a place atop the program’s all-time wins list. For NC State, the focus shifts to stabilizing the current season and finding the coach who will lead the next era.
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