Philip Rivers Named New NC State Head Football Coach

NC State has officially tapped Philip Rivers to lead its football program, bringing the former NFL quarterback back to his alma mater to take over as head coach.

The university confirmed the hiring on Friday, marking a transition for the Wolfpack following the departure of longtime coach Dave Doeren in October.

The move follows a period of speculation regarding the program’s leadership. Rivers, who played for NC State from 2000 to 2003, expressed deep personal ties to the university during the announcement.

“In many ways, I feel like I’m coming home. This is where it all began for me as an 18-year-old kid from Alabama, and now to return to this great place as head coach is beyond words,” Rivers said in a statement.

The Path to Raleigh

Rivers enters this role with limited experience as a head coach at the collegiate level. After retiring from the NFL, he turned his focus to the high school ranks, becoming a coach in Alabama in 2021. He also interviewed for the Bills’ coaching vacancy during the offseason.

Philip Rivers officially been named the new head coach at NC State — Ian Rapoport

The university’s Board of Trustees finalized the decision on Friday, approving a five-year contract for the new head coach. While Rivers has stayed active in football—including a brief return to the field for the Indianapolis Colts late last year—his tenure at NC State will be his first time managing a college program. He is set to be formally introduced to the public on Monday, NBC 15 reported.

Continuity and Change in Alabama

The transition is not limited to Raleigh. As Rivers prepares for his new role, his previous institution, St. Michael, has moved to fill the resulting vacancy. The school announced that longtime assistant Simon Cortopassi will step into the head coaching position. Cortopassi has been a fixture at the school for nine years, serving as the defensive coordinator and assistant head coach for the past six seasons.

Philip Rivers Named New NC State Head Football Coach — Photo: mynbc15.com

High Stakes for the Wolfpack

Dave Doeren, who led the team since 2013, was dismissed in October. Rivers acknowledged the task ahead, emphasizing that the team will need to embrace a demanding work ethic to achieve success.

“I gave it everything I had here as a player for 51 games and I will give it everything I have as the coach. There’s no denying that this is going to take hard work, but we’re not scared of hard,” Rivers said in his statement.