Chuck Amato dies at 80: Legendary NC State coach led Wolfpack to 11-win campaign in 2002 season

A beloved figure in Raleigh, he led the Wolfpack to a program-record 11 wins in 2002, developed Philip Rivers and helped win two national championships under Bobby Bowden at Florida State Chuck Amato, a man synonymous with putting NC State football on the map, has died, the school announced on Monday. He was 80. Amato was diagnosed with throat cancer in 2009 and reportedly battled progression of the disease in recent years. He went 49-37 over seven seasons as NC State's coach from 2000-06, leading the Wolfpack to four bowl wins and a school-record 11-win campaign in 2002 as the 12th-best team in the country. That memorable season was capped by a Gator Bowl win over Notre Dame after MVP quarterback Philip Rivers threw for 228 yards and two touchdowns.

Amato helped land Rivers, a four-year starter at NC State who set numerous program passing records. The former NFL star was NC State's first All-American signal caller since Roman Gabriel, and Amato was instrumental in his development. Amato was an elite recruiter and flexed his acumen after signing running back TA McClendon in NC State's 2002 cycle. McClendon was the ACC's Freshman of the Year that season, setting school records with 18 total touchdowns. McClendon, an Albermarle, N.C. native, had dozens of major scholarship offers after rushing for 9,004 yards