Less than 24 hours after N.C. State lost to East Carolina 21-16 to end its season 3-9, Athletics Director Lee Fowler officially fired coach Chuck Amato.
“[Amato’s] dreams have become our dreams and that has translated itself into our great new facilities, record ticket sales and five bowl appearances in seven years,” Fowler said in a statement released at 9:15 p.m.
“However, because the results on the field in two of the last three seasons have fallen far below where we feel our program should be at this point, we have decided to take the program in a new direction.”
In seven seasons, Amato amassed a 49-37 overall record and 25-31 in the ACC. This season’s 3-9 mark was the worst of his tenure. He did, however, led the Wolfpack to a school-best 11-win season in 2002.
The 60-year-old coach, who didn’t speak with the media last night and wasn’t seen exiting the Wendell H. Murphy Center before 10:45 p.m., released a statement at the same time as Fowler.
“This is obviously a disappointing decision for me, but I would never do anything to hurt North Carolina State University,” he said in the statement. “This season was a big disappointment but I’m very proud of what I accomplished during my tenure.”
Assistant Athletics Director for Media Relations Annabelle Myers said Amato may decide to speak to the media in the coming weeks, but no press conference is set up at this time.
While Amato and Fowler, along with Chancellor James Oblinger insisted all week that no decision would be made until after the ECU game. However, multiple sources on and close to the team suggested the embattled coach wasn’t his usual fiery self this week in practice.
Fowler said a search for a new coach would begin immediately.
“Our search will be national in scope and we will begin the process through a search firm very quickly,” he said. “I ask that all Wolfpackers join together in supporting our student-athletes and staying behind our program.”
Rumors about early candidates for the job have been current Pittsburgh Steelers’ coach Bill Cowher, Tennessee Titans’ offensive coordinator Norm Chow and Navy coach Paul Johnson.
Coaches met with Amato at 8 p.m. in the Murphy Center, while players arrived an hour later to hear the news.
The vast majority of players refused to talk to the media, and their expressions were polarized as the exited the building. Some players seemed to be upset, and some were smiling and laughing with friends.
Redshirt freshman defensive lineman Willie Young said, while he will miss Amato, he was ready to move on from this situation.
“This isn’t something that I wanted to, or didn’t want to happen,” Young said. “What happens, happens. Life comes at you fast — you just got to take it for what it is and try to keep your head up and stay positive about the whole situation.”
Deputy Sports Editor Nick Jeffreys and Senior Staff Writer Dennis Burton contributed to this story.
