Former NC State football head coach Chuck Amato passes away at 80
247Sports • • sports
Key Points:
- Chuck Amato, former NC State football coach and player, passed away at age 80 after battling throat cancer and spending several months in hospice care.
- Amato coached NC State for seven years, guiding the team to five bowl games with a 49-37 overall record, including a standout 11-3 season in 2002 capped by a Gator Bowl win over Notre Dame.
- He helped develop numerous NFL players, including first-round picks Philip Rivers, Mario Williams, Manny Lawson, and John McCargo, with Williams being the only Wolfpack player to go No. 1 overall in the modern NFL era.
- Amato was a significant figure in college football, working under legendary coaches like Lou Holtz and Bobby Bowden, and mentoring assistants who became head coaches, while also being known for his vibrant personality and impact on the NC State community.
- After retiring from coaching in 2017, Amato remained active in Raleigh, hosting a local show and maintaining close ties with the Wolfpack family, who mourn his loss deeply.
