A wild 48 hours for Dave Doeren

By Jeff Gravley
Dec 3, 2012

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When Dave Doeren was introduced as the 34th head football coach in NC State history, he was already a part of Wolfpack football history. Back in 2003, Doeren was coaching the Kansas linebackers when Philip Rivers and company lit up the Jayhawks for 56 points, a bowl record for NC State. Since that December day in Orlando, Doeren has kept his eye on Wolfpack football, watching many State games on TV. He marveled at the atmosphere and how close the fans are to the field.

Now Dave Doeren has been hired at the place he watched from afar. He left a Northern Illinois program where he led the Huskies to two straight Mid-American Conference titles in his two years as head coach. He said it would take a special situation to lure him away from the Huskies and NC State was one of them.

AD Debbie Yow had plenty of competition for Doeren. Purdue, Cal and Auburn were interested in the Huskies coach. But give Yow credit, she and the search committee identified their top target and went after him. When Doeren walked off the field Friday in Detroit after winning the MAC championship, there was a message on his cell phone from his agent, Jordan Bazant. "Call me ASAP." The talk turned to NC State and Doeren was told to expect something to happen quickly. He and the Northern Illinois team got back from Detroit at 6am and there was no time to sleep. He met with Yow and fielded the offer. He and his wife had already done some research on NC State so after a family conversation, Doeren accepted the Wolfpack's offer. Saturday night he was on a plane bound for his new city, Raleigh.

Sunday Doeren met with his new team and watched them practice. He told them you didn't pick me, I picked you and will do everything in his power to make them better. Debbie Yow is banking on Doeren making the football program better. He didn't inherit one in dire straits but one starving for a championship. They haven't won one since 1979.

At his introductory press conference, Dave Doeren talked about his love for fishing but Debbie Yow may have hooked the catch of the day.

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RE: A wild 48 hours for Dave Doeren

Nothing good ever came out of Illinois.

RE: A wild 48 hours for Dave Doeren

I'd say Debbie Yow hit a home run, but this is football, so Yow scored a TD and two-point conversion. Doeren seems like a very qualified coach who did his homework before accepting the job. When Yow asked him about who he had in mind for his coaching staff, Doeren had five candidates for each coaching position; now that's being prepared.
- Posted by jgunn

Thanks, JG. He seems like a good hire.

We'll let everyone know in 3-4 years if that was the case. :)

The key to getting a GREAT coach at a school like NC State (i.e., NOT a perennial football power program) is to get him before the whole world KNOWS he's a great coach. If you wait for that, he gets scooped up by the Oklahoma or Alabama. The key is finding a way to KEEP him once he proves his worth at OUR school. But if we lose him to some great football power program in a few years, that means he will have done very well while he was here. And I would gladly take that. Do this long enough, and eventually you stop being a stepping stone program.

RE: A wild 48 hours for Dave Doeren

Settle for bowl eligible and you wont be here long either. Thanks Yow!

RE: A wild 48 hours for Dave Doeren

I'd say Debbie Yow hit a home run, but this is football, so Yow scored a TD and two-point conversion. Doeren seems like a very qualified coach who did his homework before accepting the job. When Yow asked him about who he had in mind for his coaching staff, Doeren had five candidates for each coaching position; now that's being prepared.

RE: A wild 48 hours for Dave Doeren

In that photo, he looks like a cross between Herb Sendek and Toby.

I hope he finds success equal to what those two accomplished.

guh-chortle.

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Jeff Gravley