Wake Forest coach Dave Clawson is stepping down from his position, sources confirmed to CBS Sports' Brandon Marcello. Clawson, 57, will remain with the university in an advisory role after 11 seasons leading the football program.
Clawson's decision comes after consecutive 4-8 campaigns. The Demon Deacons also won a combined three ACC games over the last two years and did not finish better than 14th in the ACC standings. It was their worst two-year span under Clawson since 2014-15, his first two seasons with the program.
Wake Forest's 4-8 showing in 2023 also broke a streak of six consecutive full seasons with a winning record. The Demon Deacons were 4-5 during a COVID-shortened 2020 season, though three of those wins came in ACC play and they still qualified for a bowl game.
Clawson guided Wake Forest to seven straight bowls from 2016-22, the longest such streak in program history. Wake Forest also made just its second ACC Championship Game appearance in program history in 2021. Clawson was named the 2021 ACC Coach of the Year after guiding the Demon Deacons to their second 11-win season in program history.
He leaves his post with a 67-69 overall record and a 32-55 showing in ACC play. Clawson also went 5-2 in bowl games. Prior to his appointment at Wake Forest, Clawson spent five seasons as the coach at Bowling Green from 2009-13. He also served as Tennessee's offensive coordinator in 2008 and had head-coaching stints at Fordham (1999-2003) and Richmond (2004-07).
