Another Power Four football job opened up last week as NC State fired longtime head coach Dave Doeren. A midseason firing gives the Wolfpack a head start on its search. Could that start lead the Wolfpack to former LSU head coach Brian Kelly?
There hasn't been much reporting on NC State's targets as the search is in its early days; however, if NC State wants a veteran head coach, Brian Kelly could make some sense.
Kelly spent a long time at Notre Dame, meaning he's familiar with the ACC. Notre Dame had a scheduling agreement with the ACC and played as an ACC member in 2020.
LSU fired Kelly in October of 2024 after the Tigers got off to a disappointing 5-3 start. LSU began that season with playoff hopes, but LSU fell well short of expectations. Kelly's
LSU tenure got off to a hot start, winning the SEC West in 2022, but Kelly and Co. couldn't build on that momentum.
NEW: Brian Kelly says the Maryland, Baylor and NC State openings are all “unique” when asked about the best job:
— On3 (@On3) October 27, 2026
"We’re talking about ACC, Big 12, and the Big Ten. From a conference standpoint, the Big Ten obviously has proved itself to have that kind of appeal, right? With… pic.twitter.com/bErJSYYN32
Kelly has won a lot of football games over his lengthy career. He's never won an FBS national title, but he's been successful in some capacity everywhere he's been. Even at LSU, Kelly had two double-digit win seasons.
NC State isn't a program with national championship expectations, and Kelly could immediately elevate the floor in Raleigh.
At the same time, it would be understandable if NC State wanted new blood. Kelly doesn't call plays on either side of the ball, and NC State may want to target a young playcaller.
Kelly has said he wants to return to coaching. Keep an eye on LSU's former coach as coaching search season heats up.
Brian Kelly Career Record
Data from Sports Reference
This article originally appeared on LSU Wire: Will ex-LSU head coach Brian Kelly be a candidate for the NC State job?
