NC State fired head coach Dave Doeren on Saturday after the team fell to 3-4 with a loss to Stanford. Doeren departs after 14 seasons as the program's winningest coach with a 98-74 record, four bowl victories, but no conference titles or a final AP Poll ranking higher than 20th.
The coaching search begins for the first time since 2012. Among the early candidates identified is James Madison head coach Billy Napier. In his first year at JMU, Napier has the Dukes at 7-2, though they have lost back-to-back games to Appalachian State and Troy. He previously spent four years at Florida, going 22-23 with the Gators reaching as high as No. 13 in the AP Poll. Napier first gained attention at Louisiana (2018-21), where he was a two-time Sun Belt Coach of the Year, recorded three double-digit win seasons, and won two bowl games. Overall, his head coaching record stands at 69-36 with a 3-2 bowl mark, including three upset wins over top-10 teams. A former Furman quarterback, Napier has extensive ties to the Carolinas, having coached at Clemson and South Carolina State, and spent five years under Nick Saban at Alabama, earning two national championship rings.
Additional candidates are being considered, including one described as a risky hire who could potentially raise significant NIL funding for the program. The search aims to elevate the Wolfpack above the middle tier of the ACC.
