CFB Roundup: NC State hires Doeren away from NIU, Rocco to transfer from WVU
North Carolina State hired Dave Doeren as its new football coach, ESPN.com reported Saturday.
The hire comes a day after Doeren led Northern Illinois to a second straight MAC championship.
Doeren replaces Tom O'Brien, who was fired just last week. O'Brien coached the Wolfpack for six seasons.
Doeren had a 23-4 record, including 17-1 in the MAC, in two years at Northern Illinois.
The Huskies, ranked No. 21 in the BCS, defeated Kent State 44-37 in double overtime Friday to win the conference title.
"Coach Dave Doeren is a highly motivated overachiever who shares our goals to pursue aggressively a high level of achievement in the classroom and on the field of competition," NC State athletics director Debbie Yow said in a statement.
Northern Illinois averaged 40.8 points per game and is ninth nationally in rushing offense, 10th in scoring offense, 15th in third-down conversions and 15th in total offense.
"I am honored and excited to join the Wolfpack," Doeren said in a statement. "NC State has world-class facilities and fans that are second to none."
Doeren also spent five seasons at Wisconsin as co-defensive coordinator, linebackers coach and recruiting coordinator.
---Quarterback Michael Rocco has informed Virginia coaches that he plans to transfer.
Rocco, who started eight games in 2012 and 21 in his career, met with coach Mike London on Friday and has been granted a release from his scholarship, The Roanoke Times reported.
Should the junior transfer to an FBS school, he would be required to sit out a year and then have one season of eligibility remaining.
The Times described the parting as amicable.
Rocco split time with Alabama transfer Phillip Sims in 2012. Sims started four games, but the two quarterbacks rotated throughout the season.
Rocco will leave the Cavaliers ranking among the school's top 10 in several statistical categories.
---East Carolina accepted an invitation to the 12th annual New Orleans Bowl on Saturday.
The Pirates will play Louisiana-Lafayette of the Sun Belt. The Ragin Cajuns also played in the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl in 2011.
ECU did not play in a bowl game last season and has never played in the New Orleans Bowl. The game will be the sixth postseason trips in seven years for the Pirates.
