NC State’s decision to move on from Dave Doeren has already kicked up the usual coaching carousel chatter, but from a Maryland standpoint, he looks like one of the cleanest fits on the board.
The Wolfpack announced Saturday that they had parted ways with Doeren after 14 seasons, a tenure that ended with a 3-4 start to the 2026 season and a 31-28 loss to Stanford. That kind of abrupt ending will naturally put his name into the mix elsewhere, and for the Terrapins, the case is pretty straightforward: Doeren has spent years doing exactly the sort of work Maryland needs.
He may not be the flashiest hire available, but he has built his career around something more valuable for a school like Maryland - stability. At NC State, Doeren helped create a program that was regularly in the bowl picture, hard to deal with on Saturdays, and good enough to win eight or nine games in a typical year. The Wolfpack never became a permanent ACC heavyweight, but they were almost always competitive and rarely easy to knock off.
That matters because college football has changed fast. Between roster turnover, NIL and conference realignment, the gap between the sport’s powerhouses and everyone else keeps getting wider. NC State still managed to stay relevant under Doeren, and that consistency is a big part of why he should be on Maryland’s radar if the job opens up.
Doeren’s value goes beyond the record. Since arriving in 2013, he built a culture that produced year-after-year steadiness, not just one spike season or a single headline-grabbing run. That kind of foundation is often what programs need most, especially if the goal is to stop the swings and start living in a more reliable place.
There’s also a clear fit between what he has dealt with at NC State and what Maryland faces. Neither school operates with the built-in advantages of a national blueblood.
Both have access to strong high school talent, but both have to battle larger brands for the best players. That means a coach has to do more than just show up with a good pitch.
He has to evaluate well, develop well and make the most of what he has.
Doeren has done that.
For Maryland, the regional angle only strengthens the case. He has recruited the Mid-Atlantic for years and built relationships across Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania and New Jersey. That familiarity would matter for a program that has always needed to keep top DMV talent close to home while assembling a roster capable of holding up in the Big Ten.
And that Big Ten piece is important. The league asks for physical football, line play and player development, and Doeren’s teams have generally reflected those traits. His biggest knock is also the one that will shape how schools judge him: NC State never got over the hump into a conference title or a true breakthrough season.
That criticism is fair. But not every coaching search calls for the biggest swing on the market. Sometimes the smarter move is hiring someone who can raise the floor, steady the program and still leave room for bigger things later.
If Maryland wants sustained bowl trips, stronger development and long-term stability, Doeren’s track record gives him a strong argument. He would not be the loudest name in the search, and social media might not treat him like a seismic hire. Still, he looks like the kind of experienced coach who could walk in and bring structure, credibility and a clear identity right away.
Whether Maryland gets the chance to pursue him is another matter. If it does, the Terrapins ought to be near the front of the line.
In Other News...
Maryland Fans Should Watch What Baylor Does Next
With Maryland having already moved on from Mike Locksley, the coaching carousel around college football is suddenly worth watching a lot closer, especially when other Power Four jobs are opening and closing in quick succession. NC State has also parted ways with Dave Doeren, and Baylors search now adds another layer to the picture as schools across the sport start circling the same pool of experienced and familiar names.
The Bears are expected to weigh a mix of rising coaches and established figures with Texas ties, which is where the intrigue really starts for Maryland fans tracking the broader market. Jeff Traylor, Danny Gonzales, Timmy Chang and Lincoln Riley are all being discussed as possible fits, and the way Baylor sorts through that group could influence how the next stretch of openings plays out for everyone else still looking to stabilize their football program. [Read more 🡒]
Maryland May Have Found A Coach Built For Bigger Resources
Jake Dickert has started to surface as a possible answer for Maryland as the program looks ahead to its next coaching chapter. The Wake Forest coach has built a reputation for getting real results while working with limited roster budgets, and that kind of track record naturally stands out for a school that wants to be more aggressive with its resources. His recruiting connections also add to the appeal, since Maryland would be looking for someone who can turn a stronger financial position into a deeper talent pipeline.
The fit makes a certain kind of sense because Dickert has shown he can maximize what he has and still keep a program competitive. What makes him intriguing for Maryland is the possibility that his approach could translate even better in a setting with more backing behind it, especially if the Terps are serious about using those advantages to change their ceiling. No official hire or offer has been reported, but Dickert is already the kind of candidate who invites speculation about what he might do with a bigger platform. [Read more 🡒]