Dave Clawson Steps Down as Wake Forest Head Coach After 11 Seasons
In a move that has sent shockwaves through the college football world, Wake Forest head football coach Dave Clawson is stepping down after an impressive 11-season tenure. According to sources who spoke with ESPN, Clawson will remain with the university in an advisory role, working closely with athletic director John Currie, the school president, and the board of trustees on athletics-related issues. Additionally, Clawson is expected to play a significant role in fundraising efforts for the school.
Clawson’s decision to step away from coaching comes after a storied run that saw him lead Wake Forest to seven consecutive bowl games, including top-10 appearances in the Associated Press poll in both 2021 and 2022—marking the highest rankings in the program’s history. Sources revealed that the decision was entirely Clawson’s, as he felt it was simply time to step back. Comparisons have been drawn to similar moves by Virginia basketball coach Tony Bennett and former Washington football coach Chris Petersen, who both stepped away due to the evolving nature of their respective sports.
A Legacy of Success
Clawson, 57, has been a head coach for 25 of the last 26 seasons, making his mark as the only coach in NCAA history to lead four different Division I programs—Fordham, Richmond, Bowling Green, and Wake Forest—to double-digit wins in a single season. Despite receiving interest from multiple head coaching jobs over the years, Clawson remained loyal to Wake Forest, where he is widely regarded as the school’s best modern coach.
During his time at Wake Forest, Clawson compiled a record of 67-69, giving him the best winning percentage of any Wake Forest football coach since the school joined the ACC in 1953. He led the Demon Deacons to seven of the 17 bowl games in school history and five of the program’s 11 total bowl wins. Highlights of his tenure include taking Wake Forest to the ACC title game in 2021, securing three consecutive wins over Florida State from 2019 to 2021, and defeating Texas A&M in the Belk Bowl.
The Challenges of a Changing Era
While Clawson’s accomplishments are undeniable, the current landscape of college football has presented significant challenges for programs like Wake Forest. Known for his strategy of redshirting players to build continuity and develop talent, Clawson has faced increasing difficulties in retaining top players due to the rise of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals and the transfer portal. These changes have disrupted the competitive advantages that programs like Wake Forest once relied on.
In recent seasons, Wake Forest has struggled to keep pace financially with other programs. After a loss to Louisiana earlier this year, Clawson candidly expressed his frustration, saying, “To fix problems, you need a lot of money. And we recruited what we could afford.” Sources within the program believe that in some games this season, individual players on opposing teams had NIL deals larger than Wake Forest’s entire roster. While NIL figures are not publicly disclosed, Wake Forest’s NIL resources are believed to rank near the bottom of the 17-team ACC.
The impact of these challenges has been evident on the field. Over the past two-and-a-half years, Wake Forest has lost more than a dozen starters to the transfer portal or early entry into the NFL draft. Notably, star quarterback Sam Hartman transferred to Notre Dame for his final season of eligibility. Clawson didn’t hold back his feelings about Notre Dame’s video tribute to Hartman on Senior Night, remarking, “Here’s a guy that we recruited and we developed, and they’re putting a video on him saying, ‘We will always love you.’ You only dated him a couple of months. It can’t be love. We’re the ones that love him. We had five years with him. You rented him for a season.”
Looking Ahead
Clawson’s decision to step down has been in the works for weeks, with sources indicating that he had been in communication with school officials before formally notifying them on Monday. He plans to take a year off from coaching to recharge and refresh, leaving behind a legacy that will be hard to match. As Wake Forest looks to the future, the program will undoubtedly face challenges in navigating the evolving landscape of college football without the steady hand of its most successful modern coach.
For fans and players alike, Clawson’s departure marks the end of an era. His ability to build competitive teams despite limited resources has been nothing short of remarkable. As he transitions into his new advisory role, one thing is certain: Dave Clawson’s impact on Wake Forest football will be felt for years to come.
- Seven consecutive bowl games: A testament to Clawson’s consistency and leadership.
- Top-10 AP poll rankings: Achieved in 2021 and 2022, the highest in school history.
- Challenges with NIL and the transfer portal: A key factor in Clawson’s decision to step down.
As the college football world reacts to this news, one thing is clear: Dave Clawson’s legacy at Wake Forest is secure, and his contributions to the program will not be forgotten.
Originally Written by: Pete Thamel
