N.C. State basketball: Mark Gottfried on hot seat for struggling Wolfpack

North Carolina State is reportedly in the process of searching for a replacement for head men's basketball coach Mark Gottfried with the Wolfpack struggling again this season.

A source told Sporting News the university has begun to reach out to gauge the interest of potential candidates.

Gottfried's tenure is likely coming to an end following the season, unless the Wolfpack go on a run over the next few weeks and in the ACC tournament, sources told ESPN.

Gottfried, 53, was hired in 2011 and went to the NCAA Tournament in each of his first four seasons, including a pair of Sweet 16 appearances. The Wolfpack then went 16-17 last season and are 14-12 and 3-10 in the Atlantic Coast Conference this season.

Gottfried is 122-81 in his six years at N.C. State. The Wolfpack have lost five consecutive games entering their rivalry game Wednesday night against the No. 10 North Carolina Tar Heels.

Saturday's 88-58 loss at Wake Forest was the Wolfpack's third ACC loss by at least 25 points this season.

"It's unacceptable the way we got beat," Gottfried said Monday. "We've got to be a lot better."

N.C. State athletic director Debbie Yow, who hired Gottfried, previously said she will evaluate Gottfried's status after the season. His contract, with a buyout of $2.28 million, runs through the 2019-2020 season.

"My thing right now is I've got North Carolina I'm preparing for (Wednesday)," Gottfried told Sporting News on Tuesday night. "I believe in our team. I know we've had some struggles but we've showed at times we can be very good. My hope is we can get on a run. My goal is to get us into our fifth NCAA Tournament in the last six years. I don't know anything else."

N.C. State denied reports that Gottfried will be fired at the conclusion of the season and denied that the school has reached out to other candidates.

"Mark Gottfried remains our head coach and we are all focused on our next opponent," N.C. State associate athletic director Fred Demarest said in a statement released by the school. "To suggest we have reached out to any other coach is both incorrect and blatantly irresponsible."