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NC State football coach Dave Doeren celebrated his team’s mindset amid a 4-4 start to the 2025 season. He hopes a positive attitude will lead to a strong finish. In the process, he seemed to shade a former player.
KC Concepcion was a member of what Doeren described as a selfish 2024 squad. The wideout transferred to receive a massive payday at Texas A&M. His former coach remains salty.
The Wolfpack has struggled of late after beginning the year 3-0. The team has lost four of its last five games, three of which have come by double digits. It appears destined for a bottom-half finish in the ACC.
Despite the recent setbacks, Doeren is enjoying coaching. It was something that was lost last year.
Dave Doeren did not have fun in 2024.
The Wolfpack were up and down, eventually finishing 6-7 on the season. The year was capped with a bowl loss to rival East Carolina; it’s third defeat across the final four contests.
The head coach did not believe his players were fully invested in the mission. Instead, personal gripes got in the way of success.
“Last year, we were winning some games, and kids on our team were pouting and complaining because they weren’t getting the ball,” he said when asked about his current squad. “I hated coaching that team last year…
“There was so much selfish stuff on that sideline. We don’t have that on this team… They want to win.”
Doeren’s wording was telling. He specifically noted the offensive side of the ball. Most believe his comments were directed at one specific player.
KC Concepcion transferred to Texas A&M.
The wideout was a freshman star in Raleigh before seeing a dip in production as a sophomore. In Year 1, he was used in every way imaginable.
Concepcion totaled more than 1,100 yards rushing and receiving while scoring 10 touchdowns. He even threw for a score.
That was not the case in Year 2.
Last season, the pass catcher had his production cut by nearly 60%. His total yardage shrank from 1,159 to 496. His scoring numbers also declined.
Concepcion hit the portal in the offseason. He signed with the Aggies as a $2.5 million transfer. He is once again looking like a superstar.
Through his first eight games at Texas A&M, he’s already bested his 2024 season outputs with 545 receiving yards and seven scores. He’s also made a massive impact on special teams with two more touchdowns.
The move has been beneficial to KC Concepcion. NC State was not maximizing his football talents.
Dave Doeren seemed salty, but there might be an ulterior motive for the shade.
Does Doeren want to be at NC State?
Wolfpack insider Joe Giglio said the coach was ready to retire after the 2024 campaign. He was talked into a return by administration.
“I really believe this will be his last year,” Giglio said of Doeren’s future at NC State. “I saw one of your online questions to Alex Post was about ‘Does he really think Dave had to be talked out of retirement last year?’ I really do, and I really do know… Yes…”
Giglio believes wholeheartedly that Doeren wanted to leave the school after last year. He was convinced to return for another season, which has ultimately been a failure.
With that being said, we mentioned that Doeren’s mindset has shifted 180 degrees in 2025. Life has been injected despite the poor results.
Or has it?
Dave Doeren has leverage.
There are major contract implications with a retirement decision. One is tied to Doeren’s buyout, which was at $15.7 million entering the season, but should drop the longer he is employed.
“The issue is you owe him $12 million dollars,” Giglio continued. “If you’re Trace Armstrong, who is Dave Doeren’s agent, you’re not leaving NC State without those $12 million.
“Even if Dave’s like ‘Nah, man, I want to retire,’ he’d be like ‘Listen, Dave, buddy, I love you, I mean it, but we’ve got one more check to cash.’”
The timing of the coach’s comments is important. He is firmly on the hot seat. NC State fans want him fired.
A firing would prove much more lucrative than a retirement.
“Here’s what I would propose if I was NC State,” Giglio continued. “I would sit down with (agent) Trace Armstrong, and I would work out a settlement.
“I would work out a buyout. ‘Hey, we owe you $12 million, but we know you want to be done anyway, so what if we paid you $6 million?’ He comes back with ‘Make it $8 million.’ You’re on your way.
“Save yourself whatever you can save. If you can save $3 million, awesome. If you can’t, you can’t. That’s just life. But they need to come to an arrangement that says, ‘This is what we’re doing.’
“Dave wanted it to be over. It is over.”
Dave Doeren did not want to be the NC State football coach in 2025. The school chose not to honor his retirement request. Doeren can now leverage it into a payday. The Wolfpack might be on the hook for a $12 million firing.
The 13-year marriage is over. It’s now just a matter of how it will end.