Amato Done As N.C. State Coach

Chuck Amato was fired yesterday as head coach of the North Carolina State Football Program.

"No Wolfpack fan can question the excitement and enthusiasm that Chuck Amato brought to the N.C. State football program when he came here in 2000,"Athletic Director Lee Fowler said. "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."

Amato had a 47-39 record with N.C. State in during his tenure, but was 25-31 in A.C.C. play and never finished above fourth place.

This should pose an interesting question, who will replace Amato? It's looking more and more like Pittsburgh Steelers' head coach Bill Cowher. He purchased a home in North Carolina, his wife is a former women's basketball player and alumni of N.C. State, he has no contract after this season with the Steelers, and he's said he wants to see his youngest daughter play once she is out of high school. All the cards seem to be in a row for him to take over, I'm sure N.C. State would love to have him and with the money that college coaches are making these days, many NFL coaches have made the transition to the college rankings.

This season the Wolfpack finished 3-9, losing their last seven games of the year and a 21-16 loss at Carter-Finley Stadium to East Carolina.

Also fired was Alabama coach Mike Shula, one season after the Crimson Tide finished 10-2 last season, but finished a disappointing 6-6 this season.



Shula, a former Alabama quarterback, was winless in four tries against Auburn, his team's biggest rival. The Tigers beat the Crimson Tide 22-15 on Nov. 18, leaving Shula to answer questions about his job security.

Shula finished 26-23 during his brief stint at Alabama.



Wolfpack coach fired one day after seventh straight loss - CBS Sportsline
Shula dismissed as head coach of Crimson Tide - CBS Sportsline