NC State fired coach Dave Doeren on Saturday, ending a 14-year run atop the program. Doeren’s dismissal came a day after the Wolfpack suffered a 31-28 loss at Stanford, which dropped the program to a 3-4 record this year. Doeren went 98-73 during his stint atop the program, which included eight seasons of at least eight victories.
Running backs coach/special teams coordinator Todd Goebbel will work as the team’s interim coach for the remainder of the season.
Who could replace Doeren at NC State? Here are a few names to watch in the search:
12 Coaching Candidates to Replace Dave Doeren at NC State
Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images
Jamey Chadwell, Head Coach, Liberty
Is this the offseason where Chadwell gets a chance to run a power conference program? After a disappointing 4-8 record last season, Liberty has rebounded to a 6-1 mark in ‘26. The Flames are 31-14 overall under Chadwell. Prior to Liberty, Chadwell compiled a 39-22 mark at Coastal Carolina and went 35-14 at Charleston Southern.
Manny Diaz, Head Coach, Duke
Would Diaz consider an intra-conference move to an in-state rival? He worked at NC State as an assistant from 2000-05 and is 23-11 in three seasons with the Blue Devils. Diaz previously went 21-15 as Miami’s head coach from 2019-21.
Jason Eck, Head Coach, New Mexico
Eck is considered one of college football’s top rising stars in the Group of 6 coaching ranks and should emerge as a candidate for any opening at the power conference level this offseason. The former Wisconsin offensive lineman went 26-13 at Idaho from 2022-24 and is 14-5 through two years at New Mexico. The Lobos entered Week 8 as the favorite to win the Mountain West title.
Buster Faulkner, Offensive Coordinator, Florida
Faulkner has no experience as a head coach at the collegiate level, but he’s one of the top offensive coordinators in the nation. Faulkner’s arrival is a big reason why Florida is averaging 39.6 points a game this season. Prior to this stint in Gainesville, Faulkner engineered some of the ACC’s top offenses at Georgia Tech.
Bryant Haines, Defensive Coordinator, Indiana
Haines is one of college football’s top defensive coordinators and was instrumental to Indiana’s national championship run last season. The Ohio native has no head-coaching experience but gained valuable experience in the region while working under Curt Cignetti at James Madison. Over Indiana’s eight games in ‘26, the defense has allowed more than 20 points just once (Northwestern).
Charles Huff, Head Coach, Memphis
Expect Huff’s name to emerge for most power conference jobs this coaching cycle. He’s guided Memphis to a 6-2 record in his first year and has the Tigers in the hunt for the American Conference title. He previously guided Marshall to a 32-20 record from 2021-24 and finished 7-5 at Southern Miss last year.
Dan Mullen, Head Coach, UNLV
Might Mullen return to the power conference coaching ranks this offseason? His name popped up for Maryland’s opening after Mike Locksley’s firing and could come up for NC State’s search or other openings this year. He went 69-46 at Mississippi State from 2009-17 and guided Florida to a 34-15 record from 2018-21. Although Mullen’s tenure in Gainesville ended with a firing, he’s off to a 14-7 start at UNLV and still among the nation’s best at developing productive offenses.
Billy Napier, Head Coach, James Madison
Could Napier quickly rebound back to a power conference job after one season at James Madison? The Dukes are 7-1 in Napier’s first year, and he previously went 40-12 at Louisiana (2018-21) and finished 22-23 at Florida (2022-25).
Jeff Monken, Head Coach, Army
Could this be the offseason where Monken finally gets a chance to run a power conference program? He’s 94-65 at Army, including a 12-2 record during the ‘24 season. Monken also went 38-16 at a previous stint at Georgia Southern. His background in running the option and how that would evolve at the power conference level would be a question mark in this search. NC State athletic director Boo Corrigan hired Monken at Army, so there’s a natural connection to this job.
Tommy Rees, Offensive Coordinator, Atlanta Falcons
Rees popped up in North Carolina’s search a few years ago, and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see the former Notre Dame quarterback factor into the rumor mill for openings again this season. After working as Alabama’s offensive coordinator in 2023, Rees spent the last three years in the NFL, including the ‘26 campaign as the play-caller for the Atlanta Falcons.
Philip Rivers, St. Michael Catholic High School Head Coach
Could a legendary former player and future NFL Hall of Fame quarterback return to campus as the head coach? Rivers has no collegiate head-coaching experience, but his familiarity and name cache in Raleigh will be worth monitoring in this search. Rivers has worked as the head coach at St. Michael Catholic High School in Alabama over the last six seasons. Gunner Rivers – Philip’s son – is committed to join NC State in the class of ’27.
Lance Taylor, Head Coach, Western Michigan
Taylor is one of college football’s rising stars in the head-coaching ranks and seems primed to run his own power conference program soon. Taylor’s name immediately popped up in the Maryland coaching search following Mike Locksley’s dismissal and should at NC State as well. The former Alabama receiver is 25-22 over four seasons at Western Michigan, including a 10-4 record with a MAC title last year. Taylor has also garnered a wealth of experience as an assistant from stops at Notre Dame, Louisville, Stanford and in the NFL with the Jets and Panthers.
