Wake Forest University

WINSTON-SALEM, NC – After 11 transformative seasons leading the Wake Forest Demon Deacons football program, Dave Clawson has announced his resignation as head coach effective immediately. Clawson leaves an indelible legacy as one of the most successful and impactful leaders in Wake Forest Athletics history.

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

In addition to his 11-year run 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 a special place with extraordinary people and I am deeply grateful for the relationships I have built over the past 11 years. Together we achieved things many thought impossible and I step down knowing that I gave everything I had to this program and university I want to thank our players, coaches and staff for their unwavering support and dedication since my arrival to help build a sustainable winning program grateful to our students, fans, and so many special Wake Foresters who invested their time, effort, and money in helping us win.While this chapter ends, my pride in what we’ve built here will never fade completing my 25th season as a head coach and 36th straight in college football, the timing is right for me and my family to step into this new role at Wake Forest University.”

“Dave Clawson has embodied Wake Forest’s motto of Pro Humanitate, promoting success on the field, in the classroom and in the community,” said Wake Forest President Susan R. Wente. “His leadership has elevated our football program to new heights while he is 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 well in this transition.”

“Dave Clawson has epitomized integrity, innovation and excellence in college football,” said Wake Forest Vice President and Director of Athletics John Currie. “He elevated Wake Forest football to unprecedented heights not only through success on the field, but also by promote the development of young men as leaders in life. Quite simply, Dave Clawson‘s leadership, competitive spirit and strategic instincts have made football at Wake Forest important and a flagship program for our entire community and university to a degree perhaps unimaginable to most when he arrived 11 years ago.”

Since taking the helm in 2014, Coach Clawson’s tenure marked the most successful stretch in program history, with five of the school’s best wins coming under his leadership. The Demon Deacons made seven consecutive bowl appearances from 2016-22, including five postseason victories — more than any other coach in Wake Forest history. During this time, the Deacs also claimed victories over SEC opponents and posted a program-best 11-3 record in 2021, earning Clawson the ACC Coach of the Year award.

Wake Forest consistently ranked among the nation’s elite during Clawson’s tenure, earning back-to-back top-10 national rankings in 2021 and 2022, a feat accomplished by only 17 Power 5 programs. In addition, Allegacy Stadium became a fortress, with the Deacons posting a 23-7 home record from 2019-23, fueled by record attendance and sellouts.

With that, he and his staff recruited tremendous players, as Wake Forest has accumulated 62 All-ACC honors since 2019, which is tied for fifth-most in the ACC. And the Deacs are one of just six schools to have more than 60 honorees in that span.

Many of these 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 countless Wake Forest and ACC records during their career, including quarterback Sam Hartman setting the conference mark for career touchdown passes. Meanwhile, 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 court, Wake Forest also flourished academically, posting the program’s highest GPA ever in the fall of 2023 and leading the ACC with 29 Academic All-ACC honorees that year. The Deacs football program also ranked above 990 in the most recent multi-year academic progress rate and a 97 in the most recent graduation success rate report.

Clawson’s impact extended beyond wins. He cultivated a winning culture built on integrity and innovation and left a lasting legacy that elevated Wake Forest to among college football’s top programs during his tenure.

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

“Our student-athletes are always our top priority during such a transition,” Currie said. “Along with President Susan R. Wente and our entire athletics and university leadership team, I am committed to ensuring 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 .”