Wake Forest Athletics
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From The Quad
4/11/2026 10:51:00 AM | General
Happy Saturday Demon Deacon Nation!
We have a full slate of Saturday action for the Demon Deacons highlighted by a home court opportunity to clinch a share of an ACC regular season title and season sweep of our Big Four rivals as Coach Tony Bresky's No. 7 ranked men's tennis squad hosts NC State this afternoon on the Southern Family Courts at Leighton Stadium. Admission is free and we are expecting another boisterous crowd! Come out early before the 5:00 p.m. match and help honor senior DK Suresh. Currently ranked No. 25 nationally in singles, DK is an ACC Scholar-Athlete of the Year, ITA All-American and first team All-ACC in both singles and doubles.
Meanwhile Demon Deacons everywhere will have an eye on the Masters where Cameron Young ('19) and Michael Brennan ('24) easily made the cut and begin Moving Day sitting in ties for 7th and 20th, respectively. Down in south Florida, Demon Deacon baseball looks to even the series with the Hurricanes at 6:00 PM on ACCNetworkExtra and Wake Track has split the squad to compete in two different competitions in Durham and Miami. Remember you can follow all the action on GoDeacs.com.
This past week began somberly with the passing of our friend and my 2nd predecessor, Dr. Gene Hooks, who served as Wake Forest's Director of Athletics from 1964-1992. A graduate of Wake Forest College, and a member of the 1949 College World Series team, Dr. Hooks exemplified what it meant to live Pro Humanitate – always leading Wake Forest with innovation and compassion. Even in the last days of his 98 years, he was still cheering on the Demon Deacons with the same spirit that marked his transformative tenure as Wake Forest AD. You can read our official release here and I also encourage you to check out John Dell's remembrance in the Winston-Salem Journal.
I first met Dr. Hooks around 1991, when he was willing to take an appointment from a young student interested in learning more about college athletics, and I always appreciated our conversations and time together. Being on Hooks Field with him and Ron Wellman after we defeated Alabama to advance to the MCWS in 2023 will always be a special memory for me.
Dr. Hooks certainly saw his share of change and disruption during his tenure – which included conference realignment – ACC departures (South Carolina) and additions (Georgia Tech and Florida State), new regulations (Title IX in 1972) and media rights upheaval – (the 1984 Supreme Court decision breaking the NCAA TV monopoly) and kept Wake Forest moving forward regardless of the challenges. And, as an educator – and former faculty member – Dr. Hooks helped enshrine Wake Forest's commitment to keeping the "student" in student-athlete.
Last Thursday afternoon, ESPN's David Hale was in town working on a feature on Wake Forest spring football and catching up with Coach Jake Dickert, so we grabbed a late lunch and I brought him up to McCreary Tower for an overhead view of The Grounds' remarkable progress. Back on campus we ran into redshirt junior Davaughn Patterson on his way from class to the McCreary Football Complex. I introduced Davaughn to David and asked him what class he was coming from. David was floored when Davaughn replied, "Chinese Literature." It was a true Wake Forest moment – as college athletics continues to evolve (or devolve!), our Demon Deacons remain students first, and we're determined to protect that principle.
With that reminder, let's head to the updates!
Basketball Portal Wide Open as March Madness Turns to Portal Madness
This week certainly wasn't a fun one for college hoops traditionalists, as the transfer portal officially opened early Tuesday morning. As of 3 p.m. Friday afternoon, 2,013 men's basketball student-athletes had declared their intention to shop for greener pastures, representing well over half of the current Division I men's basketball players with remaining eligibility. Whether it's a quest for more money or more playing time, pressure from an agent, desire for a different position or in a new system, the button is getting pressed faster and more often than ever before, regardless of the academic and relationship consequences.
The most painful of the portal moments for Deacon fans was when Juke Harris informed Coach Forbes last week that, while continuing his preparations for the 2026 NBA Draft, he would be entering the transfer portal to further assess his options if he decides to return to school. Coach Forbes provided Juke a very competitive revenue sharing offer, and we made every effort possible to encourage Juke to remain a Demon Deacon. We'll always be proud of Juke's accomplishments as a Demon Deacon and wish him well in his pursuits.
Wake Forest University is fully committed to maximum revenue sharing and NIL opportunities for student-athletes under the House case settlement, and we're grateful to our Board of Trustees, President Wente, and Deacon Club members everywhere for their support as we navigate college athletics' rapid changes. Our overall financial investment in men's basketball success is greater than ever before – and each day the gifts of all sizes from Deacon Club members are helping make it so.
Massive roster fluidity is an unpleasant fact of life in college basketball in 2026 and Coach Steve Forbes, our General Manager Steve Weinman and our men's basketball staff are hard at work rebuilding our roster.
New Environment Brings Rumors, Confusion and Frustration – and Opportunities to Help
Nine months since the beginning of the House settlement era and the advent of revenue sharing, there is wild speculation about "roster values" and continued confusion about how these can be achieved and funded.
As you will recall, the House v. NCAA settlement permitted schools to begin funding up to $20.5 million in revenue sharing this academic year (from July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026). The settlement terms prescribe that schools which added now-permissible new additional scholarships must count the first $2.5 million of those scholarships towards the $20.5 million cap. The cap ceiling grows by 4% each year, meaning a school participating in full revenue sharing opportunities can distribute $21,320,000 in 2026-27 and $22,172,800 in 2027-28.
An important opportunity for Wake Forest – and Deacon fans everywhere – comes from the College Sports Commission's recent determination that schools, like Wake Forest, who currently must count $2.5 million in new scholarships towards the cap, will be permitted to add that amount to revenue sharing in the 2026-27 year, albeit while incurring an assessment of 20% on every dollar spent (i.e., a total of $500k if over the cap by the $2.5 million) on this distribution.
So – in plain(er) English – we need to generate $3 million to provide this new $2.5 million in additional revenue sharing for the coming year. We have assured our coaches that they will have this asset, and we appreciate – and welcome – gifts from Wake Forest fans. Gifts to the McCreary Triple Double Challenge are particularly fueling this effort, supporting both current-use scholarships and program excellence. With $75.8 million already committed, the momentum is real – and growing. We invite you to explore the impact and join the effort.
Wake student-athletes can also benefit from "above-the-cap" fair market value NIL deals directly with businesses and entities that are approved through the College Sports Commission and NILGo. Since July 1, 2025 more than 100 Wake Forest student-athletes have signed third-party NIL deals that have been approved through NILGo and the CSC. We expect that activity to continue to grow as we enter 2026-27 and Wake Forest Sports Properties (a Learfield company) is proactively selling student-athlete activations into their Demon Deacon sponsorships.
Many of the bigger roster values reported via social media take into account "front-loading."
Prior to the effective date of the settlement, "collectives" across the country, including Wake Forest's Roll The Quad (RTQ), were able to deploy any remaining balances to student-athletes in advance of the 2025-26 season, effectively "front-loading" student-athletes and relieving pressure on their school's 2025-26 revenue sharing allocation. At perhaps a quarter of Power Four schools, a combination of money from collectives and/or redirecting payments from vendor relationships prior to June 30, 2025 enabled them to "pay" in advance their entire revenue sharing budget – which means they can use this year's cap to supplement next year's rosters.
However, collectives at most schools became ineffective after July 1 as the College Sports Commission began to regularly reject collective submitted deals (including from RTQ) that it determined had no valid business purpose – or whose funding source was a booster. In the fall, Student-Athlete NIL (SANIL), the company that powered the contracting and payment functions of RTQ and dozens of other collectives, shut down their business.
The CSC has ruled that warehousing marketing agreements do not meet the valid business purpose test as described in this arbitration case with Nebraska student-athletes and the handful of collectives that remain operational at schools like Alabama are attempting to operate more like marketing and sponsorship agencies.
So How Can Wake Fans Help?
Attend events, buy tickets, donate to the Deacon Club and engage with Wake Forest Sports Properties! The Deacon Club celebrated a historic Deacs Day of Giving on March 19 and currently cash giving is $11 million ahead of last year's pace. Be sure to contact deacclub@wfu.edu for assistance and advice on supporting your favorite Wake programs.
If you and your business want to invest in a fair-market NIL sponsorship of a Wake Forest student-athlete contact Banks Shepherd, General Manager of Wake Forest Sports Properties who can "connect your brand to Wake Forest Fans."
Thanks for all you do to cheer on the Deacs and remember to bring your friends, neighbors, family, or colleagues!
College Athletics Conundrum Attracts Presidential Attention, NCAA Explores Eligibility
Perhaps the most vexing obstacle to "fixing" college athletics is the hodge-podge of state laws, court rulings, and governor or state attorney general actions in 37+ different states that make establishing – and enforcing – a singular set of rules very difficult. We've also previously written about the SCORE Act, which would preempt all these different state rulings and laws and enable a national standard.
In the March 18th edition of From The Quad, I reflected on my trip to the White House from the initial convening of President Trump's "Saving College Sports" roundtable. On April 3rd we saw movement from the White House as President Trump released an executive order in followup which portends transfer limitations, prohibitions on pay-for-play NIL collectives and suggest restrictions in federal funding and grants if institutions fail to follow updated rules intended to protect opportunities in women's and Olympic sports.
Meanwhile, Yahoo's Ross Dellenger wrote this excellent story this week about potential NCAA legislation that would create a more common sense eligibility model.
As the ACC's representative on the NCAA Division I Cabinet, I welcome the efforts of the Administration, as well as Congressional leaders, to address these issues. Common-sense eligibility standards, financially sustainable models that preserve participation and scholarship opportunities for all student-athletes, and re-centering the pursuit of a college degree as a core tenet of the student-athlete experience, remain foundational to Wake Forest's commitment to deliver a World Class Student-Athlete Experience.
Spring Football Anchors Big Winston Weekend April 16-19!
Coach Jake Dickert's Demon Deacons are practicing hard and next weekend you'll get a chance to check 'em out in person at Allegacy Stadium. Join us Saturday, April 18 at 1:30 p.m. for the free Spring Football Fan Fest – complete with a youth clinic, youth giveaways, and post-event autographs from players and coaches. Arrive early at 12 p.m. for family-friendly activities in the DEACTOWN Fan Zone behind Deacon Hill, including inflatables, face painting, and more. The Fan Fest will wrap up just in time to head over to David F. Couch Ballpark, where Coach Tom Walter's Diamond Deacs continue a huge Big Four homestand against NC State at 4 p.m. Be sure to email wffanexp@wfu.edu with your questions or for involvement details.
Huge Competition Coming for Annual Wake Forest Track Invitational
Come check out world-class track and field competition as we host the fourth annual Wake Forest Invitational at Kentner Stadium on Thursday and Friday, April 16 & 17. Last year this free invitational welcomed over 1,180 athletes from 79 schools, and generated $385,125 in total visitor spend in Winston-Salem – we're more excited than ever to continue this meaningful event for the community! The Deacon Club will be hosting a tailgate on Friday, April 17 from 12:00-3:00 p.m. and 5:00-8:00 p.m. at the Miller Center Plaza – be sure to sign up for the tailgate here and don't miss our Senior & Graduates Day ceremony at 5:30 p.m. And if you are on or around campus, be aware that a starting gun for all races will be in use throughout the two-day event. Follow updates on GoDeacs.com and @WakeTrack.
Creekside Apartments Rising Fast!
If you've driven down University Parkway lately, you've likely spotted the striking new apartment building rising at The Grounds. Creekside Apartments are now open for student pre-leasing ahead of the Fall 2027 opening – just steps from Reynolda campus that count towards on-campus housing credit. Visit CreeksideAtTheGrounds.com to learn more or lock in your spot today!
Investing in the Spirit of the Old Gold and Black
The Spirit of the Old Gold and Black is a time honored pillar of the Wake Forest community – faithfully supporting Demon Deacon teams and entertaining the crowd regardless of the weather or score, and performing at multiple spirit events around campus and on the road throughout the year. Thanks to President Wente's leadership, Wake Forest announced this week a new scholarship program to honor the commitment of SOTOGAB members and strengthen the band's membership. The plan includes merit-based scholarships for returning members and will help grow the band and its impact on The Best Fan Experience in North Carolina. For more information about how you can help support SOTOGAB, please contact Director of Philanthropy and Donor Engagement Strategy Dr. Anthony Tang at tangam@wfu.edu, or Deacon Club Regional Director Chris Gray at grayc@wfu.edu.
Local ACC Championships on Deck for Tennis and Golf
Spring ACC Championships are quickly approaching, and we're pretty fortunate that some big tournaments are staying local so you can easily go support the Deacs! Next week men's tennis and women's tennis will compete at Cary Tennis Park in Cary, N.C. (April 14-19), while the women's golf team is at Porters Neck Country Club in Wilmington, N.C. (April 16-19).
Wake Forest Golf Continues to Score
Since the inception of the Augusta National Women's Amateur, Wake Forest has had a player in every final round, including Jennifer Kupcho, the 2019 winner, and Emilia Migliaccio, a finalist in 2021. Last weekend, Chloe Kovelesky and Macy Pate made history when they became the first pair in program history to advance to the finals in the ANWA! Go Deacs!
PGA Tour star and Wake Forest alum Cameron Young ('19) and wife Kelsey established the Cameron Young Family Men's Golf Scholarship – an endowed gift fueling our storied program for generations. The five-time Deacon winner and recent Players Championship champion said it best: "Wake Forest gave me an unbelievable foundation... This is about giving others that same shot." Coach Jerry Haas and I couldn't agree more.
While we root on Cameron Young and Michael Brennan this weekend in Augusta, congratulations are in order to Alex Fitzpatrick ('22) who secured his first DP World Tour Title at the Hero Indian Open.
Big Baseball Win Over Clemson Highlighted Wake Charlotte Series April 1
The month of April led off with a great crowd gathering at Truist Field in Charlotte, as the Diamond Deacs dispatched Clemson in a commanding 15-4 run-rule win in just seven innings. This mid-week conference clash was a fantastic opportunity to connect our Reynolda Campus here in Winston-Salem with our growing Medical, Business, and School of Professional Studies action in Charlotte, and the energy from the Deacon fans in Queen City was unmatched! The contest featured a full slate of special events, including NBA legend Muggsy Bogues throwing out the ceremonial first pitch, the Spirit of the Old Gold & Black and 3,934 fans cheering the Demon Deacons on to their largest win over Clemson since the 2019 season. Thank you to everyone who showed out and tuned into ACCN!
From the Quad Big 3
Finally, here are today's Big 3 ways to help the Deacs:
Thanks for all the ways you support Wake Forest University, and as always, please continue to send your thoughts, ideas and suggestions to me at wfuad@wfu.edu, and …
Go Deacs!
John Currie
Vice President & Director of Athletics
Wake Forest University
We have a full slate of Saturday action for the Demon Deacons highlighted by a home court opportunity to clinch a share of an ACC regular season title and season sweep of our Big Four rivals as Coach Tony Bresky's No. 7 ranked men's tennis squad hosts NC State this afternoon on the Southern Family Courts at Leighton Stadium. Admission is free and we are expecting another boisterous crowd! Come out early before the 5:00 p.m. match and help honor senior DK Suresh. Currently ranked No. 25 nationally in singles, DK is an ACC Scholar-Athlete of the Year, ITA All-American and first team All-ACC in both singles and doubles.
Meanwhile Demon Deacons everywhere will have an eye on the Masters where Cameron Young ('19) and Michael Brennan ('24) easily made the cut and begin Moving Day sitting in ties for 7th and 20th, respectively. Down in south Florida, Demon Deacon baseball looks to even the series with the Hurricanes at 6:00 PM on ACCNetworkExtra and Wake Track has split the squad to compete in two different competitions in Durham and Miami. Remember you can follow all the action on GoDeacs.com.
This past week began somberly with the passing of our friend and my 2nd predecessor, Dr. Gene Hooks, who served as Wake Forest's Director of Athletics from 1964-1992. A graduate of Wake Forest College, and a member of the 1949 College World Series team, Dr. Hooks exemplified what it meant to live Pro Humanitate – always leading Wake Forest with innovation and compassion. Even in the last days of his 98 years, he was still cheering on the Demon Deacons with the same spirit that marked his transformative tenure as Wake Forest AD. You can read our official release here and I also encourage you to check out John Dell's remembrance in the Winston-Salem Journal.
I first met Dr. Hooks around 1991, when he was willing to take an appointment from a young student interested in learning more about college athletics, and I always appreciated our conversations and time together. Being on Hooks Field with him and Ron Wellman after we defeated Alabama to advance to the MCWS in 2023 will always be a special memory for me.
Dr. Hooks certainly saw his share of change and disruption during his tenure – which included conference realignment – ACC departures (South Carolina) and additions (Georgia Tech and Florida State), new regulations (Title IX in 1972) and media rights upheaval – (the 1984 Supreme Court decision breaking the NCAA TV monopoly) and kept Wake Forest moving forward regardless of the challenges. And, as an educator – and former faculty member – Dr. Hooks helped enshrine Wake Forest's commitment to keeping the "student" in student-athlete.
Last Thursday afternoon, ESPN's David Hale was in town working on a feature on Wake Forest spring football and catching up with Coach Jake Dickert, so we grabbed a late lunch and I brought him up to McCreary Tower for an overhead view of The Grounds' remarkable progress. Back on campus we ran into redshirt junior Davaughn Patterson on his way from class to the McCreary Football Complex. I introduced Davaughn to David and asked him what class he was coming from. David was floored when Davaughn replied, "Chinese Literature." It was a true Wake Forest moment – as college athletics continues to evolve (or devolve!), our Demon Deacons remain students first, and we're determined to protect that principle.
With that reminder, let's head to the updates!
Basketball Portal Wide Open as March Madness Turns to Portal Madness
This week certainly wasn't a fun one for college hoops traditionalists, as the transfer portal officially opened early Tuesday morning. As of 3 p.m. Friday afternoon, 2,013 men's basketball student-athletes had declared their intention to shop for greener pastures, representing well over half of the current Division I men's basketball players with remaining eligibility. Whether it's a quest for more money or more playing time, pressure from an agent, desire for a different position or in a new system, the button is getting pressed faster and more often than ever before, regardless of the academic and relationship consequences.
The most painful of the portal moments for Deacon fans was when Juke Harris informed Coach Forbes last week that, while continuing his preparations for the 2026 NBA Draft, he would be entering the transfer portal to further assess his options if he decides to return to school. Coach Forbes provided Juke a very competitive revenue sharing offer, and we made every effort possible to encourage Juke to remain a Demon Deacon. We'll always be proud of Juke's accomplishments as a Demon Deacon and wish him well in his pursuits.
Wake Forest University is fully committed to maximum revenue sharing and NIL opportunities for student-athletes under the House case settlement, and we're grateful to our Board of Trustees, President Wente, and Deacon Club members everywhere for their support as we navigate college athletics' rapid changes. Our overall financial investment in men's basketball success is greater than ever before – and each day the gifts of all sizes from Deacon Club members are helping make it so.
Massive roster fluidity is an unpleasant fact of life in college basketball in 2026 and Coach Steve Forbes, our General Manager Steve Weinman and our men's basketball staff are hard at work rebuilding our roster.
New Environment Brings Rumors, Confusion and Frustration – and Opportunities to Help
Nine months since the beginning of the House settlement era and the advent of revenue sharing, there is wild speculation about "roster values" and continued confusion about how these can be achieved and funded.
As you will recall, the House v. NCAA settlement permitted schools to begin funding up to $20.5 million in revenue sharing this academic year (from July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026). The settlement terms prescribe that schools which added now-permissible new additional scholarships must count the first $2.5 million of those scholarships towards the $20.5 million cap. The cap ceiling grows by 4% each year, meaning a school participating in full revenue sharing opportunities can distribute $21,320,000 in 2026-27 and $22,172,800 in 2027-28.
An important opportunity for Wake Forest – and Deacon fans everywhere – comes from the College Sports Commission's recent determination that schools, like Wake Forest, who currently must count $2.5 million in new scholarships towards the cap, will be permitted to add that amount to revenue sharing in the 2026-27 year, albeit while incurring an assessment of 20% on every dollar spent (i.e., a total of $500k if over the cap by the $2.5 million) on this distribution.
So – in plain(er) English – we need to generate $3 million to provide this new $2.5 million in additional revenue sharing for the coming year. We have assured our coaches that they will have this asset, and we appreciate – and welcome – gifts from Wake Forest fans. Gifts to the McCreary Triple Double Challenge are particularly fueling this effort, supporting both current-use scholarships and program excellence. With $75.8 million already committed, the momentum is real – and growing. We invite you to explore the impact and join the effort.
Wake student-athletes can also benefit from "above-the-cap" fair market value NIL deals directly with businesses and entities that are approved through the College Sports Commission and NILGo. Since July 1, 2025 more than 100 Wake Forest student-athletes have signed third-party NIL deals that have been approved through NILGo and the CSC. We expect that activity to continue to grow as we enter 2026-27 and Wake Forest Sports Properties (a Learfield company) is proactively selling student-athlete activations into their Demon Deacon sponsorships.
Many of the bigger roster values reported via social media take into account "front-loading."
Prior to the effective date of the settlement, "collectives" across the country, including Wake Forest's Roll The Quad (RTQ), were able to deploy any remaining balances to student-athletes in advance of the 2025-26 season, effectively "front-loading" student-athletes and relieving pressure on their school's 2025-26 revenue sharing allocation. At perhaps a quarter of Power Four schools, a combination of money from collectives and/or redirecting payments from vendor relationships prior to June 30, 2025 enabled them to "pay" in advance their entire revenue sharing budget – which means they can use this year's cap to supplement next year's rosters.
However, collectives at most schools became ineffective after July 1 as the College Sports Commission began to regularly reject collective submitted deals (including from RTQ) that it determined had no valid business purpose – or whose funding source was a booster. In the fall, Student-Athlete NIL (SANIL), the company that powered the contracting and payment functions of RTQ and dozens of other collectives, shut down their business.
The CSC has ruled that warehousing marketing agreements do not meet the valid business purpose test as described in this arbitration case with Nebraska student-athletes and the handful of collectives that remain operational at schools like Alabama are attempting to operate more like marketing and sponsorship agencies.
So How Can Wake Fans Help?
Attend events, buy tickets, donate to the Deacon Club and engage with Wake Forest Sports Properties! The Deacon Club celebrated a historic Deacs Day of Giving on March 19 and currently cash giving is $11 million ahead of last year's pace. Be sure to contact deacclub@wfu.edu for assistance and advice on supporting your favorite Wake programs.
If you and your business want to invest in a fair-market NIL sponsorship of a Wake Forest student-athlete contact Banks Shepherd, General Manager of Wake Forest Sports Properties who can "connect your brand to Wake Forest Fans."
Thanks for all you do to cheer on the Deacs and remember to bring your friends, neighbors, family, or colleagues!
College Athletics Conundrum Attracts Presidential Attention, NCAA Explores Eligibility
Perhaps the most vexing obstacle to "fixing" college athletics is the hodge-podge of state laws, court rulings, and governor or state attorney general actions in 37+ different states that make establishing – and enforcing – a singular set of rules very difficult. We've also previously written about the SCORE Act, which would preempt all these different state rulings and laws and enable a national standard.
In the March 18th edition of From The Quad, I reflected on my trip to the White House from the initial convening of President Trump's "Saving College Sports" roundtable. On April 3rd we saw movement from the White House as President Trump released an executive order in followup which portends transfer limitations, prohibitions on pay-for-play NIL collectives and suggest restrictions in federal funding and grants if institutions fail to follow updated rules intended to protect opportunities in women's and Olympic sports.
Meanwhile, Yahoo's Ross Dellenger wrote this excellent story this week about potential NCAA legislation that would create a more common sense eligibility model.
As the ACC's representative on the NCAA Division I Cabinet, I welcome the efforts of the Administration, as well as Congressional leaders, to address these issues. Common-sense eligibility standards, financially sustainable models that preserve participation and scholarship opportunities for all student-athletes, and re-centering the pursuit of a college degree as a core tenet of the student-athlete experience, remain foundational to Wake Forest's commitment to deliver a World Class Student-Athlete Experience.
Spring Football Anchors Big Winston Weekend April 16-19!
Coach Jake Dickert's Demon Deacons are practicing hard and next weekend you'll get a chance to check 'em out in person at Allegacy Stadium. Join us Saturday, April 18 at 1:30 p.m. for the free Spring Football Fan Fest – complete with a youth clinic, youth giveaways, and post-event autographs from players and coaches. Arrive early at 12 p.m. for family-friendly activities in the DEACTOWN Fan Zone behind Deacon Hill, including inflatables, face painting, and more. The Fan Fest will wrap up just in time to head over to David F. Couch Ballpark, where Coach Tom Walter's Diamond Deacs continue a huge Big Four homestand against NC State at 4 p.m. Be sure to email wffanexp@wfu.edu with your questions or for involvement details.
Huge Competition Coming for Annual Wake Forest Track Invitational
Come check out world-class track and field competition as we host the fourth annual Wake Forest Invitational at Kentner Stadium on Thursday and Friday, April 16 & 17. Last year this free invitational welcomed over 1,180 athletes from 79 schools, and generated $385,125 in total visitor spend in Winston-Salem – we're more excited than ever to continue this meaningful event for the community! The Deacon Club will be hosting a tailgate on Friday, April 17 from 12:00-3:00 p.m. and 5:00-8:00 p.m. at the Miller Center Plaza – be sure to sign up for the tailgate here and don't miss our Senior & Graduates Day ceremony at 5:30 p.m. And if you are on or around campus, be aware that a starting gun for all races will be in use throughout the two-day event. Follow updates on GoDeacs.com and @WakeTrack.
Creekside Apartments Rising Fast!
If you've driven down University Parkway lately, you've likely spotted the striking new apartment building rising at The Grounds. Creekside Apartments are now open for student pre-leasing ahead of the Fall 2027 opening – just steps from Reynolda campus that count towards on-campus housing credit. Visit CreeksideAtTheGrounds.com to learn more or lock in your spot today!
Investing in the Spirit of the Old Gold and Black
The Spirit of the Old Gold and Black is a time honored pillar of the Wake Forest community – faithfully supporting Demon Deacon teams and entertaining the crowd regardless of the weather or score, and performing at multiple spirit events around campus and on the road throughout the year. Thanks to President Wente's leadership, Wake Forest announced this week a new scholarship program to honor the commitment of SOTOGAB members and strengthen the band's membership. The plan includes merit-based scholarships for returning members and will help grow the band and its impact on The Best Fan Experience in North Carolina. For more information about how you can help support SOTOGAB, please contact Director of Philanthropy and Donor Engagement Strategy Dr. Anthony Tang at tangam@wfu.edu, or Deacon Club Regional Director Chris Gray at grayc@wfu.edu.
Local ACC Championships on Deck for Tennis and Golf
Spring ACC Championships are quickly approaching, and we're pretty fortunate that some big tournaments are staying local so you can easily go support the Deacs! Next week men's tennis and women's tennis will compete at Cary Tennis Park in Cary, N.C. (April 14-19), while the women's golf team is at Porters Neck Country Club in Wilmington, N.C. (April 16-19).
Wake Forest Golf Continues to Score
Since the inception of the Augusta National Women's Amateur, Wake Forest has had a player in every final round, including Jennifer Kupcho, the 2019 winner, and Emilia Migliaccio, a finalist in 2021. Last weekend, Chloe Kovelesky and Macy Pate made history when they became the first pair in program history to advance to the finals in the ANWA! Go Deacs!
PGA Tour star and Wake Forest alum Cameron Young ('19) and wife Kelsey established the Cameron Young Family Men's Golf Scholarship – an endowed gift fueling our storied program for generations. The five-time Deacon winner and recent Players Championship champion said it best: "Wake Forest gave me an unbelievable foundation... This is about giving others that same shot." Coach Jerry Haas and I couldn't agree more.
While we root on Cameron Young and Michael Brennan this weekend in Augusta, congratulations are in order to Alex Fitzpatrick ('22) who secured his first DP World Tour Title at the Hero Indian Open.
Big Baseball Win Over Clemson Highlighted Wake Charlotte Series April 1
The month of April led off with a great crowd gathering at Truist Field in Charlotte, as the Diamond Deacs dispatched Clemson in a commanding 15-4 run-rule win in just seven innings. This mid-week conference clash was a fantastic opportunity to connect our Reynolda Campus here in Winston-Salem with our growing Medical, Business, and School of Professional Studies action in Charlotte, and the energy from the Deacon fans in Queen City was unmatched! The contest featured a full slate of special events, including NBA legend Muggsy Bogues throwing out the ceremonial first pitch, the Spirit of the Old Gold & Black and 3,934 fans cheering the Demon Deacons on to their largest win over Clemson since the 2019 season. Thank you to everyone who showed out and tuned into ACCN!
From the Quad Big 3
Finally, here are today's Big 3 ways to help the Deacs:
- Volunteers Needed! Track and Field Director, John Hayes is looking for some energetic volunteers from the community to help out with the Wake Forest Invitational on Thursday, April 16 & Friday, April 17. Shifts are flexible across the two days and nights and it's a fun way to ensure the success of the event! Sign up here, or contact Coach Lucas Hofer at hoferl@wfu.edu for more information.
- What's Your "One More" for Football 2026? There is not an easier, more affordable, or fun way to host a group outing than Wake Forest Football! Make your "one more" a pledge to bring a friend, a neighbor, or a group to enjoy the B.E.S.T. Fan Experience in North Carolina. Make DEACTOWN the destination for your next group outing this season! Contact the Wake Forest Ticket Office sales team at 336-758-DEAC for more information.
- Magic at The Joel! The LVJM Coliseum will host an exciting Face to Face guest and former Los Angeles Laker, Earvin "Magic" Johnson on Tuesday, April 14 at 7:30 p.m. Led by Assistant VP & Executive Director Sue Henderson, the Face to Face program provides our community with the opportunity to engage with intellectuals from all walks of life. Deacon fans can take advantage of a 50% ticket discount with the promo code: F2FSPECIAL – secure your tickets here!
Thanks for all the ways you support Wake Forest University, and as always, please continue to send your thoughts, ideas and suggestions to me at wfuad@wfu.edu, and …
Go Deacs!
John Currie
Vice President & Director of Athletics
Wake Forest University
Players Mentioned
Spring Fan Fest Media Availability (4/18/26) | Wake Forest Football
Saturday, April 18
Spring Camp Media Availability (4/14/26) | Wake Forest Football
Tuesday, April 14
Spring Camp Media Availability (4/11/26) | Wake Forest Football
Saturday, April 11
Spring Camp Media Availability (4/9/26) | Wake Forest Football
Thursday, April 09