Wake Forest head coach Dave Clawson is stepping down after 11 seasons with the Demon Deacons, as announced by the university on Monday, bringing an end to one of the most successful eras in the program’s history.
Clawson, 57, compiled a record of 67-69 during his tenure, leading the team to six winning seasons and seven straight bowl appearances from 2016 to 2022. However, in recent years, Wake Forest struggled to remain competitive in the tough ACC, posting a combined 8-16 record over the last two seasons, partly due to challenges related to resources for name, image, and likeness (NIL).
After retiring from coaching, Clawson will stay with the university in a new role as a special advisor to athletic director John Currie.
In a statement, Clawson expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to coach at Wake Forest, calling it the highlight of his career. He acknowledged the support of the people at the school and reflected on the many accomplishments achieved during his time there. He also stated that he leaves the program knowing he gave his all.
Dave Clawson holds the record for the most bowl invitations and bowl victories in Wake Forest history, with seven bowl bids and five wins. In 2021, his team matched a school record with 11 wins and advanced to the ACC championship game, earning Clawson the ACC Coach of the Year award. That season, the Demon Deacons reached as high as No. 9 in the College Football Playoff rankings.
When Dave Clawson took over the program in 2014, Wake Forest had not had a winning season since 2008 and had only three winning seasons since 2003. Clawson’s 67 victories rank third in school history, just 10 wins behind the record shared by Peahead Walker (1937-50) and his predecessor, Jim Grobe (2001-13).
This was Clawson’s fourth rebuilding effort in his coaching career, making him the only coach in Division I history to lead four different schools to 10 or more wins in a season.
Dave Clawson was hired as head coach at Fordham in 1999, where his first team went 0-11. However, by his final two seasons, he led the team to a combined 19-6 record, including a Patriot League championship.
Clawson moved to Richmond in 2004, where his first season resulted in a 3-8 record. But by 2007, he had transformed the program, guiding them to an 11-3 record and a spot in the Championship Subdivision playoff semifinals.
At Bowling Green, his first stop in the Bowl Subdivision, Clawson posted a 32-31 overall record. However, he finished strong with an 18-8 record in his final two seasons, culminating in a MAC championship in 2013.
John Currie, the athletic director, praised Dave Clawson, calling him the “epitome of integrity, innovation, and excellence” in college football. He credited Clawson with taking Wake Forest football to new heights, not only through on-field success but also by shaping players into leaders in life. Currie emphasized that Clawson’s leadership, competitive spirit, and strategic acumen have made Wake Forest football a key program for both the university and its community, something many would have thought impossible when he first arrived 11 years ago.
