David Tracey
Defensive coordinator/linebackers coach Dave Huxtable yells at spring practice on Saturday, March 2, 2019 at NC State Football’s outdoor practice fields.
NC State head football coach Dave Doeren has relieved defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Dave Huxtable of his duties according to a release from NC State Athletics. Huxtable has served in that capacity since 2013. The Wolfpack ranked 83rd in points allowed and 74th in yards allowed in the 2019 season, where NC State finished 4-8 and 1-7 in the ACC.
“We appreciate all of Dave’s contributions to our program and wish him the best,” Doeren said in a statement. “However moving forward defensively, I’ve decided we would like to go in a different direction.”
Athletics Director Boo Corrigan also issued a statement in support of Doeren.
“The conclusion of a season is a time to reflect, look in the mirror and evaluate the overall direction of a program,” Corrigan told NC State Athletics. “Dave Doeren is our football coach. He has earned it by winning nine games in back-to-back seasons and I look forward to doing all I can to help Coach Doeren moving forward. The 2019 season didn’t unfold the way any of us wanted but we will continue to invest in this program, and to provide the resources to help NC State football compete at the highest level.”
It was a tough year for NC State on both sides of the ball, but especially on defense. The Pack didn’t get its first turnover in ACC play until the Georgia Tech game, ranking almost last in the country in turnover margin at minus-13.
On top of that, it ranked 100th in red zone defense, 85th in third down defense and 78th in first down defense, among other atrocious statistics and rankings.