Wake Forest University

WINSTON-SALEM, NC After eleven transformative seasons leading the Wake Forest Demon Deacons football program, Dave Clawson has announced his resignation as head coach with immediate effect. Clawson leaves an indelible legacy as one of the most successful and impactful leaders in the history of Wake Forest Athletics.

Since his arrival in December 2013, Clawson has revitalized the program and overseen the most successful stretch in Wake Forest football history. Under his leadership, the Demon Deacons reached new heights, including seven consecutive bowl appearances (2016-2022), an Atlantic Division title in 2021 and the first-ever top-10 national ranking in consecutive seasons (2021 and 2021). 2022). His teams consistently broke records on the field while maintaining academic excellence and earning national recognition for their success in the classroom.

After his eleven-year career at Wake Forest, Dave Clawson remains the only coach to win at least 10 games in a season at four Division I schools (Fordham, Richmond, Bowling Green, Wake Forest).

“Coaching at Wake Forest has been the honor of my career,” Dave Clawson said. “This is an extraordinary place with extraordinary people, and I am deeply grateful for the relationships I have built over the past eleven years. Together we have achieved things that many thought impossible, and I step back knowing that I gave it my all what I had for this program and the university. I want to thank our players, coaches and staff for their continued support and dedication since my arrival to help build a sustainable winning program who have invested their time, effort and money to make us. to help As this chapter comes to a close, my pride will be at what what we have built here will never fade. After completing my 25th season as a head coach and 36th in a row in college football, the timing is right for me and my family to step away into this new role within Wake Forest University.”

“Dave Clawson has embodied Wake Forest's motto, Pro Humanitate, and promoted success on the field, in the classroom and in the community,” said Wake Forest President Susan R. Wente. “His leadership has taken our football program to new heights while setting a lasting example of excellence and integrity. We are deeply grateful for his service and leadership over the past decade and wish him and his family continued success in this transition.”

“Dave Clawson has been the embodiment of integrity, innovation and excellence in college football,” said John Currie, Wake Forest vice president and athletics director. “He has taken Wake Forest football to unprecedented heights, not only through success on the field, but also by promoting the development of young men as leaders in life. Very simple, Dave Clawson's leadership, competitiveness and strategic instincts have made football important at Wake Forest, and a flagship program for our entire community and university on a scale that may have been unimaginable to most when he arrived 11 years ago.”

Since taking over in 2014, Coach Clawson's tenure has marked the most successful stretch in program history, with five of the school's highest wins coming under his leadership. The Demon Deacons made seven straight bowl appearances between 2016 and 2022, including five postseason victories, more than any other coach in Wake Forest history. During this time, the Deacs also claimed big wins over SEC opponents and achieved a program-best 11-3 record in 2021, earning Clawson the ACC Coach of the Year award.

Wake Forest has consistently been among the nation's elite during Clawson's time, earning back-to-back top-10 national rankings in 2021 and 2022, a feat achieved by only 17 Power 5 programs. Additionally, Allegacy Stadium became a fortress, with the Deacons posting a 23-7 home record from 2019-2023, fueled by record attendance and sellouts.

In doing so, he and his staff have recruited great players, as Wake Forest has collected 62 All-ACC honors since 2019, which ranks fifth in the ACC. And the Deacs are one of only six schools to achieve more than 60 honors in that period.

Many of those Demon Deacons went on to compete in the National Football League as the Deacs set a school record with 13 alumni on NFL rosters during the 2023 and 2024 seasons. These great players set numerous Wake Forest and ACC records during their careers, including quarterback Sam Hartman who set the conference mark for career touchdown passes. Along the way, he coached three Jim Tatum Award recipients (Ryan Janvion, 2016; Zach Tom, 2021; Taylor Morin2024) and two Brian Piccolo Award winners (Greg Dortch, 2018; Hartman, 2021).

Off the field, Wake Forest also thrived academically, posting the program's highest-ever GPA in the fall of 2023 and leading the ACC with 29 Academic All-ACC honors that year. Additionally, the Deacs football program ranked above a 990 in the latest Multi-Year Academic Progress Rate and a 97 in the most recent Graduation Success Rate report.

Clawson's influence extended beyond victories. He cultivated a winning culture based on integrity and innovation, leaving a lasting legacy that made Wake Forest one of college football's top programs during his tenure.

Clawson will continue at Wake Forest University as a special advisor to Vice President and Director of Athletics Currie.

“Our student-athletes are always our top priority during any transition like this,” Currie said. “Together with President Susan R. Wente and our entire Athletics & University leadership team, I want to ensure that our current football players receive support, guidance and care during this time. With that, a national search is underway to find our next head coach. .”