NC State coaching search turns toward familiar NFL legend
Former NFL quarterback Philip Rivers has reportedly emerged as NC State's top coaching target as the Wolfpack look to replace Dave Doeren.
North Carolina State University football officials are gravitating towards St. Michael Catholic High School head coach Philip Rivers as a potential candidate to replace Dave Doeren, according to reports from On3 Sports. The future Wolfpack coach, who played quarterback for the Wolfpack from 2000 to 2003, has emerged as the preferred choice for the hiring process.
However, with Rivers set to complete his final high school football season with the Cardinals in 2026, the timetable for the hiring process remains uncertain. St. Michael finished their 2026 campaign with a 6-3 record, while Rivers boasts a career record of 48-21 at the high school level. Notably, Rivers did not have any prior experience in college coaching before his recent emergence as a top candidate for the NC State position.
His son, Gunner Rivers, is currently committed to the Wolfpack for the 2027 recruiting cycle, and a hire of Philip would make the transition smoother for the family. Rivers, who was selected as the fourth overall pick in the NFL Draft in 2004, has amassed over 63,000 career passing yards and earned eight Pro Bowl selections for the Chargers and Colts.
Although coaches transitioning from high school to college are not uncommon, the recent firing of Doeren following a loss to Stanford on October 24 may have accelerated the process. Trent Dilfer, a former college coach, had a brief stint at UAB before returning to his previous role at Lipscomb Academy following his coaching debut at the collegiate level.
Dilfer remarked that Rivers possesses strong leadership qualities, but acknowledged that there might be challenges ahead for the young coach.
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