Chuck Amato, a man synonymous with putting NC State football on the map, has died, the school announced Monday. He was 80 years old.
Amato was diagnosed with throat cancer in 2009 and has reportedly struggled with the disease’s progression in recent years. He went 49-37 in seven seasons as NC State’s coach from 2000 to 2006, leading the Wolfpack to four bowl victories and a record 11-win campaign in 2002 as the 12th-best team in the country.
This memorable season was capped by a Gator Bowl victory 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 passing records at the program.
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 showed acumen after signing running back TA McClendon during NC State’s 2002 cycle. McClendon was the All-ACC freshman that season, setting school records with 18 total touchdowns.
McClendon, a native of Albermarle, North Carolina, received dozens of major scholarship offers after rushing for 9,004 yards and scoring a national record 178 total touchdowns during his four-year prep career before staying home with the Wolfpack.
After earning his stripes as a linebacker captain and undefeated wrestler for the Wolfpack in the 1960s, Amato returned to his alma mater as a GA in 1971 before becoming NC State’s defensive coordinator five years later. After stints at Arizona State and Florida State under legendary Seminoles coach Bobby Bowden, Amato became the head coach at NC State in 2000.
Known for his raspy voice, nuance and sideline personality on game days, Amato made the Wolfpack one of the toughest teams in the ACC to beat on the road and helped create a loud and boisterous environment at Carter-Finley Stadium.
“Amato” is the Italian word for beloved, and it certainly was to the Wolfpack faithful.
Amato’s coaching story
During his first stint at NC State as a defensive assistant and then coordinator, Amato worked under Lou Holtz and others for nine seasons with the team. He helped develop four All-SEC defensive backs, including future Pittsburgh Steelers coach Bill Cowher, who resides in Raleigh.
Amato left NC State in 1980 to join Arizona’s staff as linebackers coach and spent two seasons with the Wildcats before teaming with Bowden at Florida State. Amato spent more than a decade with the Seminoles, assisting the 1993 and 1999 national championship teams.
He left Tallahassee after Florida State’s victory over Virginia Tech in the 2000 Sugar Bowl to take the vacant position at NC State as head coach for the first time, the 32nd in program history.
Amato joined Bowden at Florida State in 2007, but was not retained by new coach Jimbo Fisher after Bowden retired following the 2009 campaign. Amato retired from coaching in 2018 after completing his sixth season as an assistant coach at Akron.
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