Dave Cohen - Football Coach - Wake Forest University Athletics

Dave Cohen

Title:
Assistant Head Coach for Defense/Defensive Line
Email:
cohend@wfu.edu
Phone:
336-758-5844

Dave Cohen, who is set to enter his 11th season on the Wake Forest football staff, coaches the defensive line and added the title of assistant head coach to his duties following the 2018 season.

During his time in Winston-Salem, Cohen has made a major impact on the Demon Deacons defensive front as he has helped at least one defensive lineman earn All-ACC honors in eight of his nine seasons since his arrival in 2014.

Working with new defensive coordinator Brad Lambert in 2022, Cohen helped Lambert coordinate a Deacs defense that forced 16 turnovers (seven interceptions, nine fumbles) as Wake Forest won eight games for just the 10th time in the 115-year history of the program. Additionally, the Demon Deacons downed Missouri in the 2022 Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl, which marked the 11th bowl victory in program history.

With that aforementioned win over the Tigers and a victory in Week 2 at Vanderbilt where the Wake Forest defense was able to force three turnovers, the Deacs defeated defeated two programs from the Southeastern Conference last fall for the first time since 2008, and just the second time in program history the Deacs accomplished this feat in a single season.

As a team in 2022, Cohen and Lambert’s defense continued a stretch of 30-plus sacks and 85-plus tackles-for-loss as a unit for the third time in the last four seasons (2020).

Individually, Cohen tutored three All-ACC performers in 2022 (DL Kobie Turner, Third Team; Rondell Bothroyd, Honorable Mention; Jasheen Davis, Honorable Mention) and one All-American (Turner, Honorable Mention Pro Football Focus).

Two years ago in 2021, Cohen helped head coach Dave Clawson lead the Deacs to a program-record tying 11-3 record, including a school-best 7-1 mark in ACC play. The defensive line helped Wake Forest force a Cohen-Clawson era record 29 turnovers (15 interceptions, 14 fumble recoveries). The total is the most since 2008 when Wake Forest tallied 37 turnovers.

Additionally, Wake Forest tallied 38 sacks in 2021 to set another Cohen-Clawson era record. That mark sits second second in program history behind the Deacs 1992 squad (46). Meanwhile, Wake Forest’s 223 yardage lost by their 38 sacks was the school’s highest mark since at least 1996.

Individually, Cohen led Miles Fox to Second Team All-ACC honors in 2021 after he earned First Team accolades the previous year. DL Rondell Bothroyd garnered Honorable Mention recognition by the conference and transfer Luiji Vilain totaled the ninth-most sacks in a single season in program history in 2021 with nine.

Cohen, who was Wake Forest’s 2020 Broyles Award Nominee, led Buffalo Bills 2021 NFL Second Round Draft Pick Carlos “Boogie” Bashham Jr. to First Team All-ACC honors in 2019 after he racked up an ACC-best with 18.0 tackles for loss while tying for 14th nationally with 11.0 sacks. Between the 2018-20 seasons, Basham had a streak of 23-consecutive games with a tackle for loss. It was the longest streak in FBS by at least 14 games when it came to a close on Oct. 31, 2020.

Basham ended his career ranked fourth on the Wake Forest all-time sacks list and 11th in tackles for loss.

In addition to Basham, Cohen tutored 2017 Wake Forest graduate Duke Ejifor to 17 sacks over his final two seasons on campus. He went on to be drafted by the Houston Texans in the sixth round.

Prior to coming to Winston-Salem, Cohen spent time teaching the linebacker position. While at Rutgers, he helped tutor one of the most accomplished players in Scarlet Knights’ history in Kasheem Greene. The 2012 Big East Defensive Player of the Year racked up 136 tackles, six sacks, six forced fumbles, two interceptions and two defensive touchdowns en route to being named a first team All-America honors.

Cohen, who was named the NCAA I-AA Defensive Coordinator of the Year by American Football Monthly magazine while at Delaware, helped the Blue Hens capture the 2003 National Championship. Cohen’s success at Delaware helped him earn a head coaching job at Hofstra where he was a finalist for the Eddie Robinson Award, the top FCS coach in the country, in 2007.

He and his wife Denise have two sons, Charlie and Brian.

Wake Forest (2014-present)

During his time in Winston-Salem, Cohen has made a major impact on the Demon Deacons defensive front as he has helped at least one defensive lineman earn All-ACC honors in eight of his nine seasons since his arrival in 2014.
- Over the last six years, the Deacons have racked up 190 sacks, including 88 in the last three seasons combined.
Wake Forest football’s mantra for the 2022 season was “MINDSET” as the Demon Deacons looked to follow up its historic year in 2021.

The Deacs won eight games in a season for just the 10th time in the 115-year history of the program.
- With the win over Missouri on Friday and a victory in Week 2 at Vanderbilt, Wake Forest defeated two programs from the Southeastern Conference this fall for the first time since 2008, and just the second time in program history the Deacs accomplished this feat in a single season.
The 2022 Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl marked Wake Forest’s seventh-straight bowl appearance, a new school record.
- Additionally, the Demon Deacons’ streak is the second-longest active streak in the Atlantic Coast Conference and the 12th longest in the nation.

A 6-1 start to the 2022 season, including three-straight home sellout crowds inside Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium and a top-10 ranking, highlighted Wake Forest’s season this past fall.
Lambert coordinated a Deacs defense that forced 16 turnovers (seven interceptions, nine fumbles) and continued a stretch of 30-plus sacks and 85-plus tackles-for-loss as a unit for the third time in the last four seasons (2020).
Individually, Cohen tutored three All-ACC performers in 2022 (DL Kobie Turner, Third Team; Rondell Bothroyd, Honorable Mention; Jasheen Davis, Honorable Mention) and one All-American (Turner, Honorable Mention Pro Football Focus).

In 2021, the defensive line helped Wake Forest force a Cohen era record 29 turnovers (15 interceptions, 14 fumble recoveries). The total is the most since 2008 when Wake Forest tallied 37 turnovers.
- Additionally, Wake Forest tallied 38 sacks in 2021 to set another Cohen-Clawson era record. That mark sits second second in program history behind the Deacs 1992 squad (46).
- Meanwhile, Wake Forest’s 223 yardage lost by their 38 sacks was the school’s highest mark since at least 1996.
- Individually, Cohen led Miles Fox to Second Team All-ACC honors in 2021 and DL Rondell Bothroyd garnered Honorable Mention recognition by the conference.
- Transfer Luiji Vilain totaled the ninth-most sacks in a single season in program history in 2021 with nine.
Cohen, who was Wake Forest’s 2020 Broyles Award Nominee, led Buffalo Bills 2021 NFL Second Round Draft Pick Carlos “Boogie” Bashham Jr. to First Team All-ACC honors in 2019 after he racked up an ACC-best with 18.0 tackles for loss while tying for 14th nationally with 11.0 sacks.
- Between the 2018-20 seasons, Basham had a streak of 23-consecutive games with a tackle for loss. It was the longest streak in FBS by at least 14 games when it came to a close on Oct. 31, 2020.
  - Basham ended his career ranked fourth on the Wake Forest all-time sacks list and 11th in tackles for loss.
- Cohen helped Fox become one of the most disruptive interior lineman in the ACC during the 2020 campaign as the graduate transfer earned AP First Team All-ACC accolades after tallying 24 tackles, including a team high 10.5 tackles-for-loss and 3.5 sacks.
In 2019, Cohen helped Basham become the first Deacon defensive end to earn first team All-ACC honors since Calvin Pace in 2002.
- Basham recorded 11 sacks in 2019, the second-most in a season by a Wake Forest player.
In 2018, Cohen helped groom defensive tackle Willie Yarbary and defensive end Chris Calhoun, each of whom signed pro contracts following the season.
In 2017, Duke Ejiofor was a second team All-ACC selection after recording seven sacks and 17 tackles for loss.
- Ejifor was taken in the sixth round of the 2018 NFL Draft by the Houston Texans.
In 2016, Cohen helped Ejiofor earn Third Team All-ACC recognition as a junior when he recorded a team-high 10.5 sacks.
Cohen’s defensive line played a key role in Wake Forest’s 2016 Military Bowl win over No. 23 Temple, holding the Owls to -21 yards rushing, the fewest by a Deacon opponent since 1952.
In his first season on campus, Cohen made an immediate impact on the front four as Josh Banks earned honorable mention All-ACC honors while Tyler Harris was named second team All-ACC.

Rutgers (2012-13)

In 2012, Cohen coached one of the best players in Rutgers history in linebacker Khaseem Greene. He earned Big East Defensive Player of the Year honors and was named an All-America after making 136 tackles and forcing six fumbles. Greene was a fourth-round pick of the Chicago Bears in the 2013 NFL Draft.
- Cohen helped coach one of the best defenses in the nation as the Scarlet Knights finished fourth in the nation in scoring defense (14.2 points allowed per game), tied for ninth in turnovers gained (32) and 10th in total defense (311.6 yards per game).
The Scarlet Knights continued their dominant form in Cohen’s second season, finishing fourth in the country in run defense (100.8 yards per game). They also averaged 2.5 sacks per game and 6.3 tackles per loss per game
- Current Detroit Lions linebacker Steve Longa earned third team All-Big Ten honors while finishing 27th in the country with 123 tackles.
- Despite playing just three seasons, Longa finished third in program history with 342 tackles.

Western Michigan (2010-11)

In 2011, the Broncos defense boasted its fifth ever MAC Defensive Player of the Year and Phil Steele All-American in Drew Nowak. Rover Johnnie Simon and defensive end Freddie Bishop also earned All-MAC accolades for the first time in their respective careers.
Heading into the conference championships and bowl season, WMU ranked sixth in the nation in total takeaways (30) and finished the 2010 season ranked 12th.

Hofstra (2006-09)

In 2008, despite having a team that was decimated by injuries, the Pride led the CAA and ranked fourth in the country in pass defense, and was ninth in kickoff returns.
In 2007, Hofstra recorded the second-most improved record in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), going from 2-9 in 2006 to 7-4.
- For his efforts, Cohen was a finalist for the Eddie Robinson Award, which is presented annually to the top FCS coach in the country.
- The Pride led the CAA in rushing defense in 2007, allowing just 113.9 yards per game, which ranked as the best average since the 1996 campaign. The Pride also ranked second in total defense, allowing just 312 yards per game. That mark was the second-lowest total since 1996.

Delaware (2002-05)

His defensive schemes played a large part in Delaware posting a 15-1 record and capturing the NCAA I-AA national title in 2003.
- For his efforts, Cohen was honored as the NCAA I-AA Defensive Coordinator of the Year by American Football Monthly magazine.
- Led by All-American defensive end and Oakland Raider draftee Shawn Johnson and longtime Houston Texans safety Mike Adams, the Blue Hens posted the first shutout in I-AA championship game history with a 40-0 win over previously unbeaten Colgate.
- Delaware's defense, which held all four I-AA playoff opponents to under 10 points to set an NCAA I-AA record, led the Atlantic 10 in rushing defense (114.3 - 17th in I-AA), pass efficiency defense (113.36) and scoring defense (15.4 - 4th in I-AA). Additionally, Delaware ranked second in total defense (303.0 - 16th in I-AA).
In 2004, Cohen led a Blue Hen defense that ranked among the top 25 in the nation in rushing defense, total defense, and turnover margin

Fordham (1999-01)

Cohen served three seasons as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach, including the last two seasons as associate head coach under Dave Clawson.
He helped build Fordham from the bottom of the league standings into a Patriot League contender. After going 0-11 in 1999 and 3-8 in 2000, the Rams posted a record of 7-4 in 2001 and placed third in the league standings with a 5-2 mark.

Delaware (1994-98)

Cohen joined the University of Delaware staff in May 1994 and served five successful seasons, two as defensive line coach and three as linebackers coach.
During his five years at Delaware, he helped lead the Blue Hens to three-consecutive NCAA I-AA tournament appearances in 1995, 1996 and 1997, and the 1995 Yankee Conference title.
Delaware advanced to the national semifinals with a 12-2 mark in 1997 behind all-conference linebackers Brian Smith, Ralph D'Angelo, and Denis Hulme.
While defensive line coach at UD, his team recorded 38 sacks in 1995. He also coached the punt block team in 1997 and the unit recorded a school record five blocks, returning three for touchdowns.

Lafayette (1991-94)

Cohen spent three seasons as the defensive line and linebackers coach for the Leopards.

Albany (1989-90)

Cohen began his coaching career as linebackers coach and strength coach at Albany for two seasons while earning his Master’s Degree in education administration.
Cohen and Wake Forest head coach Dave Clawson first worked together in 1989 and 1990 at the University at Albany under legendary head coach Bob Ford.

Background:

The native of Huntington, N.Y., Cohen was a three-time league champion, All-County and All-Long Island selection at Commack North High School.
A 1988 business management graduate of Long Island University-C.W. Post, Cohen earned his master’s degree in education administration from SUNY-Albany in 1990.
While playing at C.W. Post, Cohen was a two-year starter at defensive tackle and earned CoSIDA Academic All-District honors as a senior.

Personal:

He and his wife Denise have two sons, Charlie and Brian.

Coaching History

Seasons	School/Team	Title/Position Coached
2019-present	Wake Forest	Assistant Head Coach of Defense/Defensive Line
2014-18	Wake Forest	Defensive Line
2012-13	Rutgers	Linebackers
2010-11	Western Michigan	Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers
2006-09	Hofstra	Head Coach
2002-05	Delaware	Defensive Coordinator
2000-01	Fordham	Associate Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers
1999	Fordham	Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers
1996-98	Delaware	Linebackers
1994-95	Delaware	Defensive Line
1990-93	Lafayette	Defensive Line/Linebackers
1988-89	Albany	Linebackers/Strength & Conditioning

Postseason History

Season	Bowl Game/Postseason	Opponent	Result
2022	Gasparilla Bowl (Wake Forest)	Missouri	W, 27-17
2021	Gator Bowl (Wake Forest)	Rutgers	W, 38-10
2020	Duke’s Mayo Bowl (Wake Forest)	Wisconsin	L, 28-42
2019	Pinstripe Bowl (Wake Forest)	Michigan State	L, 21-27
2018	Birmingham Bowl (Wake Forest)	Memphis	W, 34-31
2017	Belk Bowl (Wake Forest)	Texas A&M	W, 51-52
2016	Military Bowl (Wake Forest)	Temple	W, 34-26
2013	Pinstripe Bowl (Rutgers)	Notre Dame	L, 16-29
2012	Russell Athletic Bowl (Rutgers)	Virginia Tech	L, 10-13
2011	Little Caesars Pizza Bowl (Western Michigan)	Purdue	L, 32-37
2004	DI-AA Quarterfinals (Delaware)	William & Mary	L, 38-44
2004	DI-AA First Round (Delaware)	Lafayette	W, 28-14
2004	FCS Playoffs - Quarterfinals (Delaware)	William & Mary	L, 38-44
2004	FCS Playoffs - First Round (Delaware)	Lafayette	W, 28-14
2003	FCS Playoffs - National Championship (Delaware)	Colgate	W, 40-0
2003	FCS Playoffs - Semifinals (Delaware)	Wofford	W, 24-9
2003	FCS Playoffs - Quarterfinals (Delaware)	Northern Iowa	W, 37-7
2003	FCS Playoffs - First Round (Delaware)	Southern Illinois	W, 48-7
1997	FCS Playoffs - Semifinals (Delaware)	McNeese State	L, 21-23
1997	FCS Playoffs - Quarterfinals (Delaware)	Georgia Southern	W, 16-7
1997	FCS Playoffs - First Round (Delaware)	Hofstra	W, 24-14
1996	FCS Playoffs - First Round (Delaware)	Marshall	L, 14-59
1995	FCS Playoffs - Quarterfinal (Delaware)	McNeese State	L, 18-52
1995	FCS Playoffs - First Round (Delaware)	Hofstra	W, 38-17