Dickert Named Semifinalist for the 2025 George Munger College Coach of the Year Award
11/19/2025 11:55:00 AM | Football
Wake Forest head coach Jake Dickert is one of just four ACC head coaches and one of just two first-year coaches in the country to be named a semifinalist for the award.
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – Wake Forest head coach Jake Dickert was named a semifinalist for the 2025 George Munger College Coach of the Year Award, as announced by the Maxwell Football Club on Wednesday.
Dickert, who is in his first year as the Demon Deacons head coach, was one of just four semifinalists from the ACC. The Award is presented yearly by the Maxwell Football Club to the top coach in college football.
The formal presentation of the George Munger Coach of the Year Award will be held on Saturday, March 14, 2026, in Atlanta, Georgia. The Maxwell Football Club will also be presenting its other national awards from high school through the professional ranks at the event.
Dickert is one of just two coaches on the list to be in his first season at his school. Additionally, Dickert is tied for the second-most wins by a first-year coach in the country this season:
2025 FBS First-Year Head Coaches – Most Victories
Records of North & South Carolina FBS Programs:
Rank PPG Allowed
1. Miami 14.2
2. Wake Forest 19.5
3. Florida State 20.3
4. SMU 20.4
5. Virginia 21.2
Wake's defense held SMU to 246 yards of offense, the fewest in a game for the Mustangs since Nov. 28, 2015, against Memphis. In addition to scoring defense, the Demon Deacons also rank 24th nationally in total defense and sixth in the ACC:
Rank Total Defense
1. Miami 270.9
2. Louisville 297.9
3. Wake Forest 318.5
4. Florida State 322.0
5. Virginia 322.1
Against Virginia Tech, Wake Forest only allowed 111 passing yards in the game which was the fewest by a Hokie team since Dec. 27, 2023 and it also marked the fewest by a Jake Dickert coached team:
Rk. Opp. Pass Yds Opponent Date
1. 111 at Virginia Tech Oct. 4, 2025
2. 135 Oregon Nov. 31, 2021
3. 141 Oregon State Oct. 15, 2022
4. 142 Stanford Nov. 4, 2023
5. 147 BYU Oct. 23, 2021
Through 10 games the Demon Deacons have had the third-best passing defense in the ACC and also rank 29th nationally:
Rank Passing Defense
1. Louisville 188.0
2. Miami 189.1
3. Wake Forest 189.5
4. Florida State 196.9
5. Cal 199.2
The Demon Deacons have also seen a massive improvement up front on the offensive line in Dickert's first season. Last season, Wake Forest quarterbacks were sacked a total of 42 times which ranked 125th in FBS. The Deacs 3.5 sacks allowed per game last season ranked 127th in FBS (eighth most). This season, Wake Forest has allowed just 14 total sacks (1.40/G), tied for the third fewest in the ACC.
Throughout the season, Dickert has collected seven memorable victories in his first season:
Path to 2025: Victory Recaps
Final Opportunity to See the Deacs at Allegacy Stadium in 2025
One more chance remains for fans to see the Deacs at Allegacy Stadium this fall with the season finale on Saturday, Nov. 22, against Delaware at 12 p.m. The game will be broadcast on ACC Network. The matchup will be just the third in series history and the first since the Deacs beat the Blue Hens 38-21 on September 17, 2016. Next Saturday's game will serve as the Demon Deacons annual Senior Day Game. Additionally, next Saturday's game will be the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools Educator Celebration Game for Wake Forest. Partnering with community-minded organizations — Allegacy Federal Credit Union, Proof of the Pudding, Pepsi, and Inmar Intelligence — Wake Forest will provide 3,000 sponsored packages for WSFCS teachers, staff, and their families. Each package includes a game ticket, complimentary stadium meal, parking, and a celebratory T-shirt, offering these dedicated educators a well-deserved day together inside Allegacy Stadium. This initiative also underscores the broader community effort to support and uplift Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools as they navigate current financial challenges.
Dickert, who is in his first year as the Demon Deacons head coach, was one of just four semifinalists from the ACC. The Award is presented yearly by the Maxwell Football Club to the top coach in college football.
The formal presentation of the George Munger Coach of the Year Award will be held on Saturday, March 14, 2026, in Atlanta, Georgia. The Maxwell Football Club will also be presenting its other national awards from high school through the professional ranks at the event.
Dickert is one of just two coaches on the list to be in his first season at his school. Additionally, Dickert is tied for the second-most wins by a first-year coach in the country this season:
2025 FBS First-Year Head Coaches – Most Victories
- 8 – Dan Mullen, UNLV
- 7 – Jake Dickert, Wake Forest
- 7 – Charles Huff, Southern Miss
- 7 – Jason Eck, New Mexico
- 7 – Jerry Mack, Kennesaw State
- 7 - Charles Kelly, Jacksonville State
- 7 – Matt Entz, Fresno State
- 6 – Matt Drinkall, Central Michigan
- 5 – K.C. Keeler, Temple
- T1. Jake Dickert (2025) - 7
- T1. Bill Dooley (1987) - 7
- T3. Jim Grobe (2001) - 6
- T3. Tom Rogers (1951) - 6
- T3. F.S. "Pat" Miller (1929) - 6
- T3. Hank Garrity (1923) - 6
- T7. Bill Tate (1964) - 5
- T7. James Baldwin (1926) - 5
Records of North & South Carolina FBS Programs:
- Wake Forest: 7-3 (ACC)
- East Carolina: 7-3 (American)
- Coastal Carolina: 6-3 (Sun Belt)
- Duke: 5-5 (ACC)
- NC State: 5-5 (ACC)
- Clemson Tigers: 5-5 (ACC)
- North Carolina: 4-6 (ACC)
- Appalachian State: 4-6 (Sun Belt)
- South Carolina: 3-7 (SEC)
- Charlotte 49ers: 1-9 (American)
Rank PPG Allowed
1. Miami 14.2
2. Wake Forest 19.5
3. Florida State 20.3
4. SMU 20.4
5. Virginia 21.2
Wake's defense held SMU to 246 yards of offense, the fewest in a game for the Mustangs since Nov. 28, 2015, against Memphis. In addition to scoring defense, the Demon Deacons also rank 24th nationally in total defense and sixth in the ACC:
Rank Total Defense
1. Miami 270.9
2. Louisville 297.9
3. Wake Forest 318.5
4. Florida State 322.0
5. Virginia 322.1
Against Virginia Tech, Wake Forest only allowed 111 passing yards in the game which was the fewest by a Hokie team since Dec. 27, 2023 and it also marked the fewest by a Jake Dickert coached team:
Rk. Opp. Pass Yds Opponent Date
1. 111 at Virginia Tech Oct. 4, 2025
2. 135 Oregon Nov. 31, 2021
3. 141 Oregon State Oct. 15, 2022
4. 142 Stanford Nov. 4, 2023
5. 147 BYU Oct. 23, 2021
Through 10 games the Demon Deacons have had the third-best passing defense in the ACC and also rank 29th nationally:
Rank Passing Defense
1. Louisville 188.0
2. Miami 189.1
3. Wake Forest 189.5
4. Florida State 196.9
5. Cal 199.2
The Demon Deacons have also seen a massive improvement up front on the offensive line in Dickert's first season. Last season, Wake Forest quarterbacks were sacked a total of 42 times which ranked 125th in FBS. The Deacs 3.5 sacks allowed per game last season ranked 127th in FBS (eighth most). This season, Wake Forest has allowed just 14 total sacks (1.40/G), tied for the third fewest in the ACC.
Throughout the season, Dickert has collected seven memorable victories in his first season:
Path to 2025: Victory Recaps
- Week 1: Deacs Open Coach Dickert Era With Victory Over Kennesaw State
- Wake Forest opened the Jake Dickert era in winning fashion, edging Kennesaw State 10-9 in front of 30,789 fans at Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium. Behind Robby Ashford's 260 total yards and a stout defensive effort that held the Owls to 36% passing, the Demon Deacons improved to 12-3 in season openers over the past 15 years.
- Week 2: Deacs Grab 42-10 Victory Over Western Carolina
- Wake Forest rolled to a 42-10 win over Western Carolina in its annual Gold Rush Childhood Cancer Awareness Game, marking the second straight victory of the Jake Dickert era. Behind Demond Claiborne's three rushing touchdowns and nearly 550 yards of total offense, the Deacs dominated on both sides of the ball, holding the Catamounts to just 34 rushing yards in front of a spirited Alumni Weekend crowd at Allegacy Stadium.
- Week 6: Demon Deacons Earn Road Win at Virginia Tech, 30-23
- Wake Forest earned its first win at Lane Stadium since 1983, defeating Virginia Tech 30-23 to claim its ninth straight first road victory in the last 10 seasons. Behind Robby Ashford's 256 passing yards and a balanced offensive attack, the Deacs improved to 8-2 in their last 10 games against Virginia schools, while a stout defensive effort sealed the win with a late fourth-down stop.
- Week 7: Deacs Remain Undefeated on the Road, Capturing 39-14 Win at Oregon State
- Wake Forest earned a dominant 39-14 road win over Oregon State in the first-ever meeting between the programs. The Deacs totaled more than 450 yards of offense, led by senior running back Demond Claiborne's 144 rushing yards and a touchdown and sophomore quarterback Deshawn Purdie's 270 yards and four passing scores in his first start. Redshirt freshman Chris Barnes caught three touchdowns, while the defense held the Beavers to 309 total yards and forced two turnovers in Wake Forest's second straight 2-0 road start to a season.
- Week 9: Calvert's 50-Yard Field Goal Lifts Deacs to 13-12 Win Over SMU
- Kicker Connor Calvert drilled a 50-yard field goal as time expired to lift Wake Forest football to a thrilling 13-12 Homecoming victory over SMU on Saturday inside Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium. The Demon Deacons rallied late behind redshirt freshman quarterback Deshawn Purdie, who led a 25-yard drive in just 12 seconds, capped by a key completion to tight end Kameron Johnson to set up the game-winner. Wake's defense delivered a dominant performance, holding the Mustangs to just 246 total yards—their fewest since 2015—and snapping SMU's 20-game regular-season conference win streak. The victory capped a perfect October for the Deacs, who also earned road wins over Virginia Tech and Oregon State.
- Week 11: Built in the Dark: Wake Forest Earns Statement Win at No. 12 Virginia to Secure Bowl Eligibility
- Sparked by an 88-yard punt return touchdown from junior Carlos Hernandez in the second quarter and standout defensive performance that featured three takeaways and keeping the Cavaliers out of the endzone for the first time since 2022, Wake Forest earned a statement road win at No. 12 Virginia 16–9 at Scott Stadium to clinch bowl eligibility for the eighth time in the last 10 seasons.
- Week 12: Wake Forest Earns Big-4 Win over North Carolina, 28-12
- Led by a pair of touchdowns and a career-high 181 all-purpose yards from junior Carlos Hernandez, Wake Forest grabbed its first Big-4 win of the Jake Dickert era against North Carolina 28-12 on Saturday night in front of a sold out crowd at Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium. Coach Dickert's seven-win total is tied for the most by a first year head coach in program history (Bill Dooley, 1987).
Final Opportunity to See the Deacs at Allegacy Stadium in 2025
One more chance remains for fans to see the Deacs at Allegacy Stadium this fall with the season finale on Saturday, Nov. 22, against Delaware at 12 p.m. The game will be broadcast on ACC Network. The matchup will be just the third in series history and the first since the Deacs beat the Blue Hens 38-21 on September 17, 2016. Next Saturday's game will serve as the Demon Deacons annual Senior Day Game. Additionally, next Saturday's game will be the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools Educator Celebration Game for Wake Forest. Partnering with community-minded organizations — Allegacy Federal Credit Union, Proof of the Pudding, Pepsi, and Inmar Intelligence — Wake Forest will provide 3,000 sponsored packages for WSFCS teachers, staff, and their families. Each package includes a game ticket, complimentary stadium meal, parking, and a celebratory T-shirt, offering these dedicated educators a well-deserved day together inside Allegacy Stadium. This initiative also underscores the broader community effort to support and uplift Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools as they navigate current financial challenges.
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