Wake Forest Athletics
Wake Defensive Front One of the Best in ACC Under Cohen
5/19/2020 5:31:00 PM | Football
Over the last four seasons, the Deacons have racked up 125 sacks, the most sacks of any four-year period in school history.
Assistant head coach of defense/defensive line coach Dave Cohen was a key addition to Dave Clawson's initial staff in 2014. Since then, Wake Forest has turned into one of the toughest defensive lines to stop in the ACC while regularly sending players into the pros.
Over the last four seasons, the Deacons have racked up 125 sacks, the most sacks of any four-year period in school history. This season with 10 defensive linemen in year three or more in college, the Deacs are primed to potentially have their best season yet up front.
Wake is led by one of the best edge rushers in program history. With the help of the Cohen, Boogie Basham totaled 11 sacks, the second most in school history. It helped him become the first defensive end to earn first team All-ACC honors since Calvin Pace (Cardinals/Jets) in 2002.
He enters his senior campaign sixth in program history with 15.5 sacks while also having 31 career tackles for loss.
Cohen also helped groom Texans' 2018 draft pick Duke Ejiofor into one of the top pass rushers in Wake history. Before graduating for Wake Forest, Ejiofor climbed to third on the Deacs all-time sack list, finishing with 23.5 sacks in his career.
Each season since he has arrived on campus at least one defensive lineman has earned All-ACC honors.
At each of the schools Cohen has been, he has helped tutor some of the nation's best. He has produced at least two pros at each level of the defense.
This includes Rutgers linebacker Khaseem Greene who totaled 136 tackles in 2012, eighth in FBS. Greene went on to be named Big East Defensive Player of the Year and earned All-American honors. Greene was drafted by the Chicago Bears in 2013.
His production of pros dates all the way back to 2003 when as the defensive coordinator at Delaware. Defensive lineman Shawn Johnson and defensive back Mike Adams. Adams went on to play 16 seasons in the NFL, intercepting 30 passes and earning two Pro Bowl selections.
Cohen is also one of three Wake Forest assistant coaches to have head coaching experience, leading Hofstra from 2006-09.
For more on Coach Cohen:
Wake Forest (2014-present)
Postseason History
NFL Players (Round Drafted)
Over the last four seasons, the Deacons have racked up 125 sacks, the most sacks of any four-year period in school history. This season with 10 defensive linemen in year three or more in college, the Deacs are primed to potentially have their best season yet up front.
Wake is led by one of the best edge rushers in program history. With the help of the Cohen, Boogie Basham totaled 11 sacks, the second most in school history. It helped him become the first defensive end to earn first team All-ACC honors since Calvin Pace (Cardinals/Jets) in 2002.
He enters his senior campaign sixth in program history with 15.5 sacks while also having 31 career tackles for loss.
Cohen also helped groom Texans' 2018 draft pick Duke Ejiofor into one of the top pass rushers in Wake history. Before graduating for Wake Forest, Ejiofor climbed to third on the Deacs all-time sack list, finishing with 23.5 sacks in his career.
Each season since he has arrived on campus at least one defensive lineman has earned All-ACC honors.
At each of the schools Cohen has been, he has helped tutor some of the nation's best. He has produced at least two pros at each level of the defense.
This includes Rutgers linebacker Khaseem Greene who totaled 136 tackles in 2012, eighth in FBS. Greene went on to be named Big East Defensive Player of the Year and earned All-American honors. Greene was drafted by the Chicago Bears in 2013.
His production of pros dates all the way back to 2003 when as the defensive coordinator at Delaware. Defensive lineman Shawn Johnson and defensive back Mike Adams. Adams went on to play 16 seasons in the NFL, intercepting 30 passes and earning two Pro Bowl selections.
Cohen is also one of three Wake Forest assistant coaches to have head coaching experience, leading Hofstra from 2006-09.
For more on Coach Cohen:
Wake Forest (2014-present)
- He has coached an All-ACC defender in each of the past four seasons and in five of his six seasons at Wake Forest.
- Over the last four seasons, the Deacons have racked up 125 sacks, the most sacks of any four-year period in school history.
- In 2019, Cohen worked extensively with defensive end Carlos Basham, Jr. who became the first Deacon defensive end to earn first team All-ACC honors since Calvin Pace (Cardinals/Jets) in 2002.
- Basham recorded 11 sacks in 2019, the second-most in a season by a Wake Forest player.
- In 2018, Cohen helped groom defensive tackle Willie Yarbary and defensive end Chris Calhoun, each of whom signed pro contracts following the season
- A year prior defensive end Duke Ejiofor was a second team All-ACC selection after recording seven sacks and 17 tackles for loss his senior season
- Ejifor was taken in the sixth round of the 2018 NFL Draft by the Houston Texans.
- As a junior, Cohen helped Ejiofor earn third team All-ACC recognition as Ejifor lead the team with 10.5 sacks.
- Cohen's defensive line played a key role in Wake Forest's 2016 Military Bowl win over No. 23 Temple, holding the Owls to -21 yards rushing, the fewest by a Deacon opponent since 1952.
- In his first season on campus, Cohen made an immediate impact on the front four as Josh Banks earned honorable mention All-ACC honors while Tylor Harris was named second team All-ACC.
- In 2012, Cohen coached one of the best players in Rutgers history in linebacker Khaseem Greene. He earned Big East Defensive Player of the Year honors and was named an All-America after making 136 tackles and forcing six fumbles. Greene was a fourth-round pick of the Chicago Bears in the 2013 NFL Draft.
- Cohen helped coach one of the best defenses in the nation as the Scarlet Knights finished fourth in the nation in scoring defense (14.2 points allowed per game), tied for ninth in turnovers gained (32) and 10th in total defense (311.6 yards per game).
- The Scarlet Knights continued their dominant form in Cohen;s second season, finishing fourth in the country in run defense (100.8 yards per game). They also averaged 2.5 sacks per game and 6.3 tackles per loss per game
- Current Detroit Lions linebacker Steve Longa earned third team All-Big Ten honors while finishing 27th in the country with 123 tackles.
- Despite playing just three seasons, Longa finished third in program history with 342 tackles
- Current Detroit Lions linebacker Steve Longa earned third team All-Big Ten honors while finishing 27th in the country with 123 tackles.
- In 2011, the Bronco defense boasted its fifth ever MAC Defensive Player of the Year and Phil Steele All-American Drew Nowak. Rover Johnnie Simon and defensive end Freddie Bishop also earned All-MAC for the first time in their respective careers.
- Heading into the conference championships and bowl season, WMU ranked sixth in the nation in total take aways (30) and finished the 2010 season ranked 12th.
- In 2008, despite having a team that was decimated by injuries, the Pride led the CAA and ranked fourth in the country in pass defense, and was ninth in kickoff returns
- In 2007 Hofstra recorded the second-most improved record in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), going from 2-9 in 2006 to 7-4.
- For his efforts, Cohen was a finalist for the Eddie Robinson Award, which is presented annually to the top FCS coach in the country.
- The Pride led the CAA in rushing defense in 2007, allowing just 113.9 yards per game, which ranked as the best average since the 1996 campaign. The Pride also ranked second in total defense, allowing just 312 yards per game. That mark was the second-lowest total since 1996.
- His defensive schemes played a large part in Delaware posting a 15-1 record and capturing the NCAA I-AA national title in 2003
- For his efforts, Cohen was honored as the NCAA I-AA Defensive Coordinator of the Year by American Football Monthly magazine.
- Led by All-American defensive end and Oakland Raider draftee Shawn Johnson and current Houston Texans safety Mike Adams, the Blue Hens posted the first shutout in I-AA championship game history with a 40-0 win over previously unbeaten Colgate
- Delaware's defense, which held all four I-AA playoff opponents to under 10 points to set an NCAA I-AA record, led the Atlantic 10 in rushing defense (114.3 - 17th in I-AA), pass efficiency defense (113.36), and scoring defense (15.4 - 4th in I-AA), and ranked second in total defense (303.0 - 16th in I-AA).
- In 2004, Cohen led a Blue Hen defense that ranked among the top 25 in the nation in rushing defense, total defense, and turnover margin
- At Fordham University Cohen served three seasons as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach, including the last two seasons as associate head coach under Head Coach Dave Clawson.
- He helped build Fordham from the bottom of the league standings into a Patriot League contender. After going 0-11 in 1999 and 3-8 in 2000, the Rams posted a record of 7-4 in 2001 and placed third in the league standings with a 5-2 mark. The Rams won the league title in 2002.
- Cohen joined the University of Delaware staff in May 1994 and served five successful seasons, two as defensive line coach and three as linebackers coach.
- During his five years at Delaware, he helped lead the Blue Hens to three consecutive NCAA I-AA tournament appearances in 1995, 1996 and 1997, and the 1995 Yankee Conference title.
- Delaware advanced to the national semifinals with a 12-2 mark in 1997 behind all-conference linebackers Brian Smith, Ralph D'Angelo, and Denis Hulme.
- While defensive line coach at UD, his team recorded 38 sacks in 1995. He also coached the punt block team in 1997 and the unit recorded a school record five blocks, returning three for touchdowns.
- Cohen spent three seasons as the defensive line and linebackers coach for the Leopards.
- Began his coaching career as linebackers coach and strength coach at Albany for two seasons while earning his Master's Degree in education administration.
- Cohen and Wake Forest head coach Dave Clawson first worked together in 1989 and 1990 at the University at Albany under legendary head coach Bob Ford.
- The native of Huntington, N.Y., Cohen was a three-time league champion, all-county and all-Long Island selection at Commack North High School.
- A 1988 business management graduate of Long Island University-C.W. Post, Cohen earned his master's degree in education administration from SUNY-Albany in 1990.
- While playing at C.W. Post, Cohen was a two-year starter at defensive tackle and earned CoSIDA Academic All-District honors as a senior.
- He and his wife Denise have two sons, Charlie and Brian.
| Seasons | School/Team | Title/Position Coached |
| 2019-present | Wake Forest | Assistant Head Coach of Defense/Defensive Line |
| 2014-18 | Wake Forest | Defensive Line |
| 2012-13 | Rutgers | Linebackers |
| 2010-11 | Western Michigan | Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers |
| 2006-09 | Hofstra | Head Coach |
| 2002-05 | Delaware | Defensive Coordinator |
| 2000-01 | Fordham | Associate Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers |
| 1999 | Fordham | Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers |
| 1996-98 | Delaware | Linebackers |
| 1994-95 | Delaware | Defensive Line |
| 1990-93 | Lafayette | Defensive Line/Linebackers |
| 1988-89 | Albany | Linebackers/Strength & Conditioning |
Postseason History
| Season | Bowl Game/Postseason | Opponent | Result |
| 2019 | Pinstripe Bowl (Wake Forest) | Michigan State | L, 27-21 |
| 2018 | Birmingham Bowl (Wake Forest) | Memphis | W, 31-34 |
| 2017 | Belk Bowl (Wake Forest) | Texas A&M | W, 51-52 |
| 2016 | Military Bowl (Wake Forest) | Temple | W, 34-26 |
| 2013 | Pinstripe Bowl (Rutgers) | Notre Dame | L, 16-29 |
| 2012 | Russell Athletic Bowl (Rutgers) | Virginia Tech | L, 10-13 |
| 2011 | Little Caesars Pizza Bowl (Western Michigan) | Purdue | L, 32-37 |
| 2004 | DI-AA Quarterfinals (Delaware) | William & Mary | L, 38-44 |
| 2004 | DI-AA First Round (Delaware) | Lafayette | W, 28-14 |
| 2004 | FCS Playoffs - Quarterfinals (Delaware) | William & Mary | L, 38-44 |
| 2004 | FCS Playoffs - First Round (Delaware) | Lafayette | W, 28-14 |
| 2003 | FCS Playoffs - National Championship (Delaware) | Colgate | W, 40-0 |
| 2003 | FCS Playoffs - Semifinals (Delaware) | Wofford | W, 24-9 |
| 2003 | FCS Playoffs - Quarterfinals (Delaware) | Northern Iowa | W, 37-7 |
| 2003 | FCS Playoffs - First Round (Delaware) | Southern Illinois | W, 48-7 |
| 1997 | FCS Playoffs - Semifinals (Delaware) | McNeese State | L, 21-23 |
| 1997 | FCS Playoffs - Quarterfinals (Delaware) | Georgia Southern | W, 16-7 |
| 1997 | FCS Playoffs - First Round (Delaware) | Hofstra | W, 24-14 |
| 1996 | FCS Playoffs - First Round (Delaware) | Marshall | L, 14-59 |
| 1995 | FCS Playoffs - Quarterfinal (Delaware) | McNeese State | L, 18-52 |
| 1995 | FCS Playoffs - First Round (Delaware) | Hofstra | W, 38-17 |
NFL Players (Round Drafted)
- DE Duke Ejiofor (6th) - Wake Forest '18 – Houston Texans
- LB Steve Longa (UDFA) - Rutgers '16 - Seattle Seahawks
- LB Khaseem Greene (4th) – Rutgers '13 – Chicago Bears
- LB Steve Beauharnais (7th) - Rutgers '13 - New England Patriots
- DB Kyle Arrington (UDFA) - Hofstra '08 - Philadelphia Eagles
- DE Shawn Johnson (6th) - Delaware '04 - Oakland Raiders
- DB Mike Adams (UDFA) - Delaware '04 - San Francisco 49ers
- Birthday: Oct. 6 1966
- Education: 1988 -- Bachelor's from C.W. Post, 1990 -- Master's from Albany
- Wife: Denise
- Children: Charlie and Brian.
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