More years, more money in new contract for NC State's Doeren

By Brian Murphy, WRAL

NC State football coach Dave Doeren, the winningest coach in Wolfpack history, agreed to a two-year contract extension through the 2029 season that will pay him in excess of $5.5 million per year.

The North Carolina State Board of Trustees approved the extension.

Doeren will earn $5.5 million in 2024 with $125,000 raises on the first of each subsequent year. He can also earn up to $1.325 million in academic and athletic performance bonuses. He earned about $5 million under the terms of his previous extension, signed in 2023.

Without any adjustments or bonuses, Doeren will earn more than $6 million in 2028 and 2029 under the new contract. Thirty-four coaches made at least $5.5 million in 2023, according to USA Today's coaching salaries database.

Expectations are high, as in College Football Playoff-appearance high, for the Wolfpack program entering 2024. Doeren has been head coach since 2013 and has yet to win 10 or more games in a season or reach the ACC championship game. NC State hasn't won an ACC football title since 1979.

NC State athletics is riding a string of success across the department. Both the men's and women's basketball programs reached the Final Four.

"Athletics is often referred to as the front door to the university," NC State Chancellor Randy Woodson said Friday. "And there are a lot of people that have been walking through that doorway. We've had a lot of success in all of our sports, which has been a great thing for NC State."

Woodson said the athletic success may lead more accepted students to enroll in NC State.

The athletic department owes big raises and bonuses to men's basketball coach Kevin Keatts and women's basketball coach Wes Moore for their extended runs in March.

"I want to thank (athletics director) Boo (Corrigan) and all the coaches and the amazing student-athletes that work so hard every day and bring a lot of joy to a lot of our fans," Woodson said. "Some would say they're long-suffering fans. Hopefully there has been some joy that's been brought back to them. I know it has been for me."

Doeren is 81-58 as NC State coach. His 81 victories are the most in school history and his .583 winning percentage ranks fifth among NC State football coaches with more than 20 games.

Doeren is second in games coaches at 139, trailing only Earle Edwards' 173. Doeren could set that mark with three more seasons in Raleigh.

After starting the 2023 season 4-3, NC State won its final five regular-season games, including a third consecutive win over rival UNC in the season finale. The Wolfpack lost its bowl game and its shot at an elusive 10-win season. NC State has just one 10-win season in its history when it went 11-3 in 2002.

The Wolfpack brought in 13 transfers, including quarterback Grayson McCall (a three-time Sun Belt Player of the Year from Coastal Carolina), running back Jordan Waters (from Duke) and wide receiver Noah Rogers (a five-star high school recruit from Ohio State).

Add the return of wide receiver KC Concepcion, the ACC Freshman of the Year, the Wolfpack face elevated expectations entering 2024. ESPN ranked NC State No. 18 in its pre-spring Top 25.

Doeren has signed extensions in 2021, 2022 and 2023.

The board also approved a new bonus structure for Doeren and his assistant coaches. The bonuses mirror, both in type and amount, those that have been in his contract since, at least, 2022. But the new structure accounts for changes in the College Football Playoff.

Doeren can earn up to $100,00 for a top-15 finish in the CFP's final ranking, $250,000 in bonuses for victories, $200,000 for winning the ACC Championship Game and $500,000 for winning the CFP National Championship. He can earn lesser amounts for being ranked in the top 25, winning at least eight games, reaching the ACC title game and appearing in the CFP playoff.

Doeren can earn up to $1.35 million in academic and athletic performance bonuses in a single year.