NC State head coach Mark Gottfried to be removed at the end of the season

Change is underway in Raleigh, NC, as Director of Athletics Debbie Yow announced Thursday afternoon that head coach Mark Gottfried will not return for a seventh season at NC State.

Gottfried, who has a 122-82 overall record at NC State and a 47-55 ACC record, will stay through the remainder of the season. The Wolfpack are currently 14-13 overall with a 3-11 conference record.

"While it has long been my practice to evaluate the body of work at season's end,” Yow said in a released statement, “in reviewing the overall direction of our program, we believe a change in leadership is necessary moving forward. Our focus now remains on supporting our student-athletes and staff over the final weeks of our season."

NC State has lost six straight, including most recently to rivals North Carolina, 97-73.

"It has been a privilege to serve as head coach of NC State, and I'm proud of what we have accomplished during my time here," Gottfried said in the same statement. "NC State is a special place and I appreciate the opportunity to finish the remainder of the season."

NC State has four more games left on the schedule, which includes Virginia on Saturday, February 25 in Raleigh. That game will be televised on ESPN.

Strange to make the announcement this early, but it gives State a head start before the coaching carousel starts spinning too quickly for them to grab a new start. They’ll host Notre Dame on Saturday, where we’ll get our first look at whether there’s any effect on the players’ game.