Wake Forest Athletics
Glenn Spencer Tabbed as Demon Deacons Assistant Coach
2/7/2022 11:59:00 AM | Football
Spencer comes to Wake Forest with over 30 years of coaching experience and multiple years coaching at ACC institutions.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Wake Forest head football coach Dave Clawson announced Monday that Glenn Spencer has been added to his coaching staff as the Demon Deacons linebackers coach.
"We are fortunate to get a football coach with Glenn's experience and pedigree to join our staff," Clawson said. "His familiarity with Brad Lambert, coaching at other schools in the Atlantic Coast Conference and recruiting experience around North Carolina and surrounding areas over the course of his career will help our program. He has a long history of coaching great linebackers and will bring another veteran presence to our staff."
"Wake Forest is a great institution and I am proud to join Coach Clawson and the entire staff in Winston-Salem," Spencer said. "I have deep roots in the southeast and look forward to competing and coaching in this premiere conference. What I enjoy about this game transcends more than what happens on the field. I enjoy being able to impact lives and create great relationships with student-athletes and their families."
Spencer comes to Winston-Salem with over three decades of college coaching experience and spent the past two seasons as the defensive coordinator coach at USF. Additionally, he coached the linebackers in 2020 with the Bulls and safeties in 2021.
Prior to his time in Tampa, Spencer spent the 2019 campaign at FAU as its defensive coordinator where he led the Owls defense to improve more than 40 spots in the national rankings in 10 defensive categories while FAU posted an 11-3 record and won the Conference USA championship.
Following Lane Kiffin's departure to be the head coach at Ole Miss, Spencer served as interim head coach for FAU's 52-28 Boca Raton Bowl victory over SMU, a game in which the defense gained two turnovers and returned a fumble for a touchdown. The Owls held SMU to 14 points through three quarters as FAU built a dominating 45-14 lead after scoring 33 straight points.
Before his one-year stint at FAU, Spencer spent eight seasons as a defensive coordinator at two different schools, leading the defense at Charlotte under the direction of Brad Lambert for one season (2018) and the Oklahoma State defense for seven (2011-17).
Hired as the Cowboys' defensive line coach in 2008, Spencer began coaching the linebackers in 2009. He coached linebackers for the remainder of his time in Stillwater and was named co-defensive coordinator in 2011 before taking on defensive coordinator responsibilities completely in 2013.
Prior to his time at OSU, Spencer served as assistant head coach and recruiting coordinator at Duke University (2004-06) for three seasons, where he coached the defensive backs and linebackers. He also coached at Georgia Tech (2001-03), and spent three years as head coach of the University of West Georgia Wolves (1998-2000).
Spencer began his coaching career at West Georgia, where he began as linebackers coach (1990-97) before becoming defensive coordinator (1997-98) for two seasons and then taking over as head coach for three seasons from 1998-2000. The Wolves went 28-7 with Spencer at the helm, including winning Gulf South Conference titles in 1998 and 2000. Spencer was named the NCAA Division II Region Coach of the Year in 1998 and led West Georgia to the NCAA Division II Playoffs in both 1998 and 2000. He was inducted into the West Georgia Hall of Fame in 2017.
A native of Douglasville, Ga., Spencer graduated from Georgia Tech in 1987 with a degree in management. He was a four-year letterman as a defensive tackle for the Yellow Jackets from 1982-85.
He has two sons, Luke and Abraham, and is married to recently retired ESPN college football and basketball reporter Jeannine Edwards.
With Spencer's hire, Greg Jones will become a defensive analyst on Wake Forest's football staff and work closely with defensive coordinator Brad Lambert.
USF (2020-21)
Coaching History
NFL Players (Round Drafted)
"We are fortunate to get a football coach with Glenn's experience and pedigree to join our staff," Clawson said. "His familiarity with Brad Lambert, coaching at other schools in the Atlantic Coast Conference and recruiting experience around North Carolina and surrounding areas over the course of his career will help our program. He has a long history of coaching great linebackers and will bring another veteran presence to our staff."
"Wake Forest is a great institution and I am proud to join Coach Clawson and the entire staff in Winston-Salem," Spencer said. "I have deep roots in the southeast and look forward to competing and coaching in this premiere conference. What I enjoy about this game transcends more than what happens on the field. I enjoy being able to impact lives and create great relationships with student-athletes and their families."
Spencer comes to Winston-Salem with over three decades of college coaching experience and spent the past two seasons as the defensive coordinator coach at USF. Additionally, he coached the linebackers in 2020 with the Bulls and safeties in 2021.
Prior to his time in Tampa, Spencer spent the 2019 campaign at FAU as its defensive coordinator where he led the Owls defense to improve more than 40 spots in the national rankings in 10 defensive categories while FAU posted an 11-3 record and won the Conference USA championship.
Following Lane Kiffin's departure to be the head coach at Ole Miss, Spencer served as interim head coach for FAU's 52-28 Boca Raton Bowl victory over SMU, a game in which the defense gained two turnovers and returned a fumble for a touchdown. The Owls held SMU to 14 points through three quarters as FAU built a dominating 45-14 lead after scoring 33 straight points.
Before his one-year stint at FAU, Spencer spent eight seasons as a defensive coordinator at two different schools, leading the defense at Charlotte under the direction of Brad Lambert for one season (2018) and the Oklahoma State defense for seven (2011-17).
Hired as the Cowboys' defensive line coach in 2008, Spencer began coaching the linebackers in 2009. He coached linebackers for the remainder of his time in Stillwater and was named co-defensive coordinator in 2011 before taking on defensive coordinator responsibilities completely in 2013.
Prior to his time at OSU, Spencer served as assistant head coach and recruiting coordinator at Duke University (2004-06) for three seasons, where he coached the defensive backs and linebackers. He also coached at Georgia Tech (2001-03), and spent three years as head coach of the University of West Georgia Wolves (1998-2000).
Spencer began his coaching career at West Georgia, where he began as linebackers coach (1990-97) before becoming defensive coordinator (1997-98) for two seasons and then taking over as head coach for three seasons from 1998-2000. The Wolves went 28-7 with Spencer at the helm, including winning Gulf South Conference titles in 1998 and 2000. Spencer was named the NCAA Division II Region Coach of the Year in 1998 and led West Georgia to the NCAA Division II Playoffs in both 1998 and 2000. He was inducted into the West Georgia Hall of Fame in 2017.
A native of Douglasville, Ga., Spencer graduated from Georgia Tech in 1987 with a degree in management. He was a four-year letterman as a defensive tackle for the Yellow Jackets from 1982-85.
He has two sons, Luke and Abraham, and is married to recently retired ESPN college football and basketball reporter Jeannine Edwards.
With Spencer's hire, Greg Jones will become a defensive analyst on Wake Forest's football staff and work closely with defensive coordinator Brad Lambert.
USF (2020-21)
- Over the course of his two years in Tampa leading the USF defense, the Bulls forced 30 turnovers.
- USF has 10 interceptions each season ranking sixth in 2021 and third in 2020 with that total among American Athletic Conference teams, respectively.
- Statistically, USF improved its numbers from 2020 to 2021 in scoring defense, rushing defense, sacks, tackles for loss, passes defended, third down conversion percentage allowed, fourth down conversion percentage allowed, and touchdown percentage allowed in the red zone.
- In his first year in 2020, Spencer helped the Bulls finish fifth in the AAC in passing yards allowed per game at 229.1 ypg.
- Tutored LB Antonio Grier to back-to-back Second Team All-AAC honors.
- Spencer took over the FAU defense and linebacker coaching duties under head coach Lane Kiffin for the 2019 season and guided the Owls unit to leading the nation in total takeaways (33), interceptions (22) and turnover margin (+21).
- The Owls made major improvements on defense, improving more than 40 spots in 10 defensive national rankings, including total defense (88th allowing 427.4 ypg to 48th allowing 370.3 ypg), scoring defense (92nd allowing 31.8 ppg, to 33rd allowing 22.3 ppg) and rushing defense (89th allowing 189.0 ypg to 39th allowing 136.7 ypg).
- The Owls allowed only 30.8 percent conversions on third down in 2019, going from 91st in the nation to 13th.
- Spencer guided linebackers Rashad Smith and Akileis Leroy at FAU.
- Smith led the Owls with 109 tackles and added 11.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks while intercepting three passes and setting a program record with five fumble recoveries (which led the nation).
- Leroy led the Owls defense with 15.5 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks and added 101 tackles, three interceptions and five forced fumbles.
- Following Lane Kiffin's departure for Ole Miss, Spencer served as interim head coach for FAU's 52-28 Boca Raton Bowl victory over SMU, a game in which the defense gained two turnovers and returned a fumble for a touchdown. The Owls held SMU to 14 points through three quarters as FAU built a dominating 45-14 lead after scoring 33 straight points, including the scoop-and-score and a touchdown following an interception returned to the SMU 13.
- Spent one season at Charlotte where he helped revitalize the defensive unit.
- The 49ers led Conference USA in rushing defense and was ranked fourth in the FBS with 88.5 rushing yards per game.
- Additionally, the 49ers ranked third in C-USA and 14th in the FBS in total defense allowing just 306.6 total yards of offense.
- In his lone season at UNC Charlotte, the 49ers won the most Conference USA games in school history with a 4-4 mark in league play. Overall, Charlotte finished the season 5-7 and eight players garnered All-Conference USA honors. Redshirt junior defensive end Alex Highsmith became the second player in school history to garner First Team accolades. Additionally, four rookies were selected to the league's All-Freshman team.
- Spencer served as the Cowboys' Defensive Coordinator for the last five of his 10 seasons at Oklahoma State.
- The Cowboys amassed a 96-34 record over those 10 years, won the 2011-12 Fiesta Bowl and made additional trips to New Year's Six Bowl Games in 2015-16 (Sugar Bowl), 2013-14 (Cotton Bowl) and 2009-10 (Cotton Bowl). The Cowboys enjoyed 10-win seasons in six of his last seven years and won six of their last eight bowl games.
- Hired as the Cowboys' defensive line coach in 2008, Spencer began coaching the linebackers in 2009. He coached linebackers for the remainder of his time in Stillwater, was named co-Defensive Coordinator in 2011 and took over the DC spot completely in 2013.
- In Big 12 play in his final season in Stillwater in 2017, the Cowboys ranked fourth in total defense, third in pass efficiency defense, fourth in rushing defense and third in opponents' third-down conversions. OSU led the Big 12 in interceptions and ranked third in sacks. Additionally, OSU led the Big 12 in interceptions.
- In 2016, the Cowboys were ranked 11th in the final national polls with Top 25 wins over Texas, West Virginia and Colorado.
- Spencer's 2015 Cowboy defense was among the most disruptive in America, ranking in the top 10 nationally in turnovers gained, defensive touchdowns and quarterback sacks and also ranking among the top 20 nationally in tackles for loss, passes intercepted and fumbles recovered.
- Defensive end Emmanuel Ogbah was a first-team All-American and Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year in 2015, just one year after earning Big 12 Defensive Lineman of the Year honors in 2014.
- In his first year as Defensive Coordinator in 2013, he was a nominee for the Broyles Award given to the nation's top assistant. That season, the Cowboys ranked in the Top 25 nationally in scoring defense (19th) turnovers gained (5th) interceptions (3rd), red-zone defense (7th), pass efficiency defense (6th), tackles for loss (16th) and opponents' third-down conversion (7th).
- Cornerback Justin Gilbert was an All-American and 2013 finalist for the Jim Thorpe Award given to the nation's top defensive back. He was joined by defensive tackle Calvin Barnett and linebacker Caleb Lavey on the 2013 first-team All-Big 12 squad as chosen by the Associated Press. Linebacker Shaun Lewis was a first-team All-Big 12 honoree as selected by the Big 12 coaches.
- From 2010-2017, the Cowboys ranked second nationally in turnovers forced with 224 and OSU ranked in the nation's top 10 in turnovers forced in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2015.
- Under Spencer's guidance, middle linebacker Orie Lemon exploded onto the national stage in 2010. A first-team All-Big 12 honoree, Lemon ranked third in the Big 12 and 18th in the nation with 10.2 tackles per game. His 101 solo tackles led the Big 12 and ranked third nationally. Lemon finished with 133 total tackles. In his three previous seasons combined prior to 2010, Lemon had 96 tackles.
- Spent the previous three seasons as assistant head coach, recruiting coordinator and defensive backs coach at Duke.
- During his time with the Blue Devils, Spencer coached John Talley to first-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference honors in both 2005 and 2006. He did remarkable work on the recruiting front for Duke, helping the Blue Devils land the nation's No. 31 class in 2005 and the No. 36 class in 2006, according to Scout.com.
- Spencer coached the defensive line at Georgia Tech in 2002 and 2003 and served as the Yellow Jackets' running backs coach in 2001.
- With Spencer coaching the defensive line, Georgia Tech ranked 12th nationally in rushing defense, 20th in total defense and 27th in scoring defense in 2003 and placed a pair of representatives on the All-ACC squad.
- Eric Henderson earned first-team recognition after leading the conference with 11 quarterback sacks and logging 24 tackles for loss, and Travis Parker earned honorable mention honors. In addition, Spencer coached Mansfield Wrotto to Freshman All-America honors.
- Spencer coached All-ACC tailback Joe Burns in 2001, helping Burns to become just the fifth 1,000-yard rusher in Yellow Jacket history.
- During his time with Georgia Tech, he coached the Yellow Jackets in the Silicon Valley Football Classic in 2002 and the Seattle Bowl in 2001. He helped Georgia Tech to an appearance in the 2003 Humanitarian Bowl.
- Spencer spent 11 seasons at West Georgia, highlighted by a successful three-year run as head coach from 1998-2000.
- Spencer compiled a 28-7 record that included Gulf South Conference championships and NCAA Division II playoff appearances in 1998 and 2000. The American Football Coaches Association honored him as the NCAA Division II Region Coach of the Year in 1998 after he coached the Braves to a 10-2 record. He led the team to an 8-3 mark in 1999 and a 10-2 record in 2000 and left West Georgia with a Gulf South Conference-record .800 winning percentage.
- Spencer started his coaching career as an assistant at West Georgia in 1990. He coached the defensive line and linebackers for seven years before taking over as defensive coordinator in 1997 when the Braves captured the school's first Gulf South Conference title while establishing a single-season school record for scoring defense.
- Spencer was inducted into the West Georgia Hall of Fame in the summer of 2014.
- A native of Douglasville, Ga., Spencer graduated from Georgia Tech in 1987 with a degree in management. He was a four-year letterman as a defensive tackle for the Yellow Jackets from 1982-85.
- He has two sons, Luke and Abraham, and is married to recently retired ESPN college football and basketball reporter Jeannine Edwards.
| Season | Bowl Game | Opponent | Result |
| 2019 | Boca Raton Bowl | SMU | W, 52-28 |
| 2017 | Camping World Bowl | Va. Tech | W, 30-21 |
| 2016 | Alamo Bowl | Colorado | W, 38-8 |
| 2015 | Sugar Bowl | Ole Miss | L, 48-20 |
| 2014 | Cactus Bowl | Washington | W, 30-22 |
| 2013 | Cotton Bowl | Missouri | W, 41-31 |
| 2012 | Heart of Dallas Bowl | Purdue | W, 58-14 |
| 2011 | Fiesta Bowl | Stanford | W, 41-38 (OT) |
| 2010 | Alamo Bowl | Arizona | W, 36-10 |
| 2009 | Cotton Bowl | Ole Miss | L, 21-7 |
| 2008 | Holiday Bowl | Oregon | L, 42-31 |
| 2003 | Humanitarian Bowl | Tulsa | W, 52-10 |
| 2002 | Silicon Valley Classic | Fresno State | L, 30-21 |
| 2001 | Seattle Bowl | Stanford | W, 24-14 |
Coaching History
| Seasons | School/Team | Title/Position Coached |
| 2022-Present | Wake Forest | Linebackers |
| 2021 | USF | Defensive Coordinator / Safeties |
| 2020 | USF | Defensive Coordinator / Linebackers |
| 2019 | FAU | Defensive Coordinator / Linebackers |
| 2018 | Charlotte | Defensive Coordinator / Linebackers |
| 2013-17 | Oklahoma State | Defensive Coordinator / Linebackers |
| 2011-12 | Oklahoma State | Co-Defensive Coordinator / Linebackers |
| 2009-10 | Oklahoma State | Linebackers |
| 2008 | Oklahoma State | Defensive Line |
| 2007 | Duke | Assistant Head Coach / Linebackers / Recruiting Coordinator |
| 2004-06 | Duke | Assistant Head Coach / Defensive Backs / Recruiting Coordinator |
| 2002-03 | Georgia Tech | Defensive Line |
| 2001 | Georgia Tech | Running Backs |
| 1998-2000 | West Georgia | Head Coach |
| 1997 | West Georgia | Defensive Coordinator |
| 1990-96 | West Georgia | Linebackers |
NFL Players (Round Drafted)
- LB Alex Highsmith (3rd) - Charlotte '20 - Pittsburgh Steelers
- CB James Pierre (UDFA) - Florida Atlantic '20 - Pittsburgh Steelers
- DE Jordan Brailford (7th) - Oklahoma State '19 - Washington Commanders
- S Tre Flowers (5th) - Oklahoma State '18 - Seattle Seahawks
- DT Vincent Taylor (6th) - Oklahoma State '17 - Miami Dolphins
- DE Emmanuel Ogbah (2nd) - Oklahoma State '16 - Cleveland Browns
- S Josh Furman (7th) - Oklahoma State '15 - Denver Broncos
- CB Justin Gilbert (1st) - Oklahoma State '14 - Cleveland Browns
- S Markelle Martin (6th) - Oklahoma State '12 - Tennessee Titans
- LB Vincent Rey (UDFA) - Duke '10 - Cincinnati Bengals
- DE Anthony Hargrove (3rd) - Georgia Tech '04 - St. Louis Rams
- RB Joe Burns (UDFA) - Georgia Tech '02 - Buffalo Bills
- Birthday: May 1, 1964
- Hometown: Douglasville, Ga.
- Education: 1987 - Bachelor's in management from Georgia Tech
- Wife: Jeannine
- Children: Luke and Abraham
Sunday, May 31
Tuesday, May 19
Wednesday, April 22
Wednesday, April 22