Todd Goebbel, who’s been grinding under Dave Doeren for the past eight seasons, is now the interim head coach for NC State after Doeren’s midseason firing. It’s a sudden, wild change, but Goebbel’s already got his eyes locked on what’s next, pushing this team forward.
Doeren’s Shocking Exit and the Defensive Shake-Up
Man, what a weekend for the Wolfpack. Doeren’s 14-year run, where he became the winningest coach in program history and the fourth-longest tenured coach in the Bowl Subdivision, came to a screeching halt. The news dropped Saturday, less than 24 hours after a brutal loss at Stanford where the team gave up 31 points. Seriously, Stanford was picked to finish LAST in the ACC and has one of the nation’s worst offenses. That’s a gut punch no one saw coming, especially during the season. Quarterback CJ Bailey said it was “kind of a shocker” and “unbelievable.”
And it wasn’t just Doeren. Defensive coordinator DJ Eliot also got the axe, which totally makes sense after that Stanford game. Now, Assistant Charlton Warren is stepping up to call defensive plays for the rest of the season, and special teams analyst Zac Roper is taking over Goebbel’s old duties. It’s a full-on reset, right now.
Goebbel’s Game Plan: Honor the Past, Build the Future
Goebbel has been with the staff since 2019, most recently as running backs coach and special teams coordinator, so he knows this team inside and out. He’s got five games minimum to get the Wolfpack through this. His message is crystal clear: “Each Saturday we will field this team that Coach Doeren will be proud of, which will be hard, tough and most importantly together.” That’s the mindset you need right now.
He’s been reaching out to other coaches who’ve been in interim situations, soaking up advice, but honestly? He’s leaning on the players. He said the guys have been “unbelievable in support; they’ve been unbelievable in showing up and being who they are.” That’s the foundation Doeren laid for over 14 years, and Goebbel’s not letting that go. Defensive tackle Isaiah Shirley summed it up perfectly, talking about accountability: “It’s time to move on; we’ve got more games to play, there’s more life to live.”
The Wolfpack are sitting at 3-4 overall, 1-3 in the ACC. They’ve got a home game against California this Saturday. It’s a fresh start, a chance to show everyone what they’re truly made of under Goebbel. Every single game from here on out is a chance to prove something, and you know these players are ready to fight.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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