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This week, NC State University debuted a brand-new version of its vintage “slobbering wolf” logo — after a controversy around its use made headlines last basketball season.
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The primary change is to the wolf’s red hat. Where it once read “NCSU,” it now says “NC State.”
NC State says that’s because “few people recognize the initialism ‘NCSU’ outside of North Carolina, so we avoid using it.” The new wolf also sports bolder, cleaner lines.
The older version of the logo will still be used in some merchandise designs, NC State said, and this new version should be thought of as more of a “bonus” than a “replacement.” Versions of the slobbering wolf have been in use since the 1960s, NC State said.
The change is part of an ongoing university brand refresh that started in early 2025, according to NC State.
But a recent spat over the use of the slobbering wolf and other vintage branding is also fresh on Pack fans’ minds.
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Earlier this year, Will Wade, then the men’s basketball coach, said on a radio show that he received a “scathing email” from university leadership after his team wore throwback jerseys during the season opener.
Wade also said that he wanted to wear the slobbering wolf logo on his jacket, but the university wouldn’t allow it.
The jerseys the team wore read only “STATE,” an abridged name that “university brand guidelines prohibit,” according to Sonni Minton, the school’s director of trademarks licensing and brand protection.
Later that season, during the NCAA Tournament, Wade wore a hoodie with the slobbering wolf logo on it before the team’s First Four game against Texas. He said it was “school-approved.”
Wade coached at NC State for one year before heading to Louisiana State University, a career move that NC State contends may have violated state law and breached his employment contract.
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This story was originally published August 13, 2026 at 4:50 PM.