College Sports Established
1911
Location
Raleigh, North Carolina
College Name
North Carolina State University
Collegiate History
1973 - Present / NCAA Division 1
1921 - 1973 / University Division of the NCAA
1911 - 1921 / Athletic Association of the United States
Conference History
1953 – Present / ACC
1921 - 1953 / Southern Conference
1911 - 1921 / South Atlantic Intercollegiate Athletic Association
Nickname
Wolfpack - The North Carolina State Wolfpack is a beloved sports team with an interesting nickname. The Wolfpack nickname originated in 1921 when Charles Doak, the head football coach at NC State, attended a conference where he heard other schools referred to as “Wolf Packs.” He liked this term and adopted it for his own school’s teams.
In addition to being called “the Pack” or “the Wolves,” fans also refer to their team as "Red & White" due to the colors on the uniforms and logo. The mascot of NC State is Mr. Wuf, who has been around since 1980, cheering on all aspects of campus life, from sporting events to student gatherings!
NC State's athletics program consists of 19 varsity teams competing in NCAA Division I Athletics, including basketball, baseball/softball, and soccer; each sport offers unique opportunities for students and alumni! From competing against rival universities such as Duke & UNC Chapel Hill every year during ACC play-offs (Atlantic Coast Conference) - there are plenty of reasons why people love rooting for this wolf pack!
Over time they have become one of the most successful college programs in the nation with numerous national championships under their belt - making them one top choice when it comes to collegiate sports fandom across the country today! So whether you're attending games live or watching from home, show your support by wearing red and white proudly while chanting Gooooooo Pack!!!
NCAA Championships
Baseball 0
Men's Basketball 2
1983, 1974
Women's Basketball 0
Football 0
Soccer 0
- 1974
- 1983
- 2003
- 2006
- 2016
- 2020
-
national championship in men’s basketball
In 1974: The Wolfpack win their first national championship in men’s basketball by defeating UCLA 80-77 in double overtime in the Final Four and Marquette 76-64 in the final under coach Norm Sloan, who led them to three ACC titles and two Final Four appearances in his 14-year tenure. -
NCAA Stunning Victory for Wolfpack Basketball Champs
The 1983 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament involved 52 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men’s NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 17, 1983, and ended with the championship game on April 4 at The Pit, then officially known as University Arena, on the campus of the University of New Mexico ... -
Wolfpack QB – Phillip Rivers
In 2002, Rivers led the Wolfpack to victories in their first nine games. It was the best start in the school’s history. The season took a disappointing turn however when they lost three consecutive ACC contests, but NC State defeated Florida State by a score of 17–7 in their season finale and received an invitation to play against Notre Dame ... -
The Wolfpack win their first ACC title in women’s basketball
In 2006: The Wolfpack win their first ACC title in women’s basketball by defeating Duke 70-65 in the final under coach Kay Yow, who led them to 20 NCAA Tournament appearances and one Final Four appearance in her 34-year tenure. -
Wolfpack win their first ACC title in women’s soccer
In 2016: The Wolfpack win their first ACC title in women’s soccer by defeating Florida State 1-0 in the final under coach Tim Santoro, who has led them to four NCAA Tournament appearances since 2014. -
Wolfpack women basketball win ACC Tournament
In 2020: Wolfpack women win its first ACC Tournament championship since 1991. The NC State women’s basketball team defeated Florida State 71-66 Sunday afternoon in Greensboro Coliseum to win its first ACC tournament championship since 1991. In a game with 12 lead changes and nine ties, the Wolfpack (28-4) outscored the Seminoles 13-3 in the final three-and-a-half minutes to pull ...
To qualify as the greatest player for this team, the player must have played one season for this team. If not, we will remove the player.
* verifies that player has played for this team as an added player by a fan.
History of the Wolfpack
The North Carolina State Wolfpack is among the NCAA's most successful sports teams. Founded in 1887, the Wolfpack has won numerous championships and produced some of college athletics’ most outstanding athletes. From basketball to football to track & field, NC State has long been a powerhouse in collegiate athletics.
NC State's basketball program is particularly noteworthy for its success over the years; they have appeared in 23 NCAA tournaments since 1951 and won two national titles (1974 and 1983). The team also boasts an impressive list of alumni that includes NBA Hall-of-Famers David Thompson, Tom Gugliotta, Chris Corchiani, and Rodney Monroe. In addition to their on-court successes, NC State’s student section—“the Red Sea"—has become famous across college campuses for its passionate support during games at PNC Arena or wherever else they may play!
Football is another major sport at NC state with many notable players, such as Philip Rivers, who starred with NFL's San Diego Chargers franchise after his time playing quarterback for the Wolfpack ended. The team had several great seasons under legendary coach Lou Holtz, including four bowl game appearances from 2002 - 2005, culminating with a victory against South Florida Bulls at Meineke Car Care Bowl in 2004. Additionally, current head coach Dave Doeren has led them back into prominence by guiding them through three straight winning seasons from 2015 – 2017, including consecutive bowl wins following those campaigns. All this shows plenty of reasons why fans should be proud when it comes to cheering on their beloved North Carolina state wolfpacks!
Sports Fan Products
