Wake Forest Athletics
Tom Stuetzer Named 2026 Pete Moffitt Courage Award Recipient
9/16/2026 8:55:00 AM | Football, General
Established in 2012 in honor of Pete Moffitt (’84), who displayed extraordinary bravery during his battle with ALS, the award is presented annually to a Wake Forest student-athlete, coach, administrator, or alumnus who exemplifies remarkable resilience and courage.
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WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Wake Forest football alum Tom Stuetzer ('96, '97 MSA) has been named the recipient of the 2026 Pete Moffitt Courage Award, recognizing his commitment to the Pro Humanitate spirit while exemplifying true perseverance.
The Pete Moffitt Courage Award is presented annually to a former Wake Forest student-athlete, coach, administrator, or alumnus who has displayed exceptional courage in facing personal challenges, while continuing to embody the determination and resilience that define Wake Forest Athletics. The award was established in 2012, honoring Pete Moffitt ('84) who displayed extraordinary bravery during his battle with ALS.
Stuetzer competed for the Demon Deacons from 1993-96, excelling as a defensive back. During the 1993 season, he finished as the team leader in interceptions with four. Off the gridiron, Stuetzer earned All-ACC Academic Team honors twice in 1993 and 1996. Since his playing days, Stuetzer stayed involved in football within Marietta, Ga. He served as both president and a board member of the Pope Touchdown Club while leading young athletes as a youth coach in the Pope football feeder program.
Stuetzer is courageously battling behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia (FTD), displaying the same resilience and integrity that Demon Deacon fans remember from his playing days. Inspiring countless individuals with his fight, Wake Forest and the Winston-Salem community are deeply honored to award Stuetzer and his family: wife Kerri and children Ryan, Katelynn and John. A "Double Deac" earning both a bachelor's degree and Master of Science in Accountancy from Wake Forest, Stuetzer has embodied all that the Pete Moffitt Courage Award was created to revere. He comes from a loyal Wake Forest family with his parents Tom ('68), also a Wake Forest former football player and Nancy Stuetzer ('69) former Demon Deacon cheerleader and both longtime Deacon Club members.
Stuetzer is now part of a distinguished group of honorees, becoming the 14th recipient of the award. The everlasting impact of Pete Moffitt has continued to be carried over the years by the winners, as the Wake Forest family will always remember his resoluteness.
A ceremony is set to honor Stuetzer on Friday, September 18 at Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum. The event will begin at 4:30 p.m. inside the Allegacy Club space, with parking available in the Allegacy Lot.
What They're Saying
Pete Moffitt Courage Award Recipients
2026 - Tom Stuetzer ('96, '97 MSA), Football
2025 - Warren Belin ('90), Football Alumni and Former Assistant Coach
2024 - Bill Stines
2023 - Dr. Kyle Young ('65, MD '69, P'93, P'98, P'98, P'98)
2022 - Carl Tucker ('68, P '95, P '97, P '04, GP '28)
2021 - Larry McCreary (MALS '09)
2019 – Luke Orman ('04), Track & Field
2018 – Jim "Butch" Williams ('62, J.D.'66, P'89, P'92, P'96), Football
2017 – Dr. Wiley Doby ('70, PhD '84, P '02)
2016 – Allan Head ('68, JD '69, P '92, P '98), Track & Field
2015 – Homer Brookshire ('68), Football
2014 – Heather Holmes, Former Volleyball Head Coach
2013 – Rodney Rogers ('94), Men's Basketball
2012 – Tom Walter, Current Baseball Head Coach
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – Wake Forest football alum Tom Stuetzer ('96, '97 MSA) has been named the recipient of the 2026 Pete Moffitt Courage Award, recognizing his commitment to the Pro Humanitate spirit while exemplifying true perseverance.
The Pete Moffitt Courage Award is presented annually to a former Wake Forest student-athlete, coach, administrator, or alumnus who has displayed exceptional courage in facing personal challenges, while continuing to embody the determination and resilience that define Wake Forest Athletics. The award was established in 2012, honoring Pete Moffitt ('84) who displayed extraordinary bravery during his battle with ALS.
Stuetzer competed for the Demon Deacons from 1993-96, excelling as a defensive back. During the 1993 season, he finished as the team leader in interceptions with four. Off the gridiron, Stuetzer earned All-ACC Academic Team honors twice in 1993 and 1996. Since his playing days, Stuetzer stayed involved in football within Marietta, Ga. He served as both president and a board member of the Pope Touchdown Club while leading young athletes as a youth coach in the Pope football feeder program.
Stuetzer is courageously battling behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia (FTD), displaying the same resilience and integrity that Demon Deacon fans remember from his playing days. Inspiring countless individuals with his fight, Wake Forest and the Winston-Salem community are deeply honored to award Stuetzer and his family: wife Kerri and children Ryan, Katelynn and John. A "Double Deac" earning both a bachelor's degree and Master of Science in Accountancy from Wake Forest, Stuetzer has embodied all that the Pete Moffitt Courage Award was created to revere. He comes from a loyal Wake Forest family with his parents Tom ('68), also a Wake Forest former football player and Nancy Stuetzer ('69) former Demon Deacon cheerleader and both longtime Deacon Club members.
Stuetzer is now part of a distinguished group of honorees, becoming the 14th recipient of the award. The everlasting impact of Pete Moffitt has continued to be carried over the years by the winners, as the Wake Forest family will always remember his resoluteness.
A ceremony is set to honor Stuetzer on Friday, September 18 at Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum. The event will begin at 4:30 p.m. inside the Allegacy Club space, with parking available in the Allegacy Lot.
What They're Saying
- Family of Tom Stuetzer ('96, '97 MSA):
- "What an incredible honor this award means to our family and Tom. If the Demon Deacon Tom, father, son, husband, brother, friend, and coach could express his thoughts on this matter and what it means to him, we know, first and foremost, he would humbly say, "I do not deserve it!" Then, after receiving it, we know deep down he would be so proud to follow in the footsteps of Pete [Moffitt], his Demon Deacon brother, and what he stood for. The Old Gold and Black run deep in our sweet father and husband to exemplify courage, faith, determination, and fight – all he ever was and nothing short of it! We are incredibly honored as a family that the Wake Forest community is honoring our Tom with this incredible award. God bless you all and thank you sincerely!"
- Head Football Coach Jake Dickert:
- "Tom Stuetzer embodies everything we want our program to stand for. His fight against behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia reflects the same mental toughness and character he brought to the field as a four-year standout defensive back and to the classroom as a two-time academic honoree. We are proud to celebrate his courage, determination and resilience with this award."
- Vice President & Director of Athletics John Currie ('93):
- "On and off the field, with his teammates, family and community, in school and since, Tom Stuetzer epitomizes Pro Humanitate. My wife, Mary Lawrence, was proud to be his classmate in Wake Forest University's first five year bachelor's and master's in accountancy program cohort and we admire Kerri, Tom and their family's continued devotion and spirit in this challenge. Tom deserves this award and we are grateful for his family and many Demon Deacon teammates being here to celebrate his courage."
Pete Moffitt Courage Award Recipients
2026 - Tom Stuetzer ('96, '97 MSA), Football
2025 - Warren Belin ('90), Football Alumni and Former Assistant Coach
2024 - Bill Stines
2023 - Dr. Kyle Young ('65, MD '69, P'93, P'98, P'98, P'98)
2022 - Carl Tucker ('68, P '95, P '97, P '04, GP '28)
2021 - Larry McCreary (MALS '09)
2019 – Luke Orman ('04), Track & Field
2018 – Jim "Butch" Williams ('62, J.D.'66, P'89, P'92, P'96), Football
2017 – Dr. Wiley Doby ('70, PhD '84, P '02)
2016 – Allan Head ('68, JD '69, P '92, P '98), Track & Field
2015 – Homer Brookshire ('68), Football
2014 – Heather Holmes, Former Volleyball Head Coach
2013 – Rodney Rogers ('94), Men's Basketball
2012 – Tom Walter, Current Baseball Head Coach
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