Wolfpack assistant football coach McDonald leaves for Illinois

N.C. State’s football staff is losing a coach.

George McDonald, who spent six seasons with the Pack, has joined the Illinois staff as assistant head coach and wide receivers coach on Bret Bielema’s new Illini staff, it was announced Wednesday.

McDonald, 44, is a former Illini wide receiver and four-year letter winner who also starred for Illinois in track.

McDonald was named co-offensive coordinator with the Wolfpack for the 2019 season, but head coach Dave Doeren brought in Tim Beck as offensive coordinator in 2020.

McDonald, who came to NCSU from Syracuse, also served the Pack’s assistant head coach, passing game coordinator and recruiting coordinator for Doeren during his six seasons.

This story was originally published January 20, 2021 at 9:22 PM with the headline "Wolfpack assistant football coach McDonald leaves for Illinois."

Chip Alexander

The News & Observer

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In more than 40 years at The N&O, Chip Alexander has covered the N.C. State, UNC, Duke and East Carolina beats, and now is in his 15th season on the Carolina Hurricanes beat. Alexander, who has won numerous writing awards at the state and national level, covered the Hurricanes’ move to North Carolina in 1997 and was a part of The N&O’s coverage of the Canes’ 2006 Stanley Cup run.