Wake Forest coach Dave Clawson steps down

Field Level Media|published: Mon 16th December, 23:12 2024

Nov 23, 2024; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Wake Forest Demon Deacons head coach Dave Clawson looks on against the Miami Hurricanes during the second quarter at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

Dave Clawson stepped down as head coach of Wake Forest on Monday after an 11-season stint.

Clawson, 57, will remain at the school in an advisory role.

"Coaching at Wake Forest has been the honor of my career," he said in a statement. "This is a special place with extraordinary people, and I am deeply grateful for the relationships I've built over the last 11 years. Together, we achieved things that many thought impossible, and I step down knowing I gave everything I had for this program and University."

Wake Forest President Susan R. Wente said in a statement, "Dave Clawson has embodied Wake Forest's motto of Pro Humanitate, fostering success on the field, in the classroom, and in the community. His leadership has elevated our football program to new heights while setting an enduring example of excellence and integrity.

"We are deeply grateful for his service and leadership over the past decade and wish him and his family well in this transition."

Wake Forest athletic director John Currie added in a statement, "Dave Clawson has been the epitome of integrity, innovation, and excellence in college football. He elevated Wake Forest football to unprecedented heights, not only through success on the field but also by fostering the development of young men as leaders in life.

"Quite simply, Dave Clawson's leadership, competitive drive and strategic instincts have made football at Wake Forest important, and a flagship program for our entire community and University at a scale that might have been unimaginable to most when he arrived 11 years ago."

Currie added that "a national search is underway to find our next head coach."

Clawson came to Wake Forest in 2014 and helped the Demon Deacons reach a bowl game in seven straight seasons, winning five of them. They were ranked as highly as No. 10 in the AP poll in both 2021 and 2022, and they went on to win the Gator and Gasparilla Bowls in those seasons.

Clawson had a decorated FCS career before coming to Bowling Green, where he coached for five seasons. He is the only coach on record with a double-digit win season at four different Division I programs -- Fordham (2002), Richmond (2007), Bowling Green (2013) and Wake Forest (2021).

In 200 FBS games, Clawson went 99-101 with a 5-5 record in bowl games.

Wake Forest's season is over after a second consecutive 4-8 record meant no invitation to a bowl game.

--Field Level Media