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By Madison Williams
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North Carolina State has been searching for a new head coach for next season after the team fired Dave Doeren on Oct. 24 following 14 seasons with the Wolfpack.
NC State has reportedly found Doeren's replacement, and it's a big name. The Wolfpack plan to hire former NFL quarterback Philip Rivers, sources told The Athletic's Bruce Feldman and David Ubben on Sunday. The report comes after 4-5 NC State lost 41-3 to Duke on Saturday.
Rivers's hiring is huge as he's been coaching at the high school level for the past six seasons at St. Michael Catholic High School in Fairhope, Alabama. He becomes the first high school head coach hired by a big conference program since 1981 when Notre Dame hired Gerry Faust. These moves don't happen very often.
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But, Rivers's tenure as a high school coach has been impressive. In 2024 and '25, the team went 25-3 and reached back-to-back state semifinals. The team just ended its 2026 season on Friday by losing in the Alabama playoffs.
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The 44-year-old is a legend at NC State. He played quarterback for the Wolfpack from 2000-03. He won various accolades while with the program, including ACC Athlete of the Year and ACC Player of the Year. His performances led to him being drafted fourth overall to the NFL in 2004. His No. 17 jersey was later retired by the Wolfpack program.
Rivers notably made headlines last NFL season as he returned from five years of retirement to help the Indianapolis Colts out as they dealt with various quarterback injuries. He joined the team's practice squad on Dec. 10, 2025, and then started four days later against the Seattle Seahawks. He started in three games for the Colts, losing all three. Rivers was benched for Riley Leonard in Week 18, making Rivers officially retire from the league for the last time.
Rivers was a semifinalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame last year before he returned to the NFL. His eligibility was pushed back five years after he played.
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