NC State dismisses offensive coordinator Matt Canada

RALEIGH, N.C. -- North Carolina State offensive coordinator Matt Canada won't return next season.

School athletics spokesman Fred Demarest said in an email Sunday that Canada has been "relieved of his duties." Canada's exit was first reported by Sports Illustrated and comes a year after he received a three-year contract extension.

Canada had been offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach with the Wolfpack throughout head coach Dave Doeren's three seasons. He was Doeren's offensive coordinator at Northern Illinois in 2011.

N.C. State (7-6, 3-5 Atlantic Coast Conference) averaged 33.7 points and 411.9 yards during the regular season but struggled on offense in midseason ACC losses to Louisville and Virginia Tech.

The Wolfpack had 424 yards in the 51-28 loss to Mississippi State in the Belk Bowl.

The team lost top rusher Matt Dayes to injury for the final month while the previous year's top rusher, Shadrach Thornton, was dismissed from the squad in September after his latest legal trouble. N.C. State also had a hard time finding a consistent lead receiver.

The Wolfpack's best weapon was versatile do-everything threat Jaylen Samuels, an Associated Press all-ACC first-team pick who had a combined 16 rushing and receiving touchdowns.

Next year's Wolfpack will lose two-year starter and Florida transfer Jacoby Brissett at quarterback as well as three starters on the offensive line, including AP all-ACC first-team pick Joe Thuney at left tackle.