Philip Rivers Tops NC State Coaching Search — SkimNews
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- NC State fired Dave Doeren in his 14th season on Saturday after the program failed to progress this fall despite high preseason expectations and a favorable ACC slate.
- Philip Rivers has risen to the top of NC State’s coaching search, according to industry sources, despite having no college coaching experience; he has coached St. Michael Catholic High since 2021.
- Gunner, Philip Rivers’ four-star quarterback son, is committed to NC State for 2027 and is described as one of the top signal callers in this year’s recruiting cycle.
- Daniel Jeremiah interviewed Philip Rivers this week; despite the reported NC State link, Rivers was not asked about the vacancy, said winning starts with blocking, tackling and protecting the football, and had briefly returned to the Indianapolis Colts near the end of 2025.
- CJ Bailey received a considerable NC State offseason investment, with the quarterback-focused push leading to several starters leaving through the transfer portal.
- Andy Vaughn, credited with constructing NC State’s current roster, was fired following Friday night’s loss at Stanford; hiring a proper general manager is described as pivotal and goes hand in hand with the coaching search.
- NC State sits among the Power Four’s mid tier; next season’s expected 24-team expanded playoff is described as giving the program an annual shot at the bracket with the right leader.
Why it matters: NC State has two leadership vacancies after Dave Doeren and Andy Vaughn were fired, while several starters left following its CJ Bailey investment. Hiring a proper general manager is pivotal to roster construction, and the 24-team playoff gives mid-tier programs an annual path to the bracket.
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