ACC Football: 3 most overrated head coaches ahead of 2022 season

3 of 4

Oct 30, 2021; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA North Carolina State Wolfpack head coach Dave Doeren watches his team warm up prior to a game against the Louisville Cardinals at Carter-Finley Stadium. Mandatory Credit: /

2. Dave Doeren, NC State Wolfpack

Speaking of coaches who get a ton of respect but continue to underwhelm in the recruiting landscape, Dave Doeren is treated like one of the league’s top 3-4 coaches just like Pat Narduzzi, but I just don’t know if he’s quite earned it.

Sure, he may be in that group by default because of all the coaching changes around the ACC, but I’m not sure he was worthy of an extension through 2026 like he got this offseason.

NC State isn’t exactly a historical power and Doeren has done a solid job of leading it to almost 25 percent of its all-time bowl appearances, but he also hasn’t won a division title and has only finished second two times. The Wolfpack have actually finished with a losing record in ACC play five times in Doeren’s nine seasons with the program which isn’t exactly spectacular.

Doeren is 64-49 at NC State but has a losing record in conference play which really makes you question if he’s reached his ceiling in Raleigh which seems to be nine wins (he’s done that three times).

While I think he deserves respect for turning the Wolfpack into an above-average program, I think that he’s peaked already.

Home/ACC