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Former NC State star Philip Rivers is on the verge of becoming the head football coach at his alma mater. The NC State Board of Trustees is expected to approve his contract during their meeting on Friday (November 13), according to WRAL. Rivers, 44, has been the head coach at St. Michael Catholic High School in Alabama for six seasons, where he built the program from scratch.
Rivers emerged as the top candidate for the position after NC State fired longtime coach Dave Doeren on October 24. Doeren, who led the Wolfpack for over 13 seasons, was let go after a 31-28 loss to Stanford dropped the team to 3-4 on the season. Under Doeren, NC State never won more than nine games in a season and failed to qualify for the ACC Championship Game.
Rivers, who played quarterback at NC State from 2000 to 2003, is the program's all-time leading passer. He threw for 13,484 yards and 95 touchdowns during his college career and was drafted No. 4 overall by the then-San Diego Chargers in the 2004 NFL Draft. His jersey number, 17, was retired by the school.
Despite having no collegiate or professional coaching experience, Rivers' leadership qualities have been praised. USA TODAY Sports reported that Rivers briefly returned to the NFL in 2025 to make three starts for the Indianapolis Colts. Former Colts assistant coach Brian Bratton described Rivers as one of the best leaders he has encountered, noting his confidence and motivational skills.
Rivers' son, Gunner, a four-star quarterback prospect, is committed to play for NC State. Rivers has been coaching his son at St. Michael Catholic. Additionally, Rivers has started assembling a coaching staff, with former NFL player Jerricho Cotchery expected to be a candidate to join his team at NC State.
The hiring of Rivers marks a bold move for NC State, aiming to inject fresh energy into the program. The school's leadership expressed their commitment to competing at an elite level and challenging for ACC Championships, as stated in a letter by NC State Chancellor Kevin Howell and athletics director Boo Corrigan.