While many Wolfpack fans were less than thrilled about Dave Doeren’s flirtation with Tennessee after the 2017 season that resulted in a contract extension and salary increase for the NC State head coach, the one good thing that came out of Doeren’s new deal was that it included an increase of $750,000 per year to the assistant coach salary pool. As much of an arms race as college football has become in the last couple decades with regards to facilities, just as frenetic has been the increase in football coaching pay.
From 2009 to 2019, NC State increased its overall salary pool for assistant coaches by 131%, or an increase of 108% by the average salary per assistant coach (there were nine assistant coaches in 2009, but that moved to ten assistant coaches starting in the 2018 season).