Before the season, NC State men’s soccer head coach Marc Hubbard saw a path for the Wolfpack to make it to the NCAA Tournament despite being a first-year head coach of a team that missed the tournament for the last four years.

“We’re playing in the top conference in the country,” Hubbard said. “There’s no shortage of RPI or high-level games so we’re already in a position with our schedule if we do what we’re supposed to that we’ll get into the national tournament.”

At the time, it was a strong proclamation for a coach tasked with turning around a program that finished second-to-last in the ACC the previous year. But in his first season, Hubbard got the Wolfpack back in the NCAA Tournament for the first time in five years. On Monday, it was announced NC State was awarded an at-large bid and will host UNC-Charlotte in the first round this Thursday.

It seemed like it would take some time for Hubbard to revitalize the Pack given its tournament drought, but it was a challenge Hubbard was familiar with. In his first season at Southern New Hampshire University, the team was 5-8-5 the year before he arrived and in his first season, Hubbard led Southern New Hampshire to a 15-3-4 record. In his first season at the University of New Hampshire, he improved the Wildcats’ record from 6-10-1 to 10-5-3.

In his first season at NC State, Hubbard led the Wolfpack to its best seven-game start since 1992, its first ranking since 2019 and its first win over a top-10 opponent since 2018, resulting in the Wolfpack’s first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2019.

“They said NC State will always struggle,” said sophomore forward Hakim Karamoko. “But I think the struggles are not forever. It ends eventually and we find success. Last year wasn’t a great season for us and then [Hubbard] came in. There were a lot of talks, but we believed in him. And then he brought a new culture in, very organized and structured.”

Hubbard transformed the Wolfpack by overhauling the roster. He brought in 14 newcomers, 11 of which being transfers. Three of those transfers followed Hubbard from New Hampshire because they knew what he was capable of.

“It’s the reason I transferred here,” said junior midfielder Taig Healy. “I knew he was going to get the team sorted quickly. He just gets us so organized.”

Even with all the new faces, Hubbard got the team to buy into his playstyle. During his time at New Hampshire, Hubbard’s teams were known for lockdown defense. In the nine seasons he was the coach of the Wildcats, they ranked top 10 in the country in goals against average six times with two first-place finishes.

After allowing the third-most total goals and second-most goals per game in the ACC last season, the Wolfpack ranked fourth in goals allowed and fifth in goals against average this year. Hubbard’s system also entails players pushing further up the field to pin opponents in their zone and capitalize on mistakes.

Last season, NC State finished 10th in the ACC in goals for, and in the first year under Hubbard, the Wolfpack ranked sixth in goals per game. The Pack scored seven goals in a game for the first time since 1996.

“[Hubbard’s] been great, everybody loves him,” said senior midfielder Will Buete. “Energy has been better, we’re getting a lot of shots now, [it’s] a fun brand to play. … This year we’re pressing a lot higher, winning the ball a lot higher and then in turn, out in the field creating chances a lot easier.”

Already with a laundry list of accomplishments in his first season, Hubbard will attempt to add another one against the 49ers. NC State hasn’t won an NCAA Tournament game since 2018. UNC-Charlotte poses a tough challenge as it has won 11 games this season and just captured the American Men’s Soccer Championship.

But there is an overwhelming belief amongst those inside the Wolfpack organization that not only will NC State earn its first tournament win since 2018 but make a deep run in the postseason because of Hubbard.

“His impact is noticeable,” said senior midfielder Henrique Santos. “Every game, people who come to watch, people that have come to games these previous years; they know how much things have changed positively. You can see it in the way we play, the energy, the atmosphere. I think there’s a general feeling that we can achieve great things this year.”

The match between NC State and Charlotte will take place on Thursday at Dail Soccer Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.