In a dramatic turn of events, NC State has parted ways with head basketball coach Kevin Keatts, bringing an end to his eight-year tenure with the Wolfpack. The decision comes less than 24 hours after NC State concluded its regular season with a disheartening loss to Miami, a team struggling at the bottom of the ACC standings. Joe Giglio of OG Media first reported the news.

The 2024-25 season proved to be a significant setback for the Wolfpack, culminating in a 12-19 overall record and a 16th-place finish in the ACC with a 5-15 conference record. The defeat against Miami, where NC State squandered a double-digit lead, seemingly sealed Keatts' fate, although the team's struggles had been evident throughout the season.

Shortly after the announcement, Keatts released a statement via social media, expressing his belief that he is leaving the program in a better position than when he arrived. He also thanked the players, coaches, staff, and supporters who accompanied him on his journey, indicating his intention to enter the "portal," presumably alluding to exploring other coaching opportunities.

The situation marks a stark contrast to the euphoria of the previous season when Keatts and NC State captured the hearts of college basketball fans with an improbable ACC Tournament championship run. Despite finishing 10th in the conference during the regular season, the Wolfpack defied expectations, securing an NCAA Tournament berth and embarking on a Cinderella journey to the Final Four as an No. 11 seed, where they eventually lost to Purdue.

That unexpected success followed a period of uncertainty for Keatts, who had been under pressure. The Final Four appearance appeared to secure his position. However, the subsequent disappointing regular season performance prompted the program to make a change.

Keatts concludes his tenure at NC State with an overall record of 151-113 and three NCAA Tournament appearances.

Athletic director Boo Corrigan acknowledged Keatts' contributions to NC State, thanking him for representing the university with class and recognizing the accomplishments of the 2023-24 squad.

The firing comes as the NCAA basketball season heads towards conference tournaments and the anticipation builds for the Final Four. Last year's Final Four included Purdue, UConn, Alabama, and NC State. While Alabama remains a contender, other programs that previously competed for a championship have experienced difficulties. As previously mentioned, NC State finished with a 12-16 record and ranked No. 16 in the ACC.