NC State joins coaching carousel by firing Kevin Keatts one year after Final Four run

NCAA Basketball: NCAA Tournament First Round-Texas Tech v NC State — Mar 21, 2024; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; North Carolina State Wolfpack head coach Kevin Keatts answers questions during the press conference after the game at PPG Paints Arena. Mandatory Credit: Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports

Indiana is currently the top job on the market as the college basketball coaching carousel begins to spin. But what is the second best job? That title might go to NC State. The ACC program made the surprising decision to move on from Kevin Keatts one year after winning the ACC Tournament title and making a run to the Final Four.

This comes just one year after Keatts received a two-year contract extension from the Wolfpack.

Kevin Keatts will not return

🔗 https://t.co/vqs73db4PH
— NC State Men's Basketball (@PackMensBball) March 9, 2025

NC State was 17-14 (9-11) when it entered the 2024 ACC Tournament. The Wolfpack slipped to No. 78 at KenPom. There were some questions about Keatts’ future entering that postseason. His team responded with one of the best March runs in recent history with five wins in Washington D.C. to claim the ACC Tournament title. The Pack then went from a No. 11 seed to the Final Four after beating No. 6 seed Texas Tech, No. 14 seed Oakland, No. 2 seed Marquette, and No. 4 seed Duke. The season would end in Arizona at the Final Four, but the legendary run became an all-time college basketball story. The ACC Network is releasing a documentary of the run on March 10. Just one day after Kevin Keatts was fired.

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What a sport.

The former Louisville assistant led UNC Wilmington to two NCAA Tournament appearances in three seasons before taking the NC State job. In eight seasons in Raleigh, Keatts’ program never recorded a top-40 finish at KenPom and only made three NCAA Tournament appearances. The Final Four team was the only squad to reach 25 wins. The 2024-25 team was Keatts’ worst unit. NC State finished the season with only 12 wins and did not qualify for the ACC Tournament.

What are some names that could be involved in this search? Do not be surprised if former LSU head coach Will Wade becomes a candidate. The ACC should look much different after a woeful season in 2025-26. Miami (Jai Lucas), Florida State (Luke Loucks), Virginia (TBD), and NC State all needed new program leaders.