WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – After 11 transformative seasons main the Wake Forest Demon Deacons soccer program, Dave Clawson has introduced his resignation as head coach, efficient instantly. Clawson leaves an indelible legacy as one of the vital profitable and impactful leaders in Wake Forest Athletics historical past.
Since his arrival in December 2013, Clawson revitalized this system, overseeing essentially the most profitable stretch in Wake Forest soccer historical past. Under his steering, the Demon Deacons reached new heights, together with seven consecutive bowl appearances (2016-2022), an Atlantic Division title in 2021, and this system’s first-ever top-10 nationwide rating – in back-to-back seasons (2021 & 2022). His groups constantly broke information on the sector whereas sustaining educational excellence, incomes nationwide recognition for his or her success within the classroom.
Beyond his 11-year run at Wake Forest, Dave Clawson stays the one coach to win at the least 10 video games in a season at 4 Division I faculties (Fordham, Richmond, Bowling Green, Wake Forest).
“Coaching at Wake Forest has been the consideration of my profession,” Dave Clawson mentioned. “This is a particular place with extraordinary folks, and I’m deeply grateful for the relationships I’ve constructed over the past 11 years. Together, we achieved issues that many thought unimaginable, and I step down understanding I gave every little thing I had for this program and University. I need to thank our gamers, coaches and employees for his or her unwavering help and dedication since my arrival to assist construct a sustainable successful program. With that, I’m so grateful for our scholar physique, followers and so many particular Wake Foresters who invested their time, efforts and cash into serving to us win. While this chapter is ending, my pleasure in what we have constructed right here won’t ever fade. After finishing my twenty fifth season as a head coach and Thirty sixth-straight in school soccer, the timing is correct for me and my household to step away into this new position inside Wake Forest University.”
“Dave Clawson has embodied Wake Forest’s motto of Pro Humanitate, fostering success on the sector, within the classroom, and locally,” Wake Forest President Susan R. Wente mentioned. “His management has elevated our soccer program to new heights whereas setting a permanent instance of excellence and integrity. We are deeply grateful for his service and management over the previous decade and want him and his household nicely on this transition”
“Dave Clawson has been the epitome of integrity, innovation, and excellence in school soccer,” mentioned Wake Forest Vice President and Director of Athletics John Currie. “He elevated Wake Forest soccer to unprecedented heights, not solely by success on the sector but additionally by fostering the event of younger males as leaders in life. Quite merely, Dave Clawson‘s management, aggressive drive and strategic instincts have made soccer at Wake Forest vital, and a flagship program for our complete neighborhood and University at a scale which may have been unimaginable to most when he arrived 11 years in the past.”
Since taking the helm in 2014, Coach Clawson’s tenure marked essentially the most profitable stretch in program historical past, with 5 of the varsity’s prime win totals coming underneath his management. The Demon Deacons achieved seven consecutive bowl appearances from 2016-22, together with 5 postseason victories—greater than another coach in Wake Forest historical past. During this time, the Deacs additionally claimed marquee wins over SEC opponents and reached a program-best 11-3 file in 2021, incomes Clawson the ACC Coach of the Year award.
Wake Forest constantly ranked among the many nation’s elite throughout Clawson’s time, reaching back-to-back top-10 nationwide rankings in 2021 and 2022, a feat completed by solely 17 Power 5 packages. Additionally, Allegacy Stadium turned a fortress with the Deacons posting a 23-7 house file from 2019-23, fueled by record-setting attendance and sellouts.
With that, he and his employees recruited large gamers as Wake Forest has collected 62 All-ACC honors since 2019, which is tied for the fifth most within the ACC. And, the Deacs are one in every of simply six faculties to have greater than 60 honorees in that point span.
Many of these Demon Deacons went on to compete within the National Football League because the Deacs set a faculty file with 13 alums on NFL rosters within the 2023 and 2024 seasons. Those nice gamers set a myriad of Wake Forest and ACC information throughout their careers, together with quarterback Sam Hartman setting the convention mark for profession landing passess. Meanwhile, he coached three Jim Tatum Award recipients (Ryan Janvion, 2016; Zach Tom, 2021; Taylor Morin, 2024) and two Brian Piccolo Award winners (Greg Dortch, 2018; Hartman, 2021).
Off the sector, Wake Forest additionally flourished academically, posting this system’s highest-ever GPA in fall 2023 and main the ACC with 29 Academic All-ACC honorees that yr. Also, the Deacs soccer program was above a 990 within the newest multi-year Academic Progress Rate and a 97 in the newest Graduation Success Rate report.
Clawson’s affect prolonged past victories. He cultivated a successful tradition constructed on integrity and innovation, leaving a permanent legacy that lifted Wake Forest to amongst school soccer’s prime packages throughout his tenure.
Clawson will proceed on with Wake Forest University as Special Advisor to Vice President and Director of Athletics Currie.
“Our student-athletes are at all times our prime precedence throughout such a transition,” Currie mentioned. “Along with President Susan R. Wente and our complete Athletics & University management workforce, I’m dedicated to making sure our present soccer gamers obtain help, steering and care throughout this time. With that, a nationwide search is underway to search out our subsequent head coach.”
Since his arrival in December 2013, Clawson revitalized this system, overseeing essentially the most profitable stretch in Wake Forest soccer historical past. Under his steering, the Demon Deacons reached new heights, together with seven consecutive bowl appearances (2016-2022), an Atlantic Division title in 2021, and this system’s first-ever top-10 nationwide rating – in back-to-back seasons (2021 & 2022). His groups constantly broke information on the sector whereas sustaining educational excellence, incomes nationwide recognition for his or her success within the classroom.
Beyond his 11-year run at Wake Forest, Dave Clawson stays the one coach to win at the least 10 video games in a season at 4 Division I faculties (Fordham, Richmond, Bowling Green, Wake Forest).
“Coaching at Wake Forest has been the consideration of my profession,” Dave Clawson mentioned. “This is a particular place with extraordinary folks, and I’m deeply grateful for the relationships I’ve constructed over the past 11 years. Together, we achieved issues that many thought unimaginable, and I step down understanding I gave every little thing I had for this program and University. I need to thank our gamers, coaches and employees for his or her unwavering help and dedication since my arrival to assist construct a sustainable successful program. With that, I’m so grateful for our scholar physique, followers and so many particular Wake Foresters who invested their time, efforts and cash into serving to us win. While this chapter is ending, my pleasure in what we have constructed right here won’t ever fade. After finishing my twenty fifth season as a head coach and Thirty sixth-straight in school soccer, the timing is correct for me and my household to step away into this new position inside Wake Forest University.”
“Dave Clawson has embodied Wake Forest’s motto of Pro Humanitate, fostering success on the sector, within the classroom, and locally,” Wake Forest President Susan R. Wente mentioned. “His management has elevated our soccer program to new heights whereas setting a permanent instance of excellence and integrity. We are deeply grateful for his service and management over the previous decade and want him and his household nicely on this transition”
“Dave Clawson has been the epitome of integrity, innovation, and excellence in school soccer,” mentioned Wake Forest Vice President and Director of Athletics John Currie. “He elevated Wake Forest soccer to unprecedented heights, not solely by success on the sector but additionally by fostering the event of younger males as leaders in life. Quite merely, Dave Clawson‘s management, aggressive drive and strategic instincts have made soccer at Wake Forest vital, and a flagship program for our complete neighborhood and University at a scale which may have been unimaginable to most when he arrived 11 years in the past.”
Since taking the helm in 2014, Coach Clawson’s tenure marked essentially the most profitable stretch in program historical past, with 5 of the varsity’s prime win totals coming underneath his management. The Demon Deacons achieved seven consecutive bowl appearances from 2016-22, together with 5 postseason victories—greater than another coach in Wake Forest historical past. During this time, the Deacs additionally claimed marquee wins over SEC opponents and reached a program-best 11-3 file in 2021, incomes Clawson the ACC Coach of the Year award.
Wake Forest constantly ranked among the many nation’s elite throughout Clawson’s time, reaching back-to-back top-10 nationwide rankings in 2021 and 2022, a feat completed by solely 17 Power 5 packages. Additionally, Allegacy Stadium turned a fortress with the Deacons posting a 23-7 house file from 2019-23, fueled by record-setting attendance and sellouts.
With that, he and his employees recruited large gamers as Wake Forest has collected 62 All-ACC honors since 2019, which is tied for the fifth most within the ACC. And, the Deacs are one in every of simply six faculties to have greater than 60 honorees in that point span.
Many of these Demon Deacons went on to compete within the National Football League because the Deacs set a faculty file with 13 alums on NFL rosters within the 2023 and 2024 seasons. Those nice gamers set a myriad of Wake Forest and ACC information throughout their careers, together with quarterback Sam Hartman setting the convention mark for profession landing passess. Meanwhile, he coached three Jim Tatum Award recipients (Ryan Janvion, 2016; Zach Tom, 2021; Taylor Morin, 2024) and two Brian Piccolo Award winners (Greg Dortch, 2018; Hartman, 2021).
Off the sector, Wake Forest additionally flourished academically, posting this system’s highest-ever GPA in fall 2023 and main the ACC with 29 Academic All-ACC honorees that yr. Also, the Deacs soccer program was above a 990 within the newest multi-year Academic Progress Rate and a 97 in the newest Graduation Success Rate report.
Clawson’s affect prolonged past victories. He cultivated a successful tradition constructed on integrity and innovation, leaving a permanent legacy that lifted Wake Forest to amongst school soccer’s prime packages throughout his tenure.
Clawson will proceed on with Wake Forest University as Special Advisor to Vice President and Director of Athletics Currie.
“Our student-athletes are at all times our prime precedence throughout such a transition,” Currie mentioned. “Along with President Susan R. Wente and our complete Athletics & University management workforce, I’m dedicated to making sure our present soccer gamers obtain help, steering and care throughout this time. With that, a nationwide search is underway to search out our subsequent head coach.”
