Clawson, Dave ushers in a new era for Demon Deacons by moving from Wake Forest’s head coach to athletic director Winston-Salem, North Carolina— Dave Clawson, the former head coach of the Demon Deacons football program for 11 seasons, has been named the next Athletic Director at Wake Forest University, bringing about a significant change in the institution’s leadership.
From the sidelines to the main office Clawson’s adventure started in 2013 when he was brought in to turn around a failing program at one of the smaller Power 5 colleges in NCAA football. Wake Forest experienced unheard-of success under his direction: the most consistent bowl success in program history with seven straight bowl appearances (2016–22), including five wins.
Creating an Integrity-Based Culture Clawson’s methodical approach to player development and recruiting was essential to his success. Clawson preferred student-athletes who possessed athletic ability, intellectual achievement, and character rather than chasing high potential; fit was frequently prioritized before star ratings.
An Inverse Departure Despite the victories, the team recently suffered losses, ending with 4–8 records in 2023 and 2024. Clawson attributed this drop to the changing landscape of collegiate athletics. In his resignation press conference, Reddit.com +8 emphasized the drawbacks of modern college football, including the transfer portal and the NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) period, which had led to players leaving for financial incentives just before graduation.
The Changeover to Athletic Director Clawson officially left his position as head coach on December 16, 2024, and became the Athletic Director, in charge of strategy, development, and intercollegiate programming in the higher echelons of the athletic department en.wikipedia.org +15 godeacs.com +15 usnews.com +15. With his commitment to “high-impact, low-volume” involvement, he maintains tight relationships to the football program, demonstrating mentorship rather than micromanagement.
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