NC State fires Dave Doeren in his 14th season and names Todd Goebbel interim coach

NC State fired football coach Dave Doeren on Saturday, less than a day after a 31-28 loss at Stanford left the Wolfpack 3-4 and 1-3 in the ACC. Athletic director Boo Corrigan announced that Doeren was relieved of his duties effective immediately, and running backs coach and special teams coordinator Todd Goebbel will coach the team for the rest of the season.

"I want to thank Coach Doeren for his service and contributions to NC State, and for always representing the university with pride," Corrigan said in the school's statement. "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."

Doeren will be owed $10.3 million, ESPN reported. He had three years left on his contract. ESPN's Pete Thamel noted that the figure is subject to offset and mitigation.

Doeren took over in 2013 and leaves with 98 wins, the most in program history. He was the fourth-longest-tenured coach in the FBS, according to ESPN. His teams went to 11 bowl games in the last 12 seasons and won nine games four times, CBS Sports reported, but he never won more than nine and never reached the ACC championship game. Chuck Amato's 2002 team, quarterbacked by Philip Rivers, is still the only 10-win team in school history.

This season was supposed to be different. NC State paid to keep quarterback CJ Bailey after an 8-5 season and was expected to contend in the ACC. Instead it was blown out by Virginia in the opener, lost to Vanderbilt when Bailey fumbled in the end zone on the final play, and piled up injuries, ESPN reported. Outside of an upset of Louisville, the Wolfpack are 0-4 against Power Four opponents, per CBS Sports.

Friday's loss came against a Stanford team picked to finish last in the ACC, the Associated Press noted. Davis Warren threw for 303 yards and four touchdowns for the Cardinal.

Goebbel has been on the NC State staff since 2019. The school said its national search for a permanent coach begins immediately. It is NC State's first coaching search since 2012.