Clawson Finalizes 2020 Coaching Staff, Adds Veteran Secondary Coach Paul Williams

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Wake Forest Football head coach Dave Clawson rounded out his 2020 coaching staff on Tuesday with the hiring of veteran secondary coach Paul Williams, and announcement of a pair of other staffing changes.

Williams, who has 20 years of coaching experience in the secondary, joins the Deacs after spending the 2019 season as an Analyst at Texas, and was previously at Houston (2018), Illinois (2016-17), Miami (2011-15), Temple (2006-10), Western Michigan (2005), Delaware (1999-2004) and Penn (1997-98).

Furthermore, Wake Forest defensive coordinator Lyle Hemphill and assistant head coach for defense David Cohen coached with Williams at the University of Delaware from 2002-04.

With that, Ryan Crawford is now the Assistant Special Teams Coordinator, but will work with the nickelbacks defensively. Prior to joining the Deacs in 2018, Crawford spent his final four seasons at Harvard as the Crimson's Special Teams Coordinator along with his work in the secondary.

This move comes with Clawson's goal of improving the Deacs special teams units this fall. Crawford will work closely with Coach Wayne Lineburg.as there has been a huge emphasis to shore up those groups this fall.

Greg Jones, who recently earned his Master's Degree from Wake Forest, has been promoted from his position as Wake's Director of Player Personnel/Recruiting to its Linebackers Coach. Jones joined the Deacs staff in 2016 and has served in two other roles, including two seasons as a defensive graduate assistant and one as an offensive analyst.

Jones worked closely with current Texas A&M Defensive Coordinator, Mike Elko, during Jones time with him, Wake Forest's defense ranked in the top 40 nationally in total defense and 33rd in rushing defense (142.4 yards/game) in 2016.

Prior to Wake, Jones coached Cornell's secondary for three seasons (2013-15) and spent the 2012 season as the defensive coordinator and secondary coach at Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio. Regarding his playing career at Bucknell, Jones was a two-year captain, collected 257 career tackles and was named team MVP in 2009 while also earning first team All-Patriot League honors.

Quote:
Head Coach Dave Clawson:

"We are committed to putting our players in the best position to be successful and adding someone with Paul Williams' experience and expertise is great for Wake Forest and our program. Ryan has a strong special teams background and will work closely with Coach Lineburg to improve those units. Meanwhile, I'm excited for Greg and the opportunity that awaits him. He has been with us for five years and understands our program inside and out. Our future is very bright as our guys have hit the ground running with offseason workouts."

Assistant Coach Paul Williams:

"My family and I are thrilled to be headed to Winston-Salem and join Coach Clawson, his staff, and the Wake Forest family. Having been in the ACC for a number of years, I know how tough this league is and I am excited to get to know our players and get to work on the field and in recruiting."

Assistant Coach Greg Jones:

"I'm thrilled for this new opportunity and can't wait to get to work with our guys. Having been on the staff since the spring 2016, I understand Coach Clawson's expectations and I am excited to help reinforce the standard for our program in the linebacker room as we move forward. Coach Clawson and Hemphill have a strong vision for what we need to do on defense and my knowledge of our personnel will help me hit the ground running."

Coach Paul Williams Resume:

Coaching History & Accomplishments:
- A 23-year coaching veteran arrived in Winston-Salem after one season as an Analyst at Texas.
- Spent the 2018 season at Houston coaching the Cougars secondary.
  - In his lone season at Houston, three players ranked in The American's top 25 for passes defended and his group accounted for five interceptions.
- During his two-year tenure (2016-17) in Illinois, Williams' protégé Bennett Williams earned Freshman All-America honors from ESPN and he was one of four defensive backs under Williams to earn postseason honors in 2017. In his first season in Champaign, Williams guided a pass defense that ranked 16th nationally, allowing only 185.9 passing yards per game.
- Prior to Illinois, Williams spent five seasons (2011-15) at Miami where he helped the Hurricanes reach three straight bowl games from 2013-15. During the 2014 campaign, Miami's secondary held opponents to under 200 yards per game (191.4), ranking 17th in the nation.
- The move to Miami came after a successful run at Temple (2006-10) that included a 17-7 record over his last two seasons. Williams tutored defensive back Jaiquawn Jarrett to First Team All-MAC honors before being selected in the second round of the 2011 NFL Draft by the Philadelphia Eagles.
- Prior to Temple, Williams helped rebuild Western Michigan to seven wins in 2005 after the team went 1-10 in 2004, the year prior to his arrival.
- During six seasons at his alma mater, Delaware, he coached the secondary (2001-04), receivers (1999-00) and special teams. He helped the Blue Hens to a 15-1 record and the NCAA Division I-AA national championship in 2003.
  - Delaware cornerback Sidney Haugabrook was a four-time all-conference honoree and a first-team AFCA and Walter Camp All-American as a senior in 2004. Not to be outdone, defensive backs Mike Adams and Ricardo Walker; placekickers Brad Shushman and Scott Collins; return specialist Brett Veach; as well as punters Ryan Bleiler and Chris Steiner were all named to all-league teams under Williams.
- Began his coaching career as a defensive line assistant at Lafayette in 1996. Williams was also a secondary assistant and special teams coach at Penn from 1997-98 before moving back to Delaware.
NFL Players (Round Drafted & Bold Denotes Current NFL Player)
- DB Isaiah Johnson (4th) - Houston '19 – Oakland Raiders
- DB Sheldrick Redwine (4th) – Miami (FL) '19 – Cleveland Browns
- DB Mike Jackson Sr. (5th) – Miami (FL) '19 – Dallas Cowboys
- DB Jaquan Johnson (6th) – Miami (FL) '19 – Buffalo Bills
- DB Rayshawn Jenkins (4th) – Miami (FL) '17 – Los Angeles Chargers
- DB Corn Elder (5th) – Miami (FL) '17 – Carolina Panthers
- DB Adrian Colbert (7th) – Miami (FL) '17 – San Francisco 49ers
- DB Artie Burns (1st) – Miami (FL) '16 – Pittsburgh Steelers
- DB Deon Bush (4th) – Miami (FL) '16 – Chicago Bears
- DB Brandon McGee (5th) – Miami (FL) '13 – St. Louis Rams
- DB Jaiquawn Jarrett (2nd) – Temple '11 – Philadelphia Eagles
- DB Louis Delmas (2nd) – Western Michigan '09 – Detroit Lions
- DB Mike Adams (UDFA) – Delaware '04 – San Francisco 49ers
- WR Jamin Elliott (6th) – Delaware '02 – Chicago Bears
Playing Career & Education:
- Earned a bachelor's degree in physical education studies from Delaware in 1996, lettering four years and playing on two Yankee Conference championship teams.
- Recorded 189 tackles, 27 pass breakups and 10 interceptions for the Blue Hens and set an NCAA I-AA playoff record with a 100-yard interception return against Hofstra in 1995.
- Also ran track and set the Delaware record in the indoor 200 meters and won the 200 meters at the 1993 American East Outdoor Championships.
Personal:
- Married to the former Nicole Heileman and has one son, Austin, and twins, Jaxon and Leah.

Coach Greg Jones Resume:

Coaching History & Accomplishments:
- A rising star in the industry, Jones spent the past season as the director of player personnel/recruiting for the Deacs.
  - In the 247Sports era, signed the two highest rated recruits in Wake Forest history
- Prior to moving into his recruiting role, he spent the 2018 season analyst
  - The Deacs ranked 28th in the country in total offense per game with an average of 449.8 yards per game, 26th in rushing offense with an average of 213.7 yards per game and 34th in scoring offense with 32.8 points per game
  - Wide receiver Greg Dortch ranked seventh in the nation with 7.4 receptions per game, 20th with 89.8 receiving yards per game and 24th with 1,078 total receiving yards.
- In his first two seasons in Winston-Salem , Jones worked as a defensive graduate assistant
  - In 2017, defensive back Essang Bassey ranked ninth in FBS and second in the ACC with 1.5 passes defended per game. On the defensive line, current Houston Texas Duke Ejiofor was 15th in the country and second in the ACC in tackles for loss
  - During his first season as a defensive graduate assistant, Wake Forest ranked 23rd in FBS with 22.2 points allowed per game, 18th with a 34.1 third down defense percentage, 22nd with a 77.8 redzone defense percentage and 40th in total defense allowing 370.5 yards per game.
- Prior to arriving at Wake Forest, he spent three seasons as the secondary coach at Cornell and added director of recruiting duties during his final season in Ithaca in 2015.
  - Over his tenure, moved Cornell from the eighth ranked pass defense to the third ranked pass defense in the Ivy League going from 275.5 passing yards allowed to 229.7 passing yards allowed
  - Helped groom safety Nick Gesualdi into an FCS All-American. In 2014, Gesualdi was named the Ivy League Rookie of the Year with a league-high four interceptions, which also ranked 23rd in FCS.
  - The Big Red defense led the Ivy League in takeaways in 2014.
  - In his first season at Cornell, all-conference cornerback Michael Turner ranked third in the Ivy League with three interceptions.
- Before making the leap to the FCS level, Jones spent the 2012 season as the defensive coordinator and secondary coach at Division-III Kenyon College.
  - Ranked second in the conference with 18.0 points allowed per game and 306.7 yards allowed per game while helping Lords to a six-game win increase.
  - He was key in a breakout season for linebacker Kolin Sullivan. The junior, who went on to be a two-time All-American, finished fifth in the country with 74 solo tackles, 10th with 20 tackles for loss and 25th with 108 total tackles.
- Began his coaching career as a linebackers coach at Wilkes University (PA) in 2010. Jones also helped coach the special team units at Rhode Island in 2011.
  - While at Wilkes he mentored freshman linebacker Tate Moore who led the conference with 130 tackles going on to earn all-conference and all-region honors

Playing Career & Education:
- Earned a bachelor's degree in history from Bucknell in 2010 and graduated magna cum laude. He also was named to the FCS Athletics Directors Association Academic All-Star Team.
- Recorded 257 career tackles and earned All-Patriot League honors as a senior. During his senior campaign in 2009, he tallied a career-high 101 tackles, which ranked second in the Patriot League while tying for fourth in the league with three interceptions.
- Started 30 games in his career at Bucknell, which included all 11 as a senior in 2009. That season he was also named team MVP, the team's most outstanding linebacker and Bison's most inspirational player.

Personal:
- Resides in Winston-Salem with his wife Jordan.

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Clawson Finalizes 2020 Coaching Staff, Adds Veteran Secondary Coach Paul Williams

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