After concluding one of their worst seasons during the Dave Doeren era with a 26-21 loss to the ECU Pirates in the Military Bowl, it became evident that the NC State Wolfpack needed to implement some changes.
The Wolfpack had appeared committed this past season with a redesigned offense and a seasoned defense, but a 6-7 overall record and a 3-5 conference record can only be viewed as a significant failure on both sides of the field.
Despite facing challenges from crucial injuries, it was apparent that adjustments were still necessary.
The first major decision made was the dismissal of offensive coordinator Robert Anae, who was let go just two days after the season ended, even though he had a year left on his contract.
“I want to thank Robert and wish him and his family the best,” Doeren stated in a press release. “I have great respect for him and appreciate the work he has done.”
Anae spent two seasons with the Wolfpack, and despite being touted as an offensive genius, his capabilities never fully manifested at NC State, where the offense struggled with inconsistency week after week.
Taking his place is quarterbacks coach Kurt Roper, who has been with NC State for six seasons and boasts 30 years of coaching experience. Roper will also continue to coach quarterbacks.
“Kurt has done a great job for us and knows what we need to do to take the next step as a program,” Doeren said. “He has a strong rapport with our players, extensive knowledge of college football and the ACC, and I’m eager to see him as a play caller.”
Roper oversaw impressive progress from freshman quarterback CJ Bailey, who ended the season with the second-highest yardage (2,413) and touchdowns (17) for a rookie QB in program history.
Roper has previously served as an offensive coordinator at Duke (2008-2013), Florida (2014), and South Carolina (2016-2017). Additionally, the team has appointed Gavin Locklear as tight ends coach after he previously held the role of offensive quality control coach.
On the defensive side, NC State needed to replace the well-respected defensive coordinator Tony Gibson, who accepted the head coaching position at Marshall before the team’s final game. Had Gibson chosen to remain, there may have been difficult discussions to address the defense’s significant decline this season.
To fill the vacancy, the Wolfpack looked beyond the program and brought in D.J. Eliot, a coach with 27 years of experience, who will serve as both the new defensive coordinator and linebackers coach.
Eliot has a diverse coaching background, having worked in the NFL and across four different college conferences. Most recently, he was a senior analyst at Baylor and served as the linebackers coach for the Philadelphia Eagles in 2023.
“D.J. is a fantastic addition to our staff,” Doeren remarked. “He has collaborated with some of the top minds in college football, including Dave Aranda at Baylor. His extensive experience, both schematically and as a former NFL coach, will greatly aid our player development.”
Eliot has previously been a defensive coordinator at Kentucky (2013-2016), Colorado (2017-2018), Kansas (2019-2020), and Temple (2022). This past season, the Wolfpack’s defense, which had been dominant in previous years, struggled, allowing an average of 391.6 yards per game.
The absence of a true standout player beyond Davin Vann certainly impacted their performance, and their issues in third-and-long situations and against the run were notably significant. Eliot will face challenges ahead, especially with several veteran defensive backs entering the transfer portal.
Additional defensive staff changes include the retirement of safeties coach Joe DeForest and the promotion of Freddie Aughtry-Lindsay to co-defensive coordinator. Aughtry-Lindsay, who served as interim DC during the Military Bowl, has coached the team’s nickels for the past five years. In his new role, he will continue to oversee both the nickels and safeties.
“Freddie has done an outstanding job for us and has gained the respect of our players and coaches. I look forward to seeing him succeed in this new role,” Doeren stated.
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