Who will be the next NC State football coach? Here are 12 candidates to replace Dave Doeren

N.C. State football is moving on from head coach Dave Doeren, the Wolfpack announced Saturday evening. Doeren was fired after the Wolfpack’s loss at Stanford. N.C. State (3-4, 1-3 ACC) started its season with a blowout loss at Virginia before a last-second debacle at Vanderbilt and a blowout home loss to Wake Forest. “I want to thank Coach Doeren for his service and contributions to NC State, and for always representing the university with pride,” said athletic director Boo Corrigan. “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 FIRED: Dave Doeren fired by NC State football after 14 seasons as coachTodd Goebbel, NC State running backs coach/special teams coordinator, will serve as interim head coach for the remainder of the season. Goebbel has been on the Wolfpack staff since 2019.A national search for NC State’s next head coach will begin immediately. The Wolfpack host Cal (3-4, 2-2) on Saturday, Oct. 31 (Noon ET, ACC Network), at Carter-Finley Stadium. So who will replace Doeren as the new coach at N.C. State? With Doeren fired in Raleigh, here are 12 candidates to be N.C. State’s next head coach. Philip Rivers, retired NFL QB and former NC State player Rivers has been the top name discussed among Wolfpack fans since things started going off the rails with Doeren this season. He doesn’t have any coaching experience at the college level, but as a longtime NFL quarterback and Wolfpack legend, he could get the big-money people involved in Raleigh. His son, Gunner, is also an N.C. State recruit in the 2027 class. Rivers has been coaching high school football in Alabama. Jason Eck, New MexicoA national favorite because of his demeanor and success with the Lobos this season, Eck has nearly 30 years of college experience. He won at Idaho before taking over New Mexico, which continues to elevate its program. His personality and coaching chops could mesh well with the Wolfpack fan base. Glenn Schumann, Georgia defensive coordinatorThe Bulldogs’ primary defensive coordinator since 2022, Schumann has been able to learn under national-championship-winning coaches Nick Saban and Kirby Smart over the years at the top of the sport for more than a decade. If N.C. State wants a defensive-minded leader who has a history with big names, Schumann is among the top names to consider. But would he leave Georgia for a job outside of the SEC and Big Ten? Jake Dickert, Wake Forest coach It could be seen as a bit of a lateral move considering the success Dickert is having in Winston-Salem, but N.C. State is believed to have more money than Wake Forest and it could be an enticing move in that regard. Dickert is likely the favorite to win ACC Coach of the Year.Buster Faulkner, Florida offensive coordinator Following the Gators’ hot start offensively under head coach Jon Sumrall, Buster Faulkner became a name to watch for the next hiring cycle. Faulkner has a history in the ACC as an offensive coordinator at Georgia Tech, so a return to the conference as leader of the Wolfpack could be interesting. Billy Napier, James Madison coachFollowing a mediocre run at Florida, Napier could get another Power Four opportunity after the success he’s had with the Dukes this season. Despite a loss at App State, James Madison continues to churn out some of the best coaches in the nation. N.C. State could do a lot worse than Napier. Shannon Dawson, Miami offensive coordinator Another hot name on hot boards this season, Dawson is in charge of one of the nation’s elite offenses and has helped the Hurricanes remain at the top across the last four seasons. He might have the Heisman Trophy winner on his current roster with quarterback Darian Mensah or wide receiver Malachi Toney. Charles Huff, Memphis coachAll Huff does is win. After a building a consistent program at Marshall, Huff has Memphis back on track. Huff also has a history with some big-time SEC programs, including Alabama, so that experience could be intriguing for a Wolfpack program looking to take the next step. Dan Mullen, UNLV coachFollowing his time as an ESPN analyst, Mullen has made UNLV a Group of Six contender for the College Football Playoffs. He’s a veteran coach with SEC experience, leading programs at Florida and Mississippi State. Tommy Rees, Atlanta Falcons offensive coordinator Rees has been a name connected to college coaching since leaving for the NFL. The former Notre Dame quarterback has a connection with Corrigan and was an offensive coordinator for the Fighting Irish and Alabama before going to the Browns and then the Falcons. Bryant Haines, Indiana defensive coordinator A coordinator for a national championship program, Haines leads a Hoosier defense that ranks among the best units in the nation. After learning from Curt Cignetti, Haines might be ready to take over his own program. Given N.C. State’s history with tough defenses, Haines could be a great fit. Bobby Petrino, UNC offensive coordinator Petrino has been elite at building elite offenses and he helped resurrect an offense that was inept in Bill Belichick's debut season in Chapel Hill. With his head coaching experience and success, could Petrino get another opportunity to lead his own program?Rodd Baxley covers North Carolina Tar Heels athletics for The Fayetteville Observer as part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow his ACC coverage on X/Twitter or Bluesky: @RoddBaxley. Got questions regarding UNC? Send them to rbaxley@usatodayco.com.This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Who will be the next NC State football coach? Here are 12 candidates to replace Dave Doeren