The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/976701
24 ■ THE WOLFPACKER TRACKING THE PACK FOOTBALL COACH DAVE DOEREN SIGNED THROUGH 2022 The NC State Board of Trustees approved a new con- tract for NC State football head coach Dave Doeren April 20. Doeren's agreement, reached in December, runs through Dec. 31, 2022. "We are on an exciting upward trajectory in football under the leadership of Coach Doeren," NC State direc - tor of athletics Debbie Yow said. "He has assembled a terrifically talented coaching staff, as well, and that continuity and stability has been important to our cur- rent student-athletes and recruits. "We are pleased that Dave will continue to lead NC State football, playing in one of the most challenging divisions in college football, the Atlantic Division of the ACC." This past fall, Doeren guided NC State to a 9-4 overall record and a 6-2 mark in ACC play — the most league wins for the program in 23 years. The Pack's nine wins last season are the second most in a single season in school history, and a school-record seven players were selected in the 2018 NFL Draft April 26-28. NC State earned a spot in the final College Football Playoff rankings for the first time in school history last season, wrapping up the campaign at No. 24. The Pack also finished the season ranked No. 23 in the Associated Press poll — the first end-of-season ranking for the Pack since 2010. NC State had seven All-ACC selections this past season — its highest total since 2002 — and Bradley Chubb was honored as ACC Defensive Player of the Year. WRESTLING COACH PAT POPOLIZIO EARNS NEW CONTRACT NC State wrestling coach Pat Popolizio has a new seven-year contract that runs through June 2025. Popolizio led NC State to the 2018 ACC regular-season title — the program's first since 2004 — and the pro- gram's first undefeated ACC season (5-0) since 2000. He was named the ACC Coach of the Year for his efforts. "Pat has proven that NC State wrestling can compete at the highest levels, including winning the ACC and finishing in the top five nationally," director of athletics Debbie Yow said. "Our future is bright with Pat at the helm of NC State wrestling." The Wolfpack finished in a fourth-place tie at the 2018 NCAA Championships to bring home a team trophy, just the second in ACC annals. The program also added its third individual national championship under his watch this past season, with Michael Macchiavello winning the 197-pound title. NC State boasted a school-record two NCAA finalists this season — a first in ACC history — and four All-Americans, which also established a new school record. Popolizio, the 2016 FloWrestling National Coach of the Year, has guided his program to five straight top-20 finishes at the NCAA Championships and three straight top-10 finishes in the final NWCA/USA Today coaches' poll. NC State has been ranked in the top 10 for 40 straight polls, and four of the last five ACC Wrestler of the Year honorees have been Wolfpackers. NC STATE RIFLE COACH KEITH MILLER RESIGNS Longtime NC State rifle coach Keith Miller announced his resignation as head coach April 11. The NC State alum produced seven SEARC champion- ships, four individual SEARC titles and an Olympian dur- ing his 29-year career with the Wolfpack. NCSU finished this year No. 11 among 29 colleges that sponsor rifle after an 11-7 campaign. "I've been associated with NC State rifle since I was 9 years old, so this is not an easy thing to do," Miller said. "That said, there are times when we all realize that mov - ing on is in the best interests of not only the individual, but the group as a whole. "Now is that time for me and NC State rifle." This past season, sophomore Claire Zanti was named a recipient of the 2018 Arthur Ashe Jr. Female Sports Scholar of the Year award, and six members of the squad were named to the Collegiate Rifle Coaches As - sociation scholastic All-America team — sophomore Zach Eisenberg, sophomore Kendra Jacobs, senior Derya Pekari, senior Lauren Phillips, sophomore Claire Spina and Zanti. Miller expects future success moving forward. "I am exceedingly proud of what we have accom - plished, not just athletically but the things each of our students have accomplished in the classroom and as the awesome individuals they grew into," Miller said. "Hosting the NCAA Rifle Championships in 2022 will be an awesome and special event for NC State, and I look forward to watching it." Melissa Quartarone will continue in her role as assis - tant coach and manage the team in the interim period. ■ Red And White Notebook NC STATE CHEERLEADING WINS TWO TITLES NC State won two national titles at the 2018 NCA & NDA Collegiate Cheer and Dance Championship April 5-7 in Day- tona Beach, Fla. The Wolfpack won the Division I-A titles for small coed cheer and the game day category. This marks the first time in program history NC State has captured multiple national championships in the same competition. NC State has now won the small coed championship six times in school history — 1985, 1990, 1991, 2001, 2016 and 2018. The game day national championship is the first title for the program in that category. The Wolfpack also advanced to the finals of the Division I-A team performance and mascot categories. Ms. Wuf finished third in mascot, while NC State finished fourth in team performance. NCSU is the only program at the competition to finish in the top five of small coed, game day, team performance and mascot. NC State brought home a pair of national cham- pionships from the NCA & NDA Collegiate Cheer and Dance Championship for the first time in school history. PHOTO COURTESY NC STATE MEDIA RELATIONS Pat Popolizio, who has led the wrestling team to three straight top-10 finishes in the final coaches' poll, signed a seven-year deal that runs through June 2025. PHOTO BY RYAN TICE