Wake Forest Athletics
10/21/2026 2:59:00 PM | Football
This is the second watchlist Jake Dickert has been selected to as he was also named to the Bobby Dodd Trophy midseason watchlist.
HOUSTON – Wake Forest football head coach Jake Dickert has been named to the 2026 Paul "Bear" Bryant Coach of the Year Award watchlist, the American Heart Association announced on Wednesday.
The award is given each January to a college football coach for contributions that make the sport better for athletes and fans alike by demonstrating grit, integrity and a winning approach to coaching and life – both on and off the field.
The American Heart Association, a relentless force changing the future of health for everyone everywhere, presents the Bear Bryant Awards annually to celebrate excellence in coaching, to honor coach Bryant's legacy and to raise awareness and critical funds for its mission. The coaching legend died from a heart attack in 1983, just 28 days after his final victory and retirement. Since its inception, the awards have united the football community in support of the Association's lifesaving work.
Over the course of the last two seasons, the Demon Deacons are 15-5 under Dickert's leadership including a 6-1 record so far this year and being ranked in the Associated Press (No. 17) poll for the first time since the 2022 season and the coaches poll (No. 19).
Already this year, Wake Forest became the first – and only – school with four Power 4 road victories through the first seven weeks of the season along with the largest ACC win in school history in a 57-3 result over Stanford on Oct. 3. Additionally, Wake Forest has outscored its last three ACC opponents 136-24.
Wake Forest earned bowl eligibility with a 41-7 victory at Cal in Week 7 action, as the Demon Deacons blanked the Golden Bears 34-0 in the first half for the program's largest home halftime deficit in 13 years.
Earlier this month, the Deacs defeated NC State 38-14 at Carter-Finley Stadium for the largest road win over the Wolfpack in 83 years.
In September, Wake Forest downed No. 16 Louisville 30-27 to earn a ranked road win in back-to-back years for the first time since the 1975-76 seasons.
In the greatest debut campaign by a head coach in program history in 2025, Dickert, his staff and his players guided the Demon Deacons to just the fourth nine-win season in school history, punctuated by an emphatic 43–29 victory over Mississippi State to capture the Duke's Mayo Bowl at Bank of America Stadium. Wake Forest finished the 2025 season 9-4, marking the fifth time in the last nine years the program reached eight or more wins – one of only five ACC programs to accomplish that feat during the span.
The award is given each January to a college football coach for contributions that make the sport better for athletes and fans alike by demonstrating grit, integrity and a winning approach to coaching and life – both on and off the field.
The American Heart Association, a relentless force changing the future of health for everyone everywhere, presents the Bear Bryant Awards annually to celebrate excellence in coaching, to honor coach Bryant's legacy and to raise awareness and critical funds for its mission. The coaching legend died from a heart attack in 1983, just 28 days after his final victory and retirement. Since its inception, the awards have united the football community in support of the Association's lifesaving work.
Over the course of the last two seasons, the Demon Deacons are 15-5 under Dickert's leadership including a 6-1 record so far this year and being ranked in the Associated Press (No. 17) poll for the first time since the 2022 season and the coaches poll (No. 19).
Already this year, Wake Forest became the first – and only – school with four Power 4 road victories through the first seven weeks of the season along with the largest ACC win in school history in a 57-3 result over Stanford on Oct. 3. Additionally, Wake Forest has outscored its last three ACC opponents 136-24.
Wake Forest earned bowl eligibility with a 41-7 victory at Cal in Week 7 action, as the Demon Deacons blanked the Golden Bears 34-0 in the first half for the program's largest home halftime deficit in 13 years.
Earlier this month, the Deacs defeated NC State 38-14 at Carter-Finley Stadium for the largest road win over the Wolfpack in 83 years.
In September, Wake Forest downed No. 16 Louisville 30-27 to earn a ranked road win in back-to-back years for the first time since the 1975-76 seasons.
In the greatest debut campaign by a head coach in program history in 2025, Dickert, his staff and his players guided the Demon Deacons to just the fourth nine-win season in school history, punctuated by an emphatic 43–29 victory over Mississippi State to capture the Duke's Mayo Bowl at Bank of America Stadium. Wake Forest finished the 2025 season 9-4, marking the fifth time in the last nine years the program reached eight or more wins – one of only five ACC programs to accomplish that feat during the span.
Tuesday, October 20
Wednesday, October 14
Tuesday, October 13
Monday, October 12