From the Quad

Good Morning Demon Deacon Nation,

Happy June! Yesterday was a huge one in college athletics as the COVID "Dead Period" for in-person recruiting officially lifted as your Demon Deacon coaches are already welcoming potential Wake Forest student-athletes to campus! Since the Sutton Sports Performance Center and Shah Basketball Complex were both completed in the fall of 2019, this is the first-ever summertime opportunity for unofficial and official visitors to see the incredible commitment to a World Class Student-Athlete Experience represented by these donor-funded facilities.

After many accomplishments, the 2020-21 competitive year is over for all Demon Deacons except for distance runner Zach Facioni who advanced to the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships coming up in Eugene, Oregon. But with student-athletes, both new and returning, already reporting in droves to Winston-Salem for the first session of summer school and offseason workouts, our quest to Win Championships in the 2021-22 school year has begun.

Last night, we held the first of our summer series of new student-athlete parent and family orientations which featured introductions to the dedicated "behind the scenes" folks like senior associate for academic services Jane Caldwell, whose team of outstanding academic counselors and 80 tutor and study coaches provide unparalleled support of Demon Deacon student-athletes.

I am grateful for all 200 staff members and coaches who have worked together to persevere through the most unique year in the history of higher education, guided by our three COVID operating principles: Be as Safe as Possible; Provide Student-Athletes Competition Opportunities; and Sustain the Enterprise.

From hosting ESPN's iconic pregame show, College GameDay to kick off the 2020 football season, innovative fan experience initiatives such as the Deacon Virtual Season Ticket and the "virtual sellout" of Joel Coliseum to launch the Steve Forbes era, and the new International Leadership Circle that is helping drive record-breaking cash gifts in FY21, it was a year of "firsts" for sure!

Demon-Deacon student-athletes also persevered and competed in 268 events that included a fifth-straight bowl appearance for Coach Dave Clawson and the football team, Coach Bobby Muuss and men's soccer made a run to the Elite Eight for the fifth time in the last six seasons, Coach Jen Hoover and women's basketball returned to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1988, both men's and women's golf reached the final day of stroke play in the NCAA Championships, and Tony Jones (high jump) and Anna Bush (pentathlon) captured a pair of individual ACC titles at the ACC Indoor Track & Field Championships. I can't wait for more wins this fall!

DEACTOWN Awaits! Secure Your Seat Inside Truist Field This Fall
Riding the ACC's third-longest consecutive bowl appearance streak, Wake Forest football kicks off the 2021 season on Friday, Sept. 3 at 7 p.m. on the ACC Network against Old Dominion for Opening Night at Truist Field, presented by Lowes Food. Additional game times announced last week included the Norfolk State game on Sept. 11 at 12 p.m. and the contest with Florida State on Sept. 18 at 3:30 p.m. Those contests will be broadcast live on ACC Network Extra and ESPN/ABC, respectively. Now that you know times for these first three home games, we need you to make your plans and invite your friends, neighbors and colleagues to be part of the action!

Just two weeks remain for our lowest introductory prices on four-pack single game ticket packages. Multiple sellouts are expected so grab these deals while supplies last! Additionally, we have introduced a very limited new premium seating option with exclusive Pollard Club access, the East Side Club at Truist Field.

Future Football Scheduling Update
Over the last few weeks, we have announced future football matchups with Old Dominion, UConn and Georgia State. More updates will be coming as they are finalized, including finding a date for the continuation of the series with Appalachian State. Our scheduling priorities include having as many home games in Truist Field as is practical, playing in locations close to Demon Deacon fan concentrations and student-athlete families and fulfilling our ACC responsibilities.

Spear to Compete for USA in U19 World Cup
Wake Forest is already making news on the national and international level as freshman guard Jewel Spear was one of just nine players chosen for the USA Basketball U19 World Cup Team after a three-day, 28-player trial at USA Basketball headquarters in Colorado Springs! Additionally, the 2021 ACC All-Freshman honoree is one of just two active ACC players to be selected to the squad.

#ProDeacs: Wake Forest Alumni Making Waves Globally in Professional Ranks
Speaking of making news globally, Wake Forest holds the unique distinction of being the only school in the country with former student-athletes currently competing in top professional leagues in every sport. Former Demon Deacons compete in the MLB, NFL, NBA, Premier League, PGA Tour, LPGA Tour, WNBA, NWSL, WTA Tour and ATP Tour. Additionally, a host of Deacs have also represented their home countries at the Olympics.

Unforgettable Hall of Fame Speech by the Legendary Tim Duncan
While we're on the topic of #ProDeacs, Tim Duncan ('97) gave an unforgettable speech on May 15 where he spoke about the countless individuals who helped him on his journey to the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. My daughter's state championship soccer game precluded my attendance, so I was especially happy to see all the pictures of Dr. Herman Eure, Dr. Debbie Best, Coach Dave Odom, Lynne Heflin and so many more Demon Deacons in Connecticut for the ceremony. As Coach Forbes shared on social media, it was truly a monumental event!

Epic Wake Forest Graduation Includes First Deacon Engineers!
Among the graduates celebrated at Commencement 2021 on May 16 were Wake Forest's 43-student strong inaugural class of engineering students, including Demon Deacon football student-athletes Dayton Diemel, Goran Jovanovic and Taylor Morin. Established in 2017 at Wake Downtown in Winston-Salem's Innovation Quarter, Wake Forest Engineering is distinctive for its innovative and customizable curriculum, engagement with the community, diversity of its students and faculty, entrepreneurial mindset and emphasis on experiential learning.

From the Quad Big 3
And finally, here are today's Big 3 ways to help:

Watch this video recap made by our talented colleagues in the office of Communications & External Relations and check out Demon Deacon football alum Kendall Hinton's powerful speech about embracing the unknown.
Wake Forest men's golf alum and current PGA Tour member Webb Simpson has pledged a gift to Wake Forest Golf for every birdie he makes for the rest of the PGA Tour season! Learn more and consider helping Webb here.
Buy an extra four-pack ticket package for $49 for Opening Night at Truist Field, Presented by Lowes Foods and invite someone new to DEACTOWN!

Thanks for your support, please get vaccinated, wear your Black and Gold on #WFFriday, and as always, send me your comments, ideas, and questions at wfuad@wfu.edu.

Go Deacs!

John Currie
Director of Athletics

Wake Forest Athletics

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