N.C. State has reached a deal for former NFL quarterback Philip Rivers to become the school’s next head football coach.
The agreement is currently heading to the university board of trustees for a formal vote, according to a person with knowledge of the situation.
School protocols require the board to approve the contract before it becomes official.
The trustees are scheduled to address the matter during a meeting on Friday.
Rivers is set to replace Dave Doeren, who was fired midway through his 14th season with the program.
Doeren concluded his tenure as the school’s leader in career wins but struggled to achieve a breakthrough to higher success.
The incoming coach has spent the past six seasons leading the program at St. Michael Catholic High School in Alabama.
While Rivers has never coached at the collegiate or professional level, he previously interviewed for the Buffalo Bills’ head coaching vacancy.
The appointment brings a significant buzz to the program given Rivers’ history as a standout Wolfpack player.
During his four-year career at N.C. State from 2000 to 2003, he set several Atlantic Coast Conference records, including career passing yards and completions.
He later became an eight-time Pro Bowl selection during a 17-year NFL career with the Chargers and Colts.
Rivers confirmed he had been in discussions with the university prior to the conclusion of his high school season.
“We met and visited, I’ve known some of those guys for a while now,” Rivers said regarding the ongoing talks.
“It was good to visit with them, but there’s really nothing else to report at this point,” he added.
The hiring comes as the university attempts to navigate a complex landscape of player movement and financial pressures in college sports.
Following his departure, Doeren noted that while N.C. State is a great job, it remains a very difficult position to manage.
Rivers now faces the challenge of adapting his experience to the modern demands of the college game.