Wake Forest Athletics
.jpg&height=300&type=webp)
From the Quad
1/30/2026 4:13:00 PM | General
Presented by Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist
Good Afternoon Demon Deacon Nation!
BRRRRRRRRRR! Let's start out this edition of From the Quad with a big THANK YOU to all the Wake Forest campus facilities staff, Winston-Salem, Forsyth County and State of North Carolina Department of Transportation workers who have been trying to break up the boiler plate ice that has coated our community! Trust me – I consider myself an expert snow-and-ice navigator, but a few wipe-outs while walking our dogs over the last couple of days have shattered my aura of invincibility and deepened my respect for Mother Nature.
Fortunately, we've been able to reactivate our COVID-era virtual skills to keep moving forward, including our dedicated Wake Forest faculty members who have kept learning going on campus this week – and our Harvest Table colleagues who have braved the elements to serve up the good stuff for our students in the Pit!
And now, of course – with another wave of (hopefully just) snow in the forecast tomorrow – our men's basketball game against NC State at LJVM Coliseum has been moved to a 12 noon tip so that those choosing to brave the elements can navigate home postgame in the daylight, including our ancient rivals from Raleigh.
We do encourage everyone attending to use extreme caution and allow plenty of time to park and enter the Joel when doors open at 11:00 a.m. Our longtime friends from I.L. Long have worked hard to clear ice from the lots, but there may be some slippery remnants lurking—so please be careful. As a reminder, fans without parking passes should access Deacon Boulevard from the east (Shorefair Drive side only). You can click here to plan your travel route according to your parking lot ahead of time.
Select seats are still available at GoDeacs.com/Tickets or by calling the ticket office at 336-758-3322. You can also email tix@wfu.edu for more information. In keeping with our commitment to the Best Fan Experience in North Carolina, fans who are unable to use their tickets because of the time change will receive an email following the game with exchange instructions for any remaining Demon Deacon home game.
Saturday's TV Broadcast Shifts to ACC Network Extra
While we regret that The CW is unable to provide an earlier broadcast window, our crack internal ACC Network team has scrambled to ensure you can watch the game via ACC Network Extra and the ESPN App. And, as always, Stan Cotten's award-winning radio narration will be available on the Wake Forest Sports Network, including flagship station WBRF 98.1, beginning at 11:30 a.m.
Rodney Rogers Day Rescheduled to March 7
Also due to the weather, our official Rodney Rogers Day has been rescheduled to Saturday, March 7, when the Demon Deacons host California, allowing more of his family and friends to attend. Wake Forest Basketball alumni and those who registered for events honoring Rodney should check their email inboxes for more information about plans for March 7 as the date gets closer. Please reach out to wfsports@wfu.edu if you have any questions.
However, tomorrow we will still have replica Rodney Rogers jerseys for the first 1,000 Wake Forest students who brave the frozen tundra and arrive at the Joel!
Scholarship Celebration Moves to ePrint
Also falling victim to the storm is one of the most special events of the year, what would have been our 13th Annual Scholarship Celebration. The spirit of the Scholarship Celebration remains central to who we are at Wake Forest – bringing to life the relationships between our generous supporters and the student-athletes, coaches and staff in whom they believe. This year's celebration was scheduled to feature an outstanding panel including Rich Lyons, Wake Forest Hall of Famer Riley Skinner, and former ACC Women's Golf Freshman of the Year Macy Pate and a defensive playmaker who helped Wake Forest win nine games on the gridiron in 2025, Davaughn Patterson – voices whose perspectives reflect the very best of our University, our values and our commitment to a World Class Student-Athlete Experience. Individual stories like those transformative student-athletes and supporters have reminded us that philanthropy at Wake Forest is not transactional – it is relational, purposeful and rooted in Pro Humanitate.
We are grateful for all those who continue to make an impact for the Demon Deacons with support for endowed scholarships, Excellence Funds and leadership initiatives like the McCreary Triple Double Challenge. In this rapidly changing collegiate athletics landscape, your generosity – whether renewed or new – ensures that we can bring exceptional young people to this University, support them fully, and prepare them to lead lives of meaning and service.
Basketballs Battling…
It's been a tough few weeks for both of our basketball teams, but I am proud of the perseverance shown by Coach Steve Forbes, Coach Megan Gebbia, and our student-athletes as they continue to battle, improve, and overcome adversity.
Yesterday afternoon in the Joel, Coach Gebbia's women's squad erased a 15-point halftime deficit and took fourth-place UVA to three overtime periods before falling, 109–105, despite a 30-point, 11-rebound performance from freshman guard Milan Brown. The Deacs hit the road shortly thereafter to beat the snow ahead of Sunday's 12 p.m. tipoff at Duke, which will be broadcast on ACC Network.
Meanwhile, in frozen Pittsburgh on Tuesday night, the men's squad lost point guard Nate Calmese to an ankle injury early in the first half, and with Juke Harris plagued by foul trouble, fell to the Panthers in overtime. A highlight for the Deacs was freshman guard Issac Carr, who played a career-high 29 minutes, grabbed nine boards, and dove to the court to secure a late-game loose ball – leading to a big three by Myles Colvin.
Regardless of the effort, after finishing fourth, fifth, eighth, and fifth in the ACC over the last four years, it's understandably frustrating for our players, coaches, and fans – and your AD – for the Deacs to be sitting in the bottom quarter of the conference right now. Tomorrow's game against the Wolfpack presents a great opportunity to reverse the tide, as six of our final 10 regular-season games are at home. Be safe – but be loud – in the Joel tomorrow!
Start Your Engines! NASCAR's Cookout Clash Back in Winston-Salem Sunday Night on FOX!
Although Saturday night's preliminary events are canceled and the air will be chilly, it will be blazing hot on the racetrack inside Bowman Gray Stadium Sunday night as NASCAR kicks off its Cup season with Cookout Clash. Qualifying is scheduled to start Sunday at 2 p.m. leading up the headline race at 8 p.m. that night on FOX and HBO Max. Hats off to NASCAR and the France family, the City of Winston-Salem, Winston-Salem State University, Visit Winston-Salem and many others for partnering to bring NASCAR's top circuit racing back to Winston-Salem for the second-straight year after a 54 year hiatus.
If you've never been to a race at Bowman Gray, you are missing out on an unique experience! And, while you're enjoying the national broadcast, keep an eye out for the Wake Forest logo along the wall lining the track!
Mark Your Calendars: Wake Forest's 2026 Football Schedule Is Set
With Wake Forest's 2026 football schedule now set – and following a record setting first campaign – Coach Jake Dickert has our team back to building in the dark as they are acclimating 42 new players who have enrolled this semester to the B.E.S.T standard of Demon Deacons football.
Our exciting home slate begins with Opening Night against Akron on Thursday, Sept. 3 and following a trip to Big Ten foe Purdue in Week 2, continues with a Friday night primetime visit from College Football Playoff finalist Miami on Sept. 18. Looking ahead, Stanford General Manager Andrew Luck will bring the Cardinal to Winston-Salem for Family Weekend on Oct. 3, and the Deacs will look to re-spook last year's ACC runner-up, Virginia, on Oct. 31. On Nov. 7, we'll battle the Merrimack Warriors during Homecoming Weekend, and 2025 ACC champion Duke Blue Devils – albeit with a new quarterback – will close the Allegacy Stadium slate on Nov. 28. With road opportunities in Deacon Nation hot spots like Dallas, Atlanta, and the Bay Area, now is the time for Wake fans everywhere to start making plans to support Demon Deacon Football in person in 2026.
With Miami's run to the College Football Playoff National Championship, the conference went 9-5 in bowl games during the postseason, including Wake Forest's triumph over Mississippi State – our third straight bowl victory over an SEC rival. The ACC continues to lead the Power Four in strength of schedule, featuring the most Power Four matchups of any conference and a clear emphasis on intentional, high-level competition.
Ho Hum… Men's Tennis Advances to ITA National Championships
Wake Forest men's tennis continues to set the national standard, as the No. 1-ranked Demon Deacons punched their ticket to return to the ITA National Team Indoor Championships with a dominant 4-0 victory over Vanderbilt inside the Wake Forest Tennis Center last weekend. The win sends the Deacs to their fifth-consecutive appearance at the prestigious event, which will be held Feb. 13–17 in Waco and Dallas, and further cements one of the most impressive stretches in collegiate tennis history. With national titles in 2018 and 2025 at this ITA event, this group will now have the opportunity to pursue a third indoor championship – and potentially back-to-back crowns – an achievement accomplished by only a select few programs nationwide.
The Deacs final tune-up for that event will take place on the road on Sunday in Columbus, Ohio as Coach Tony Bresky's squad will take on Ohio State at 2 p.m. Fans can follow along with live stats or watch that match here!
Kim Lewellen Signs Long-Term Extension to Lead Women's Golf
Wake Forest has secured the future of one of the nation's premier programs, as Kim Lewellen has agreed to a long-term contract extension to continue leading Demon Deacon women's golf. Under Coach Lewellen's leadership, Wake Forest has reached unprecedented heights, including the program's first NCAA National Championship in 2023 and sustained excellence at both the ACC and national levels. Her expectation of excellence honors the program's proud heritage while inspiring student-athletes to reach new levels of achievement – athletically, academically and personally. Building on the legacy of Dianne Dailey, Coach Lewellen has elevated Wake Forest golf to worldwide prominence, and we are excited for the continued impact she will have on our student-athletes and University in the years ahead.
From the Quad Big 3
Here are today's Big 3 ways to help the Deacs:
Go Deacs!
John Currie
Vice President & Director of Athletics
Wake Forest University
Good Afternoon Demon Deacon Nation!
BRRRRRRRRRR! Let's start out this edition of From the Quad with a big THANK YOU to all the Wake Forest campus facilities staff, Winston-Salem, Forsyth County and State of North Carolina Department of Transportation workers who have been trying to break up the boiler plate ice that has coated our community! Trust me – I consider myself an expert snow-and-ice navigator, but a few wipe-outs while walking our dogs over the last couple of days have shattered my aura of invincibility and deepened my respect for Mother Nature.
Fortunately, we've been able to reactivate our COVID-era virtual skills to keep moving forward, including our dedicated Wake Forest faculty members who have kept learning going on campus this week – and our Harvest Table colleagues who have braved the elements to serve up the good stuff for our students in the Pit!
And now, of course – with another wave of (hopefully just) snow in the forecast tomorrow – our men's basketball game against NC State at LJVM Coliseum has been moved to a 12 noon tip so that those choosing to brave the elements can navigate home postgame in the daylight, including our ancient rivals from Raleigh.
We do encourage everyone attending to use extreme caution and allow plenty of time to park and enter the Joel when doors open at 11:00 a.m. Our longtime friends from I.L. Long have worked hard to clear ice from the lots, but there may be some slippery remnants lurking—so please be careful. As a reminder, fans without parking passes should access Deacon Boulevard from the east (Shorefair Drive side only). You can click here to plan your travel route according to your parking lot ahead of time.
Select seats are still available at GoDeacs.com/Tickets or by calling the ticket office at 336-758-3322. You can also email tix@wfu.edu for more information. In keeping with our commitment to the Best Fan Experience in North Carolina, fans who are unable to use their tickets because of the time change will receive an email following the game with exchange instructions for any remaining Demon Deacon home game.
Saturday's TV Broadcast Shifts to ACC Network Extra
While we regret that The CW is unable to provide an earlier broadcast window, our crack internal ACC Network team has scrambled to ensure you can watch the game via ACC Network Extra and the ESPN App. And, as always, Stan Cotten's award-winning radio narration will be available on the Wake Forest Sports Network, including flagship station WBRF 98.1, beginning at 11:30 a.m.
Rodney Rogers Day Rescheduled to March 7
Also due to the weather, our official Rodney Rogers Day has been rescheduled to Saturday, March 7, when the Demon Deacons host California, allowing more of his family and friends to attend. Wake Forest Basketball alumni and those who registered for events honoring Rodney should check their email inboxes for more information about plans for March 7 as the date gets closer. Please reach out to wfsports@wfu.edu if you have any questions.
However, tomorrow we will still have replica Rodney Rogers jerseys for the first 1,000 Wake Forest students who brave the frozen tundra and arrive at the Joel!
Scholarship Celebration Moves to ePrint
Also falling victim to the storm is one of the most special events of the year, what would have been our 13th Annual Scholarship Celebration. The spirit of the Scholarship Celebration remains central to who we are at Wake Forest – bringing to life the relationships between our generous supporters and the student-athletes, coaches and staff in whom they believe. This year's celebration was scheduled to feature an outstanding panel including Rich Lyons, Wake Forest Hall of Famer Riley Skinner, and former ACC Women's Golf Freshman of the Year Macy Pate and a defensive playmaker who helped Wake Forest win nine games on the gridiron in 2025, Davaughn Patterson – voices whose perspectives reflect the very best of our University, our values and our commitment to a World Class Student-Athlete Experience. Individual stories like those transformative student-athletes and supporters have reminded us that philanthropy at Wake Forest is not transactional – it is relational, purposeful and rooted in Pro Humanitate.
We are grateful for all those who continue to make an impact for the Demon Deacons with support for endowed scholarships, Excellence Funds and leadership initiatives like the McCreary Triple Double Challenge. In this rapidly changing collegiate athletics landscape, your generosity – whether renewed or new – ensures that we can bring exceptional young people to this University, support them fully, and prepare them to lead lives of meaning and service.
Basketballs Battling…
It's been a tough few weeks for both of our basketball teams, but I am proud of the perseverance shown by Coach Steve Forbes, Coach Megan Gebbia, and our student-athletes as they continue to battle, improve, and overcome adversity.
Yesterday afternoon in the Joel, Coach Gebbia's women's squad erased a 15-point halftime deficit and took fourth-place UVA to three overtime periods before falling, 109–105, despite a 30-point, 11-rebound performance from freshman guard Milan Brown. The Deacs hit the road shortly thereafter to beat the snow ahead of Sunday's 12 p.m. tipoff at Duke, which will be broadcast on ACC Network.
Meanwhile, in frozen Pittsburgh on Tuesday night, the men's squad lost point guard Nate Calmese to an ankle injury early in the first half, and with Juke Harris plagued by foul trouble, fell to the Panthers in overtime. A highlight for the Deacs was freshman guard Issac Carr, who played a career-high 29 minutes, grabbed nine boards, and dove to the court to secure a late-game loose ball – leading to a big three by Myles Colvin.
Regardless of the effort, after finishing fourth, fifth, eighth, and fifth in the ACC over the last four years, it's understandably frustrating for our players, coaches, and fans – and your AD – for the Deacs to be sitting in the bottom quarter of the conference right now. Tomorrow's game against the Wolfpack presents a great opportunity to reverse the tide, as six of our final 10 regular-season games are at home. Be safe – but be loud – in the Joel tomorrow!
Start Your Engines! NASCAR's Cookout Clash Back in Winston-Salem Sunday Night on FOX!
Although Saturday night's preliminary events are canceled and the air will be chilly, it will be blazing hot on the racetrack inside Bowman Gray Stadium Sunday night as NASCAR kicks off its Cup season with Cookout Clash. Qualifying is scheduled to start Sunday at 2 p.m. leading up the headline race at 8 p.m. that night on FOX and HBO Max. Hats off to NASCAR and the France family, the City of Winston-Salem, Winston-Salem State University, Visit Winston-Salem and many others for partnering to bring NASCAR's top circuit racing back to Winston-Salem for the second-straight year after a 54 year hiatus.
If you've never been to a race at Bowman Gray, you are missing out on an unique experience! And, while you're enjoying the national broadcast, keep an eye out for the Wake Forest logo along the wall lining the track!
Mark Your Calendars: Wake Forest's 2026 Football Schedule Is Set
With Wake Forest's 2026 football schedule now set – and following a record setting first campaign – Coach Jake Dickert has our team back to building in the dark as they are acclimating 42 new players who have enrolled this semester to the B.E.S.T standard of Demon Deacons football.
Our exciting home slate begins with Opening Night against Akron on Thursday, Sept. 3 and following a trip to Big Ten foe Purdue in Week 2, continues with a Friday night primetime visit from College Football Playoff finalist Miami on Sept. 18. Looking ahead, Stanford General Manager Andrew Luck will bring the Cardinal to Winston-Salem for Family Weekend on Oct. 3, and the Deacs will look to re-spook last year's ACC runner-up, Virginia, on Oct. 31. On Nov. 7, we'll battle the Merrimack Warriors during Homecoming Weekend, and 2025 ACC champion Duke Blue Devils – albeit with a new quarterback – will close the Allegacy Stadium slate on Nov. 28. With road opportunities in Deacon Nation hot spots like Dallas, Atlanta, and the Bay Area, now is the time for Wake fans everywhere to start making plans to support Demon Deacon Football in person in 2026.
With Miami's run to the College Football Playoff National Championship, the conference went 9-5 in bowl games during the postseason, including Wake Forest's triumph over Mississippi State – our third straight bowl victory over an SEC rival. The ACC continues to lead the Power Four in strength of schedule, featuring the most Power Four matchups of any conference and a clear emphasis on intentional, high-level competition.
Ho Hum… Men's Tennis Advances to ITA National Championships
Wake Forest men's tennis continues to set the national standard, as the No. 1-ranked Demon Deacons punched their ticket to return to the ITA National Team Indoor Championships with a dominant 4-0 victory over Vanderbilt inside the Wake Forest Tennis Center last weekend. The win sends the Deacs to their fifth-consecutive appearance at the prestigious event, which will be held Feb. 13–17 in Waco and Dallas, and further cements one of the most impressive stretches in collegiate tennis history. With national titles in 2018 and 2025 at this ITA event, this group will now have the opportunity to pursue a third indoor championship – and potentially back-to-back crowns – an achievement accomplished by only a select few programs nationwide.
The Deacs final tune-up for that event will take place on the road on Sunday in Columbus, Ohio as Coach Tony Bresky's squad will take on Ohio State at 2 p.m. Fans can follow along with live stats or watch that match here!
Kim Lewellen Signs Long-Term Extension to Lead Women's Golf
Wake Forest has secured the future of one of the nation's premier programs, as Kim Lewellen has agreed to a long-term contract extension to continue leading Demon Deacon women's golf. Under Coach Lewellen's leadership, Wake Forest has reached unprecedented heights, including the program's first NCAA National Championship in 2023 and sustained excellence at both the ACC and national levels. Her expectation of excellence honors the program's proud heritage while inspiring student-athletes to reach new levels of achievement – athletically, academically and personally. Building on the legacy of Dianne Dailey, Coach Lewellen has elevated Wake Forest golf to worldwide prominence, and we are excited for the continued impact she will have on our student-athletes and University in the years ahead.
From the Quad Big 3
Here are today's Big 3 ways to help the Deacs:
- Call a friend today and mark up the calendar with dates to support the football Deacons on the road in West Lafayette, Louisville, Raleigh, Berkeley, Dallas, or Atlanta this fall! It's always a blast celebrating a win with a contingent of courageous, road-warrior Deacon fans – just like we did this year in Blacksburg, Corvallis, and Charlottesville!
- Read and share this recent article by Matt Swensen from CommunityPlaymaker.com on how universities across the country – including Wake Forest – are reimagining the college sports experience through innovative mixed-use developments like The Grounds! It's a timely look at how Wake Forest is helping lead that evolution.
- Please consider joining Mary Lawrence and me as the WakeUnited Campaign helps support the United Way of Forsyth County. To help address critical needs in housing, education, healthcare and workforce development for our neighbors visit the WakeUnited website to learn more and make a pledge. Together, our collective generosity reflects Wake Forest's commitment to Pro Humanitate and being a Community of Partnerships.
Go Deacs!
John Currie
Vice President & Director of Athletics
Wake Forest University
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Golf
DB
/ FootballSteve Forbes - Postgame Presser at Pitt
Wednesday, January 28
Steve Forbes - Postgame Presser at Duke
Saturday, January 24
Steve Forbes - Postgame Presser vs. SMU
Wednesday, January 21
Men's Basketball All-Access at Florida State
Monday, January 19