Wake Has Experienced Most Successful Stretch Under Clawson
4/7/2020 9:00:00 AM | Football
Learn more about Coach Clawson's career accomplishments.
Since head coach Dave Clawson arrived in Winston-Salem, the Wake Forest football team has experienced the most successful stretch in program history while also rewriting the record book.
Upon being hired on Dec. 10, 2013, Clawson set out to build the Demon Deacons into the top program in North Carolina and compete for championships.
Over the last four seasons, the Deacs have made four bowl appearances including Military, Belk and Birmingham Bowl victories.
Since the start of the 2017 season, Wake Forest is tied for the second-most wins in the Atlantic Coast Conference. In those three seasons, the Deacs have set over 300 school records including marks for points scored, total offensive yards, first downs and passing yards.
Clawson has also help train 50 All-ACC selections including a school record 14 selections all-conference selections in 2019.
Wake capped off the 2019 season with its eighth Big 4 Championship with victories over Duke, North Carolina and NC State.
In his 20 years as a head coach, coach Clawson has had a history of turning programs into winners. He is the only FBS head coach to have Division-I conference championships in four different leagues.
He was the Patriot League Coach of the Year in 2001 and 2002 and was awarded the 2005 Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year award in just his second year in the league. The 2007 CAA Coach of the Year award marked his fourth conference Coach of the Year honor in his first nine years as a head coach.
On top of that, Clawson earned Schutt Sports/American Football Monthly I-AA Coach of the Year in 2002 and National Coach of the Year from I-AA.org in 2005.
Learn more on Clawson's career:
Wake Forest (2014-Present)
Coaching History
NFL Players (Round Drafted)
Upon being hired on Dec. 10, 2013, Clawson set out to build the Demon Deacons into the top program in North Carolina and compete for championships.
Over the last four seasons, the Deacs have made four bowl appearances including Military, Belk and Birmingham Bowl victories.
Since the start of the 2017 season, Wake Forest is tied for the second-most wins in the Atlantic Coast Conference. In those three seasons, the Deacs have set over 300 school records including marks for points scored, total offensive yards, first downs and passing yards.
Clawson has also help train 50 All-ACC selections including a school record 14 selections all-conference selections in 2019.
Wake capped off the 2019 season with its eighth Big 4 Championship with victories over Duke, North Carolina and NC State.
In his 20 years as a head coach, coach Clawson has had a history of turning programs into winners. He is the only FBS head coach to have Division-I conference championships in four different leagues.
He was the Patriot League Coach of the Year in 2001 and 2002 and was awarded the 2005 Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year award in just his second year in the league. The 2007 CAA Coach of the Year award marked his fourth conference Coach of the Year honor in his first nine years as a head coach.
On top of that, Clawson earned Schutt Sports/American Football Monthly I-AA Coach of the Year in 2002 and National Coach of the Year from I-AA.org in 2005.
Learn more on Clawson's career:
Wake Forest (2014-Present)
- The first six years of Clawson's tenure in Winston-Salem produced steady growth and improvement.
- Starting in 2016 the Deacons turned a corner, unveiling a high-powered offense that powered Wake Forest to its first bowl game in five years. Since then, the Demon Deacons have continued to improve, winning eight or more games twice in the last three years and moving towards Clawson's goal.
- The 2019 season produced a number of firsts in school history: a record fourth consecutive bowl invitation, a record 14 players named to the All-ACC team, and a record-tying seven consecutive wins. Wake Forest almost entered the second week of November with a 7-1 record and a No. 19 ranking from the College Football Playoff.
- Wake Forest's fourth consecutive bowl invitation was to the 2019 New Era Pinstripe Bowl in venerable Yankee Stadium.
- With wins over North Carolina, NC State and Duke, the Deacons claimed the Big Four championship for the first time since 2007 while setting a school record for home wins in a season.
- A program record 14 players were named to the All-ACC team and the Deacons were awarded 12 ACC Player of the Week honors.
- The team broke or tied 100 NCAA, ACC and school records in finishing 15th in the nation in total offense while the defense gained the second-most turnovers in the last 11 seasons.
- In 2018, Clawson established himself with more wins through his first five seasons than any other coach in school history. Wake Forest boasted a 1,000-yard rusher in Cade Carney and a 1,000-yard receiver in Greg Dortch, marking the first time since 1979 a Deacon team had accomplished that feat.
- That season marked Wake Forest's third consecutive bowl invitation despite breaking in two first-year starting quarterbacks. Clawson maintained a steady hand at the controls as the Demon Deacons navigated a dozen season-ending injuries to win four of the last six games of the season including the Jared Birmingham Bowl.
- The bowl win gave Clawson his third bowl win and made him the fastest Deacon coach to three bowl victories.
- The Demon Deacons set 105 records in 2017, tied another 15 marks, and became one of the nation's most efficient and productive offenses. Wake Forest set major records for points scored in a season, obliterating the record by 97. The offense set new marks for total offense yards in a game and in a season, yards per carry, most touchdowns scored and most TD passes in a season. The defense set a record with 106 tackles for loss.
- Two numbers stood out from that campaign, Wake had 11 players selected for 12 All-ACC positions, and as a team, the Deacons beat six bowl teams in 2017.
- On December 10, 2013, Clawson became the 32nd head football coach in Wake Forest University history.
- The head coach at Bowling Green State University from 2009 through 2013, Clawson led the Falcons to the 2013 Mid-American Conference championship with a 47-27 win over No. 16 Northern Illinois. The championship was BGSU's first since 1992.
- Bowling Green's 2013 team went 10-3 overall under Clawson and won the MAC East title with a 7-1 record. The Falcons received a bid to the Little Caesar's Bowl in Detroit. It marked the third bowl appearance in five seasons for Clawson's team.
- That team ranked 29th in the nation in total offense and 10th in total defense. The Falcons were one of only two non-power conference teams to rank in the top 30 statistically in both total offense and total defense in 2013.
- Led the Falcons to an 8-5 mark in 2012, which included BGSU's second bowl trip in its last four years.
- Ranked ranked sixth in the nation in total defense and 10th nationally in scoring defense, yielding just 16.8 points per game.
- Clawson tutored Falcons QB Tyler Sheehan to All-MAC honors after he threw for 4,051 yards in 2009.
- Dave Clawson became the 17th head football coach at Bowling Green State University on Dec. 12, 2008.
- Replaced David Cutcliffe as the offensive coordinator under Phillip Fulmer at Tennessee.
- In four seasons with the Spiders, Clawson led Richmond to three consecutive winning seasons for the first time in 52 years - and compiled a 29-20 record.
- Won a school-record 11 games in 2007, reached the semifinals of the NCAA Playoffs for the first time in school history and captured the CAA Football title.
- Leading fourth-ranked Richmond to a win away from playing for the National Championship, Clawson was named CAA Football Coach of the Year, the AFCA Region I Coach of the Year, the Division I Coach of the Year in Virginia - beating out both Virginia Tech's Frank Beamer and Virginia's Al Groh - and a finalist for both the Eddie Robinson and AFCA National Coach of the Year awards.
- Under Clawson's direction, the youthful Spiders were an offensive juggernaut. The team shattered 10 single-season records in 2007, including points (489), scoring average (34.9), touchdowns (63), total offense (5,675) and rushing yards (3,284). Six freshmen or sophomores started regularly on offense, eight more on defense and the Spiders were without the services of three All-Conference selections most of the season due to injury.
- Individually, tailback Tim Hightower was an All-America selection by four sources and ended his career as Richmond's all-time leading rusher (3,712 yards) and scorer (39 touchdowns). He broke five single-season records in 2007, including rushing yards (1,924) and overall touchdowns (23).
- After a 3-8 mark in 2004, Clawson led the Spiders to a 9-4 season in 2005, which resulted in an Atlantic 10 Championship and a decisive win over second-ranked Hampton in the NCAA First Round. The Spiders were 6-5 in 2006 with a shutout win at Duke.
- During his five year tenure at Fordham, Clawson broke 16 team and 45 individual records.
- While in the Bronx, he led a program resurgence that produced the 14th best winning percentage in I-AA football his final three seasons (72.2 percent/26-10 record).
- The Rams' 19 combined wins in 2002 and 2003 is the most in back-to-back seasons since 1918-19.
- A two-time Patriot League Coach of the Year (2001 and 2002), Clawson, earned 2002 I-AA National Coach of the Year honors from Schutt Sports/American Football Monthly after guiding the Rams to their first-ever conference championship and I-AA playoff appearance. That Fordham squad defeated Northeastern in the playoff's first round and finished the fall ranked No. 12 nationally.
- During his tenure on Rose Hill, Clawson coached 38 All-Conference performers, including 12 in 2003 when the Rams went 9-3. Fordham boasted the league's best scoring offense (32.9), pass offense (260.2), pass defense (171.5) and field goal percentage (78.6) last fall.
- His attacking offense provided prolific individual performances, establishing school record holders for passing, Kevin Eakin with 6,112 career yards; receiving, Javarus Dudley with 101 receptions for 1,439 yards (2002); and rushing, Kirwin Watson, 1,477 yards and 20 rushing touchdowns (2002).
- Clawson was also dedicated to his student-athletes' success off the field. His first recruiting class at Fordham produced an 88 percent graduation rate.
- The Wildcats established 70 school records in his three seasons and went to the I-AA playoffs in 1996 and 1997.
- Under Clawson's tutelage, Brian Finneran won the Walter Payton award, given to I-AA's Most Outstanding Player, and Brian Westbrook became the first student-athlete in NCAA history to gain more than 1,000 yards rushing and receiving in a season.
- The Mountain Hawks won the Patriot League title his first and last years, while the offense led the league in scoring, total offense and pass offense each of his final two seasons. Rabih Adbullah, who later played for the Chicago Bears, set a school record with 1,536 rushing yards.
- During his two-year stint Bulls' offense set 36 school records, including points and yards in a season.
- Earned his Master's degree while working with the secondary, quarterbacks and running backs.
- A native of Youngstown, N.Y., located on the shores of Lake Ontario just 30 minutes north of Buffalo, Clawson played defensive back in football and also basketball at Williams College in Massachusetts.
- Clawson and his wife, Catherine, are the parents of two children, Courtney and Eric.
| Year | School | Record | Pct. | Conf. | Pct. | Postseason | Championships |
| 2019 | Wake Forest | 8-5 | .615 | 4-4 | .500 | Pinstripe Bowl (L) | |
| 2018 | Wake Forest | 7-6 | .538 | 3-5 | .375 | Birmingham Bowl (W) | |
| 2017 | Wake Forest | 8-5 | .615 | 4-4 | .500 | Belk Bowl (W) | |
| 2016 | Wake Forest | 7-6 | .538 | 3-5 | .375 | Military Bowl (W) | |
| 2015 | Wake Forest | 3-9 | .250 | 1-7 | .125 | ||
| 2014 | Wake Forest | 3-9 | .250 | 1-7 | .125 | ||
| 2013 | Bowling Green | 10-3 | .769 | 7-1 | .875 | Little Caesars Bowl | MAC Champions |
| 2012 | Bowling Green | 8-5 | .615 | 6-2 | .750 | Military Bowl | |
| 2011 | Bowling Green | 5-7 | .417 | 3-5 | .375 | ||
| 2010 | Bowling Green | 2-10 | .167 | 1-7 | .125 | ||
| 2009 | Bowling Green | 7-6 | .538 | 6-2 | .750 | Humanitarian Bowl | |
| 2007 | Richmond | 11-3 | .786 | 7-1 | .875 | FCS Playoff Semifinals | CAA Champions |
| 2006 | Richmond | 6-5 | .545 | 3-5 | .375 | ||
| 2005 | Richmond | 9-4 | .692 | 7-1 | .875 | FCS Playoff Quarterfinals | A-10 Champions |
| 2004 | Richmond | 3-8 | .273 | 2-6 | .250 | ||
| 2003 | Fordham | 9-3 | .750 | 4-3 | .571 | ||
| 2002 | Fordham | 10-3 | .769 | 6-1 | .857 | FCS Playoff Quarterfinals | Patriot League Champions |
| 2001 | Fordham | 7-4 | .636 | 5-2 | .714 | ||
| 2000 | Fordham | 3-8 | .273 | 1-5 | .167 | ||
| 1999 | Fordham | 0-11 | .000 | 0-6 | .000 | ||
| Totals | 19 years | 126-120 | .512 | 71-75 | .486 |
Coaching History
| Seasons | School/Team | Title/Position Coached |
| 2014-Present | Wake Forest | Head Coach |
| 2009-13 | BGSU | Head Coach |
| 2008 | Tennessee | Offensive Coordinator |
| 2004-07 | Richmond | Head Coach |
| 1999-03 | Fordham | Head Coach |
| 1996-98 | Villanova | Offensive Coordinator |
| 1994-95 | Lehigh | Offensive Coordinator |
| 1993 | Lehigh | Running Backs |
| 1992 | Buffalo | Quarterbacks / Running Backs |
| 1991 | Buffalo | Secondary |
| 1990 | Albany | Secondary |
| 1989 | Albany | Quarterbacks / Running Backs |
NFL Players (Round Drafted)
- OL Phil Haynes (4th) - Wake Forest '19 - Seattle Seahawks
- DB Jessie Bates (2nd) - Wake Forest '18 - Cincinnati Bengals
- DL Duke Ejiofor (6th) - Wake Forest '18 - Houston Texans
- LB Marquel Lee (5th) - Wake Forest '17 - Oakland Raiders
- DB Kevin Johnson (1st) - Wake Forest '15 - Houston Texans
- DL Chris Jones (6th) - BGSU '13 - Houston Texans
- OL Dallas Thomas (3rd) - Tennessee '13 - Miami Dolphins
- WR Denarius Moore (5th) - Tennessee '11 - Oakland Raiders
- TE Luke Stocker (4th) - Tennessee '11 - Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- QB Jonathan Crompton (5th) - Tennessee '10 - San Diego Chargers
- OL Chris Scott (5th) - Tennessee '10 - Pittsburgh Steelers
- OL Jacques McClendon (4th) - Tennessee '10 - Indianapolis Colts
- RB Montario Hardesty (2nd) - Tennessee '10 - Cleveland Browns
- WR Lawrence Sidbury (4th) - Richmond '09 - Atlanta Falcons
- RB Tim Hightower (5th) - Richmond '08 - Arizona Cardinals
- WR Arman Shields (4th) - Richmond '08 - Oakland Raiders
- Birthday: August 16, 1967
- Hometown: Youngstown, N.Y.
- Education: 1989 - Bachelor's from Williams; 1992 - Master's from SUNY Albany
- Wife: Catherine
- Children: Courtney, Eric
Players Mentioned
RB
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