NC State fans relieved after longtime coach Dave Doeren's firing

We now have the second coach firing in the 2026 cycle.On Saturday, NC State fired 14th-year coach Dave Doeren following an ugly 31-28 loss on the road against Stanford on Friday night. The loss dropped the Wolfpack to 3-4 on the season and 1-3 in ACC play.Doeren leaves Raleigh with a 98-73 record but finished below .500 against conference opponents. He led NC State to four nine-win seasons during his tenure, most recently in 2023, but his teams have finished 6-7 and 8-5 over the last two seasons.His 2026 squad suffered blowout losses against Virginia and Wake Forest while also taking a baffling loss against Vanderbilt on a game-losing fumble-touchdown in the end zone.Doeren was fairly consistent with the Wolfpack, but with his best days behind him, a change has been speculated for a few years now. Judging from the NC State faithful's reaction, it seemed many viewed this move as a long time coming. It also drew quite a response from rival fanbases, some of which were sad to see Doeren go.pic.twitter.com/ugwhmV05bd— Hawk Pack 🇺🇸 (@Mudcat2024) October 24, 2026FREE AT LASTFREE AT LASTGOOD GOD, ALMIGHTY WE ARE FREE AT LAST— Mr. Controversy himself (@TommyHouse101) October 24, 2026Good. I love Dave! Still. This had to happen!— Dennis Holzschuh (@DennisHolzd4u) October 24, 2026pic.twitter.com/vsIImUBZ4d— Ian (@McKeown_Ian) October 24, 2026NCST fans at church tomorrow pic.twitter.com/0dpFykP1o1— In Jeff Brohm We Trust. (@InBrohmWeTrust) October 24, 2026Imagine losing to Vandy, Wake Forest, Stanford, and Virginia in 2026— Cason Wallace Supremacy (@Wiggs4Pres) October 24, 2026I guess NC State finally read the room after last night.— Jackson Johnson (@JacksonVOCFB) October 24, 2026Saw that coming from about 1,000 miles away.— Clemson Sports (@ClemsonSports) October 24, 2026Noooooooo pic.twitter.com/s7qHIAPAA4— BlueDevilJunkie (@BlueDevilJunkie) October 24, 2026This article originally appeared on For The Win: NC State fans relieved after longtime coach Dave Doeren's firing