NC State just fired Defensive Coordinator Dave Huxtable, but according to Athletic Director Boo Corrigan, Head Coach Dave Doeren isn’t going anywhere.

“The conclusion of a season is a time to reflect, look in the mirror and evaluate the overall direction of a program,” Corrigan wrote in the statement. ” Dave Doeren is our football coach. He has earned it by winning nine games in back-to-back seasons and I look forward to doing all I can to help Coach Doeren moving forward. The 2019 season didn’t unfold the way any of us wanted but we will continue to invest in this program, and to provide the resources to help NC State football compete at the highest level.”

No matter the emotional state of the NC State fanbase, there was no way Doeren was going to be fired after this season. Eight months ago, NC State extended his contract through 2023 (5 years). The buyout of his contract as of December 1st is $6.6 million, which is roughly 2 years of his salary.

Also, while I’m not defending this season, or giving a long-term stamp on Doeren, he did lead the Wolfpack to back-to-back 9-win seasons in 2017-18 for the first time since 1991-92. Context…only 12 teams in school history have won 9 games in a single season. Only on three occasions have NC State teams won 9 games in back-to-back years.

The Wolfpack were 11-5 in conference play between 2018, which was tied for the 2nd best conference record in the ACC over that span.

NC State won 5+ ACC games in consecutive years in 2017-18 for the 1st time since 1991-92, and only the 4th time since the formation of the ACC in 1953.

There was no chance Doeren would be dismissed after this season, no matter how ugly it was. If next season is reminiscent of this one, then that’s a different scenario entirely.