N.C. State has hired Northern Illinois coach Dave Doeren to replace Tom O'Brien.

NC State has confirmed that Northern Illinois coach Dave Doeren has been hired, and the press conference is Sunday.

— The Wolfpacker (@TheWolfpacker) December 1, 2012

Doeren is fresh off his second straight MAC Championship, having compiled a 23-4 (15-1 MAC) record in two seasons in DeKalb. Prior to assuming the top job at NIU, Doeren made career stops at Wisconsin (DC), Kansas (LB), Montana (LB), USC (GA) and his alma mater Drake (LB). Montana won the I-AA National Championship in 2001 and compiled a 28-3 record during Doeren's two seasons there.

Doeren replaces former Boston College coach Tom O'Brien in Raleigh. TOB compiled a record of 40-35 (22-26 ACC) with the Wolfpack, including leading State to four bowl games in the last six seasons. N.C. State Athletic Director Debbie Yow didn't think that was good enough for State and fired TOB with three years remaining on his contract. And for anyone that pines for O'Brien to return to the sidelines of the Heights, you'll be disappointed. O'Brien is under a non-compete clause that forbids him to coach another ACC team until 2015.

For Boston College, this eliminates one of the prime MAC coaching candidates from the Eagles' wish list. May we see a rematch of the 2012 MAC Championship Game coaching match-up as an ACC Atlantic Division showdown in 2013?

Check out Backing The Pack for more reactions on the hire.