TRI-PARTISAN: Dave Doeren Blows Up Coaching Staff To Rebuild Wolfpack Program
Each week I submit a Tri-Partisan column to WRALSportsFan.com, and here is today's feature where I tell you why Dave Doeren made aggressive changes to his coaching staff and how those can impact the football program going forward.
WRALSportsFan.com: Dave Doeren Blow Up Coaching Staff To Rebuild Wolfpack Program
I was preparing to focus this week's column on Wolfpack hoops with NC State about to “really” enter ACC play starting this weekend at Clemson. However, that was before Dave Doeren decided to blow up the coaching staff, and when that happens, it has to be the focus, right?
He began the staff changes by firing long-time defensive coordinator Dave Huxtable a couple of days after the season finale and quickly replacing him with current staffer Tony Gibson. That move still left a vacancy on the staff, so we knew a new face would be arriving in the Murphy Center -- but Doeren didn't end the changes there.
Over the last ten days he chose to not retain offensive coordinator/running backs coach Des Kitchings, cornerbacks coach George Barlow, and defensive line coach Kevin Patrick. Kitchings had been in Raleigh eight years -- one year longer than Doeren -- and Barlow arrived in 2014. Both men were the longest-tenured coaches left on the staff after Huxtable's dismissal. Patrick arrived in 2017 and was the highest-paid non-coordinator, as he earned approximately $425,000 annually to coach the Wolfpack's defensive line.
Only two assistants are now on staff who coached at NC State in 2018: nickels coach Aaron Henry and wide receivers coach George McDonald. That is a ton of attrition and for multiple reasons.
Last year NC State's staff was raided as App. State hired away Eli Drinkwitz and Ted Roof to be their new head coach and defensive coordinator, respectively, while offensive line coach Dwayne Ledford was tabbed as the new offensive coordinator at Louisville. One coach even left for the pros, with long-time tight ends coach Eddie Faulkner accepting a running backs position with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
This year it has been Doeren calling the shots, and he clearly wants to go in a different direction both offensively and defensively. Kitchings was the primary play-caller for NC State in 2019, and while he is a big-time recruiter and outstanding running backs coach, Doeren was ready for a change. Doeren had previously tried to hire Tim Beck as his offensive coordinator, and this time around he was able to do so -- luring Beck away from Texas.
A strong recruiter, Beck has called plays in high-pressure situations at Nebraska and Texas, and that experience, along with his ability to develop quarterbacks, is what Doeren coveted. Click the link to read the rest of the story: LINK