NC State football coaching search: Three former Notre Dame coaches emerge as potential candidates
NC State Wolfpack is searching for its next HC after the Dave Doeren firing. Could they shop down the former Notre Dame coaching aisle?
NC State is looking for a new head football coach, and three names with Notre Dame ties are already worth watching.
After firing Dave Doeren, the Wolfpack began searching for his replacement. Doeren spent 14 seasons in Raleigh, compiling a 98-74 record and becoming the winningest coach in program history. Now, NC State has to find someone who can build on that foundation and help the program compete for ACC championships.
On3’s Pete Nakos has identified several potential candidates for the opening, including three former Notre Dame coaches: Tommy Rees, Lance Taylor, and Brian Kelly.
All three have connections to South Bend, but they bring very different backgrounds to the table. Rees is an NFL offensive coordinator who could return to college football, Taylor is building a winning program at Western Michigan, and Kelly is a veteran head coach looking for his next opportunity.
None should be considered a confirmed finalist, but each is an interesting name to monitor as the search develops.
1. Tommy Rees, Atlanta Falcons offensive coordinator
Rees might be the most intriguing long-term option of the three because of his offensive background and familiarity with major college football.
The former Notre Dame quarterback spent six seasons on the Fighting Irish coaching staff before becoming the program’s offensive coordinator in 2020. He held that position through the 2022 season, helping Notre Dame reach the College Football Playoff in 2020.
Rees then joined Nick Saban’s staff at Alabama as offensive coordinator in 2023 before making the jump to the NFL. He has since worked with the Cleveland Browns and Atlanta Falcons, where he serves as offensive coordinator.
According to Nakos, Rees has shown interest in returning to college football and has interviewed for several college jobs in recent years.
That makes NC State a potentially interesting landing spot. Rees has experience recruiting at two major programs, understands the demands of running a college offense, and has worked alongside respected coaches at both the college and professional levels.
The biggest question is whether he is ready to take over an entire program. Rees has never been a head coach, and running an offense is considerably different from managing a staff, recruiting department, and the expectations that come with leading an ACC program.
Still, NC State could offer him the opportunity to establish himself as a head coach rather than continue climbing the NFL coaching ladder. If the Wolfpack want a younger candidate with major-program experience and offensive upside, Rees is worth considering.
2. Lance Taylor, Western Michigan head coach
Taylor is an interesting candidate because he has already shown he can win as a head coach.
The former Notre Dame and Louisville assistant is in his third season at Western Michigan. The Broncos went 10-4 in 2025, finishing 7-1 in MAC play and winning the conference championship.
Western Michigan’s success has given Taylor momentum heading into the current season. According to Nakos, the Broncos returned much of their championship core and entered the fall expecting to contend for another conference title. They were 5-3 at the time of his report.
Taylor’s Notre Dame background also gives him familiarity with the ACC recruiting landscape. He has worked at major college programs and now has experience building a team and establishing a winning culture.
That’s an important distinction between Taylor and Rees. While Rees has worked at some of the biggest programs in college football, Taylor has already experienced the day-to-day responsibilities of being a head coach.
NC State would represent a significant step up in resources and competition. The Wolfpack have the opportunity to compete for ACC championships, and the job could be appealing to a coach looking to prove he can win at a higher level.
The challenge would be convincing Taylor to leave a Western Michigan program he has helped turn into a conference contender. But if NC State believes his success can translate to the ACC, he could be a legitimate option.
3. Brian Kelly, former LSU head coach
Kelly is the most established name on this list, and his résumé is considerably more extensive than those of the other two candidates.
Before leaving Notre Dame for LSU following the 2021 season, Kelly built the Fighting Irish into a consistent College Football Playoff contender. Notre Dame reached the BCS National Championship Game following the 2012 season and made the playoff in 2018 and 2020.
Kelly’s departure from South Bend was controversial, but his accomplishments at Notre Dame are difficult to dismiss. He won consistently, recruited at a high level and helped keep the program among the nation’s most prominent teams.
His time at LSU was less successful by the standards of the program. Kelly went 34-14 with the Tigers before being fired in October 2025. Despite his disappointing exit, Nakos reported that Kelly wants to return to coaching.
Kelly has 297 career head coaching victories, according to Nakos, and extensive experience navigating the challenges of major college football.
There is also a regional connection. The Boston native spent years coaching against ACC opponents during his time at Notre Dame, giving him familiarity with the conference and its recruiting territory.
The obvious question is whether NC State would want to hire a coach coming off a difficult departure from LSU. Kelly has proven he can build winning teams, but his latest tenure ended before he could deliver the championship results the Tigers expected.
For NC State, though, hiring Kelly would mean bringing in someone who has already managed the pressure of coaching at a major program. He wouldn’t need an adjustment period to learn what it takes to run a nationally competitive college football operation.
Whether the Wolfpack would pursue a coach with Kelly’s recent history remains to be seen, but his experience makes him a name worth watching.
Which candidate makes the most sense for NC State?
Of the three former Notre Dame coaches, each offers a different path forward for the Wolfpack.
Rees represents a bet on offensive potential and long-term upside. Taylor brings recent head coaching success and experience building a winning program. Kelly offers the most extensive résumé and a history of winning at the highest level of college football.
There isn’t an obvious answer.
Rees could be an attractive choice if NC State wants to take a chance on a rising coaching name. Taylor could make sense if the Wolfpack prioritize someone who has already demonstrated an ability to lead a program. Kelly would represent a more experienced hire, although his departure from LSU raises legitimate questions.
NC State’s decision will ultimately depend on what athletic director Boo Corrigan wants the program to become. The Wolfpack have spent years trying to close the gap between themselves and the ACC’s top programs. Their next hire needs to do more than simply maintain the status quo.
The fact that three former Notre Dame coaches have surfaced as potential candidates makes this an especially interesting search. Whether any of them ultimately lands in Raleigh remains to be seen, but all three bring something different to the table as NC State looks for its next head coach.
