The NC State Wolfpack have found their next head coach, and it’s a name every fan in Raleigh knows. As first reported by On3, NC State is working to finalize a deal to make Philip Rivers its next head coach. Sources confirmed to A to Z Sports that Rivers is expected to be the next head coach at NC State.

The hire caps a busy week for Rivers and the Wolfpack. Sources indicated that Rivers had accepted the job as early as Wednesday. He then met with the staff later in the week before coaching his final high school football game. Now, he will join his son Gunner, a four-star QB in the 2027 class, in Raleigh and take over a Power 4 program in the ACC.

Philip Rivers was NC State’s focus from the start

This didn’t come out of nowhere. Rivers had become a focus for NC State dating back to Oct. 30, shortly after the school decided to part ways with its previous head coach.

From that point on, the connection made too much sense to ignore. Rivers is an NC State alum. He is someone who loves the program, and in many ways, he bleeds red and white. That kind of tie matters when you’re trying to sell a fan base, a roster, and a recruiting class on a new direction.

On top of that, both sides wanted this to happen. Sources told A to Z Sports that NC State aimed at securing Rivers from the jump. That is not always the case in a coaching search, where schools often end up with their third or fourth option. Here, the Wolfpack got the guy they targeted early, and the guy they targeted wanted to be there.

The big question surrounding the Rivers hire

So the immediate question becomes: can a coach who has never coached a down of college football make the jump to a Power 4 program?

It’s a fair concern. Rivers’ coaching experience comes entirely at the high school level. The gap between running a high school program and running a Power 4 program is massive. You’re managing a much larger staff, navigating the transfer portal, handling NIL, and recruiting against some of the best coaches in the country. Those are responsibilities that high school football simply doesn’t prepare you for in the same way.

All of that remains to be seen. I don’t think anyone can say with certainty how this will play out, and anyone who tells you they know is guessing.

What we do know is that Rivers is an experienced football coach, whatever the level. He understands the game, he understands how to lead a locker room, and he has spent time building a program from the ground up. Coaching is coaching, to a point, and the foundational pieces he brings to the table are real. Oh, not to mention he played QB in the NFL for a long time.

Why this is a great move for NC State in the eyes of many

To be fair to the skeptics, there is risk here. But there is also a lot to like.

For one, NC State is bringing back an alum who has deep ties to the program. That carries weight with boosters, former players, and the fan base, and it gives the Wolfpack an identity right out of the gate. Additionally, a recognizable name like Rivers can open doors on the recruiting trail that might otherwise stay shut, especially early in his tenure.

NC State wanted someone who cares about the program as much as the people in the stands do, and they got exactly that.

Now, the work begins. Rivers and NC State will set out to get the Wolfpack back to the top of the ACC, and his first season will show whether that passion translates into wins at the college level.