The Wake Forest Demon Deacons football team represents Wake Forest University in the sport of American football. The Demon Deacons compete in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the Atlantic Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). Wake Forest plays its home football games at Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium and is coached by Jake Dickert.
Wake Forest struggled in football for much of the second half of the 20th century. The university is the sixth-smallest school in FBS in terms of undergraduate enrollment (behind only Rice, Tulsa and the three FBS United States service academies). It is also the smallest school playing in a Power Five conference. However, since the start of the 21st century, the Deacons have been mostly competitive, having made ten bowl games in the first two decades.
Wake Forest first fielded a football team in 1888. The team was coached by W. C. Dowd and W. C. Riddick. That team played only one game, and went 1âÂÂ0, a victory against North Carolina in the first-ever collegiate football game played in the state of North Carolina. From 1891 to 1893, under head coach E. Walter Sikes, Wake Forest posted a 6âÂÂ2âÂÂ1 record. Harry Rabenhorst coached Wake Forest for two seasons, posting a 3âÂÂ8 record. Hank Garrity served as head football coach from 1923 to 1924. He compiled a 19âÂÂ7âÂÂ1 record in those two seasons. His .704 winning percentage is the highest in Wake Forest football history. F. S. Miller served as Wake Forest's head football coach for four seasons, posting a record of 18âÂÂ15âÂÂ4. His first two seasons were winning seasons, 6âÂÂ5âÂÂ1 and 5âÂÂ3âÂÂ1, respectively. Jim Weaver, who would become the ACC's first commissioner, coached the Demon Deacons football team for four seasons. His final record is 10âÂÂ23âÂÂ1.
Peahead Walker came to the Demon Deacons from Elon and was Wake Forest's head football coach for 14 seasons, compiling a record of 77âÂÂ51âÂÂ6. He is tied with Jim Grobe as the winningest head football coach in Demon Deacon football history. Walker led the Deacons to two bowl games, a win over South Carolina in the inaugural Gator Bowl in 1946 and a loss to Baylor in the 1949 Dixie Bowl. He resigned after the 1950 season and was inducted into the Wake Forest Athletics Hall of Fame in 1971. Tom Rogers led the Demon Deacons from 1951 to 1955, succeeding Walker. Rogers yearly records at Wake Forest were 6âÂÂ4, 5âÂÂ4âÂÂ1, 3âÂÂ6âÂÂ1, 4âÂÂ7âÂÂ1 and 5âÂÂ4âÂÂ1. In 1951, the Demon Deacons compiled a 6âÂÂ4 record and finished in a tie for seventh place in the Southern Conference. End Jack Lewis and linebacker Bill George were selected by the Associated Press as first-team players on the 1951 All-Southern Conference football team. In their second season under Rogers, the Demon Deacons compiled a 5âÂÂ4âÂÂ1 record and finished in a tie for second place in the Southern Conference with a 5âÂÂ1 record against conference opponents. End Jack Lewis was selected by the United Press as a first-team player on the 1952 All-Southern Conference football team. This was followed by a 3âÂÂ6âÂÂ1 campaign in 1953 that saw Wake Forest finish in a three-way tie for third place in the Atlantic Coast Conference with a 2âÂÂ3 record against conference opponents. In 1954, the Demon Deacons compiled a 3âÂÂ6âÂÂ1 record and finished in sixth place in the Atlantic Coast Conference with a 1âÂÂ4âÂÂ1 record against conference opponents. End Ed Stowers and tackle Bob Bartholomew were selected by the Associated Press as first-team players on the 1954 All-Atlantic Coast Conference football team. Bartholomew was the only unanimous selection by all 43 voters. In 1955, their fifth season under Rogers, the Demon Deacons compiled a 5âÂÂ4âÂÂ1 record and finished in fourth place in the Atlantic Coast Conference with a 3âÂÂ3âÂÂ1 record against conference opponents. Tackle Bob Bartholomew was selected by both the Associated Press and the United Press International as a first-team player on the 1955 All-Atlantic Coast Conference football team. Rogers was replaced as Wake Forest head coach after five seasons.
Paul Amen, who succeeded Rogers, came to Wake Forest from his post as an assistant at Army and also struggled but managed to go 6âÂÂ4 in his final season, his only winning record. He coached the Demon Deacons from 1956 to 1959. Amen was hired over another former assistant to Red Blaik, then-New York Giants offensive assistant Vince Lombardi.
In their first season under Amen, the Demon Deacons compiled a 2âÂÂ5âÂÂ3 record and finished in seventh place in the Atlantic Coast Conference with a 1âÂÂ5âÂÂ1 record against conference opponents. Halfback Billy Ray Barnes rushed for over 1,000 yards and was selected by the Associated Press as a first-team player on the 1956 All-Atlantic Coast Conference football team. Amen's 1957 team posted a winless 0âÂÂ10 record. This was followed by a 3âÂÂ7 season in 1958. In 1958, the Demon Deacons compiled a 6âÂÂ4 record and finished in a tie for fourth place in the Atlantic Coast Conference. Quarterback Norm Snead and end Pete Manning were selected by the Associated Press and United Press International as first-team players on the 1959 All-Atlantic Coast Conference football team. Snead later played 16 seasons in the NFL and was a four-time All-Pro selection. Guard Nick Patella was selected to the All-ACC team by the UPI. Amen was selected in 1956 and 1959 as ACC Coach of the Year, however, Amen retired after four seasons. Bill Hildebrand was promoted from defensive line coach to head coach following Amen's retirement. Hildebrand, like his predecessors, struggled to find much success. His best season came in 1961 in which the Demon Deacons posted a 4âÂÂ6 record. In its first season under Hildebrand, the Demon Deacons compiled a 2âÂÂ8 record and finished in seventh place in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). Quarterback Norm Snead was selected by the United Press International as a first-team player on the 1960 All-Atlantic Coast Conference football team. Snead later played 16 seasons in the NFL and was a four-time All-Pro selection. In 1961, its second season under head coach Hildebrand, the team compiled a 4âÂÂ6 record and finished in seventh place in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). Halfback Alan White was selected by the Associated Press as a first-team player on the 1961 All-Atlantic Coast Conference football team. In 1962, the team compiled a 0âÂÂ10 record and finished in last place in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). This was followed by a 1âÂÂ9 campaign in 1963 that saw Wake Forest finish in seventh place in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). After four seasons and a 7âÂÂ33 overall record, Hildebrand was fired.
Bill Tate was hired as the Demon Deacons head football coach in January 1964. Tate coached the Demon Deacons for five seasons. In its first season under Tate, the team compiled a 5âÂÂ5 record and finished in a three-way tie for third place in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). Three players received first-team All-ACC honors from the Associated Press: fullback Brian Piccolo, quarterback John Mackovic, and end Richard Cameron. Piccolo was a unanimous selection for the all-conference team, and was also selected as a first-team All-American by Football News. He set three ACC records in 1964 with 1,044 rushing yards, 111 points scored, and 17 touchdowns. Piccolo also led the nation in 1964 in rushing yards, rushing touchdowns, and points scored. He was named the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Player of the Year, yet went unselected in both the AFL and NFL drafts. Mackovic led the Demon Deacons with 1,340 passing yards while completing 89 of 195 passes. Cameron caught 29 passes for 410 yards. From 1964 to 1968, Wake Forest posted a 17âÂÂ32âÂÂ1 record and steadily declined year-by-year, going from 5âÂÂ5 in Tate's first year worsening each year to 2âÂÂ7âÂÂ1 in his last. Tate won ACC Coach of the Year honors in 1964 but was fired after failing to post a winning record in any of his five seasons.
Cal Stoll was hired as Wake Forest's head coach away from Michigan State, where he served as an assistant. Stoll was able to have success with the Deacons, posting a 3âÂÂ7 record his first year then back-to-back 6âÂÂ5 records in his last two. In 1969, their first season under Stoll, the Demon Deacons compiled a 3âÂÂ7 record and finished in seventh place in the Atlantic Coast Conference. In 1970, the team compiled a 6âÂÂ5 record, finished in first place in the Atlantic Coast Conference with a 5âÂÂ1 record against conference opponents. In their third season under Stoll, the Demon Deacons compiled a 6âÂÂ5 record and finished in a tie for fifth place in the Atlantic Coast Conference. Stoll left Wake Forest after the 1971 season to take the head coach position at his alma mater Minnesota after initially declining the job. His final record was 15âÂÂ17 and included Wake Forest's first ACC championship in 1970. Stoll won ACC Coach of the Year honors in 1970. Tom Harper was promoted from assistant coach to head coach following Stoll's departure. In their first and only season under Harper, the Demon Deacons compiled a 2âÂÂ9 record and finished in a tie for last place in the Atlantic Coast Conference. Harper was replaced as Wake Forest's head football coach after the 1972 season.
Chuck Mills was hired away from Utah State and served as the Demon Deacons head football coach for five seasons, compiling an 11âÂÂ43âÂÂ1 record before he was fired due to the team's continued lackluster on-the-field performance. In 1973, Mills' first season, the Demon Deacons compiled a 1âÂÂ9âÂÂ1 record and finished in last place in the Atlantic Coast Conference. This was followed by a 1âÂÂ10 record and last place finish in the Atlantic Coast Conference in 1974. Mills' third season in 1975 saw the Demon Deacons go 3âÂÂ8 record and finish in fourth place in the Atlantic Coast Conference. In 1976, the Demon Deacons compiled a 5âÂÂ6 record and finished in third place in the Atlantic Coast Conference. In their fifth and final season under Mills in 1977, the Demon Deacons compiled a 1âÂÂ10 record and finished in last place in the Atlantic Coast Conference.
Purdue offensive coordinator and associate head coach John Mackovic took over as head coach of his alma mater in 1978 and re-energized the Wake Forest football program, turning the program around from 1âÂÂ10 to 8âÂÂ4 in one year, for which Mackovic won ACC Coach of the Year honors. His teams were aggressive and fast. In 1979, its second season under head coach John Mackovic, the team compiled an 8âÂÂ4 record, finished in fourth place in the Atlantic Coast Conference, and lost to LSU in the 1979 Tangerine Bowl. Mackovic won the Walter Camp Coach of the Year Award in 1979. In its third season under head coach John Mackovic, the team compiled a 5âÂÂ6 record and finished in a three-way tie for fourth place in the Atlantic Coast Conference. Following the 1980 season, Mackovic left Wake Forest to take an assistant coaching position with the NFL's Dallas Cowboys. Mackovic's final record at Wake Forest is 14âÂÂ20.
Under head coach Al Groh, the Demon Deacons compiled a 26âÂÂ40 record. In 1981, their first season under Groh, the Demon Deacons compiled a 4âÂÂ7 record and finished in sixth place in the Atlantic Coast Conference. In their second season under Groh, the Demon Deacons compiled a 3âÂÂ8 record and finished in last place in the Atlantic Coast Conference. In their third season under Groh, the Demon Deacons compiled a 4âÂÂ7 record and finished in a tie for last place in the Atlantic Coast Conference. Groh's best season was a 6âÂÂ5 1984 season. and Groh resigned after the 1986 season, a 5âÂÂ6 campaign, to take an assistant coaching position with the National Football League's Atlanta Falcons.
Bill Dooley came to Wake Forest after a brief retirement from coaching. He had previously been a head football coach at Virginia Tech and North Carolina.
In Dooley's first season, the team compiled a 7âÂÂ4 record and finished in a tie for third place in the Atlantic Coast Conference. The next year, Wake Forest compiled a 6âÂÂ4âÂÂ1 record and finished in a tie for fourth place in the Atlantic Coast Conference. In 1989, the Demon Deacons compiled a 2âÂÂ8âÂÂ1 record and finished in seventh place in the Atlantic Coast Conference. The following season, Wake Forest finished with a 3âÂÂ8 record and finished in last place in the Atlantic Coast Conference. In 1991, Wake Forest again finished last in the ACC with a 3âÂÂ8 record. Dooley led the Demon Deacons to one bowl game, the 1992 Independence Bowl, which Wake Forest won, capping off an 8âÂÂ4 season in which they finished ranked No. 25 in both the AP and Coaches Polls, respectively. Dooley re-retired after that game. Dooley retired after the 1992 season. His six seasons in Winston-Salem are tied for fourth for longest tenure and his 29 wins are third in most wins in Wake Forest history. He had three winning seasons at Wake Forest, 7âÂÂ4 in 1987, 6âÂÂ4âÂÂ1 in 1988, and the 8âÂÂ4 1992 team. Dooley's final record is 29âÂÂ36âÂÂ2.
Jim Caldwell came to Wake Forest from his post as quarterbacks coach at Penn State. Caldwell was the first African American head football coach in Wake Forest football history. Caldwell's Demon Deacons were known to pass the ball well, setting dozens of school passing records. However, they frequently struggled to run the ball; in one year, the leading rusher only ran for a total of 300 yards.
Caldwell's first season was 1993, during which the Demon Deacons compiled a 2âÂÂ9 record and finished in last place in the Atlantic Coast Conference. In 1994, the Demon Deacons compiled a 3âÂÂ8 record and finished in eighth place in the Atlantic Coast Conference. That was followed by a 1âÂÂ10 record and last place finish in the Atlantic Coast Conference for the fourth time in five years. 1996 was another season of struggle, as the Wake Forest Demon Deacons compiled a 3âÂÂ8 record and finished in a tie for sixth place in the Atlantic Coast Conference, their best such finish in the ACC in over a decade.
In 1997, the Demon Deacons compiled a 5âÂÂ6 record and finished in a tie for sixth place in the Atlantic Coast Conference. The highlight of the season came on opening weekend, when the Demon Deacons upset then No. 21 Northwestern by a score of 27âÂÂ20, their first win over a ranked opponent in over a decade. In 1998, the Demon Deacons compiled a 3âÂÂ8 record and finished in a tie for sixth place in the Atlantic Coast Conference. That was followed by the only winning season of Caldwell's tenure, a 7âÂÂ5 season capped with a win in the 1999 Aloha Bowl. In 2000, the Demon Deacons compiled a 2âÂÂ9 record and finished in eighth place in the Atlantic Coast Conference. Wake Forest struggled in Caldwell's eight-year tenure, posting only one winning season. Caldwell was fired after the 2000 season. His final record at Wake Forest was 26âÂÂ63.
Coach Jim Grobe came to Wake Forest from Ohio. He brought with him an aggressive defensive scheme and a philosophy of discipline and accountability for his players both on the field and off. In their first season under Grobe, the Demon Deacons compiled a 6âÂÂ5 record and finished in a tie for seventh place in the Atlantic Coast Conference. In 2002, the Demon Deacons compiled a 7âÂÂ6 record and finished in a tie for seventh place in the Atlantic Coast Conference. This was followed by a 5âÂÂ7 campaign and seventh-place finish in the Atlantic Coast Conference.
In 2004, the Demon Deacons compiled a 4âÂÂ7 record and finished in a tie for last place in the Atlantic Coast Conference. That year, Wake Forest lost a close game on homecoming to then No. 5 Florida State on a field goal with one minute remaining in the contest by a score of 20âÂÂ17. In their fifth season under Jim Grobe, the Demon Deacons compiled a 4âÂÂ7 record and finished in fourth place in the Atlantic Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference.
Grobe's best season was 2006, when the Demon Deacons posted an 11âÂÂ2 record, won their first ACC championship in 36 years, and played in the Orange Bowl, a game they lost to Louisville. For the team's success in 2006, Grobe was awarded the ACC coach of the Year, Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Award and AP Coach of the Year Award. Grobe's 77 wins are tied with Peahead Walker for most in Wake Forest football history.
After that 2006 season, Grobe's teams weren't able to match that level of success, winning six or more games just three times in the next seven years. Following the most successful season in team history in 2006, the 2007 team was not widely predicted to win the ACC despite returning many offensive starters from 2006. Some sports writers stated that they believed 2006 to have been a fluke and that Wake Forest was not going to win as many games in 2007, especially because of the losses on defense, including the loss of linebacker Jon Abbate to the National Football League. Wake Forest was picked to finish fourth in the Atlantic Division of the ACC in the annual preseason poll conducted by the Atlantic Coast Sports Media Association. Lindy's was the only major preseason magazine to pick Wake Forest as a Top-25 team. The team began its season with an Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) game on Saturday, September 1, 2007, against Boston College. Wake Forest played its first season since winning the 2006 ACC championship, their first in 36 years. Wake Forest would finish the season with a 9âÂÂ4 (5âÂÂ3 ACC) record. A win in the 2007 Meineke Car Care Bowl against UConn gave the Deacons twenty wins over the last two seasons. In 2008, Wake Forest's 56th season as a member of the ACC the Demon Deacons began their season on August 28 at Baylor. The team finished 8âÂÂ5 overall and 4âÂÂ4 in ACC play, and beat Navy in the inaugural EagleBank Bowl on December 20, 2008. The 2009 season saw the Demon Deacons finish the season with a record of 5âÂÂ7 and 3âÂÂ5 in ACC play. The Deacons missed out on a bowl game for the first time since the 2005 season.
In 2010, the Demon Deacons had another year of struggles, finishing 3âÂÂ9, 1âÂÂ7 in ACC play. This was followed by a 2011 season in which the Demon Deacons finished 6âÂÂ7 and 5âÂÂ3 in ACC play to finish in a tie for second place in the Atlantic Division. They were invited to the Music City Bowl where they were defeated by Mississippi State by a score of 23âÂÂ17. The 2012 season saw Wake Forest finish 5âÂÂ7 with a 3âÂÂ5 record in ACC play. Grobe resigned as head coach after the 2013 season, a 4âÂÂ8 campaign, with a 77âÂÂ82 overall record.
Dave Clawson was hired away from Bowling Green as the Demon Deacons head football coach, his hiring made official at a press conference on December 10, 2013. Clawson brought with him a coaching style that utilizes the team's available talent to maximize success. His offensive philosophy focuses on getting individual playmakers more touches rather than sticking to a rigidly defined system.
After posting 3âÂÂ9 (1âÂÂ7 ACC) seasons in 2014 and 2015, Clawson's 2016 team started the season by winning five of its first six games including road victories at Duke and Indiana. He led Wake Forest to its first bowl win in eight years, beating then No. 23 Temple 34âÂÂ26 in the Military Bowl. Clawson has re-built the Deacons using a philosophy of strong recruiting classes, redshirting as many freshmen as possible, and having a strong strength and conditioning program. After the 2016 season, Wake Forest signed Clawson to a contract extension.
The Demon Deacons finished 8âÂÂ5 in 2017. The Demon Deacons kicked off the season on August 31 with a 51âÂÂ7 victory over FCS Presbyterian. In the season's second game, Wake defeated Boston College by a margin of 34âÂÂ10. After a 46âÂÂ10 drubbing of Utah State, Clawson's squad picked up their fourth win of the season in their fourth game by virtue of a 20âÂÂ19 nail biter over Appalachian State. Then the Demon Deacons embarked upon a three-game losing streak, beginning with a 26âÂÂ19 loss to Florida State. On October 7, Wake Forest lost to No. 2 Clemson by a score of 28âÂÂ14. After a 38âÂÂ24 loss to Georgia Tech, Wake posted its fifth victory of the season with a 42âÂÂ32 win over Louisville with wide receiver Greg Dortch hauling in a school-record 4 TD receptions. After a 48âÂÂ37 loss to No. 5 Notre Dame, the Demon Deacons ran all over Syracuse in an offensive shootout, prevailing by a margin of 64âÂÂ43. After a 30âÂÂ24 victory over archrival No. 25 NC State, Clawson's squad lost to rival Duke by a score of 31âÂÂ23 in the regular season finale. Wake Forest was offered and accepted a berth in the 2017 Belk Bowl, a game they won over Texas A&M by a score of 55âÂÂ52. The following year, they were offered and accepted a berth to the 2018 Birmingham Bowl, in which they beat Memphis 37âÂÂ34. In 2019 they finished the season 8-5 after losing to Michigan State in the 2019 Pinstripe Bowl. In 2020 they finished the season 4-5 after losing to Wisconsin in the 2020 Duke's Mayo Bowl. In 2021 they became bowl eligible for the 6th straight season when they started the season 8-0 for the first time in program history.
Wake Forest hired Dickert as its head football coach in December 2024, following the resignation of Dave Clawson. In his first season, Dickert set a program record for the most wins by a first-year Wake Forest head coach, leading the Demon Deacons to nine victories. The previous record of seven wins was set by Bill Dooley in 1987.
Wake Forest has been independent and affiliated with two conferences.
Wake Forest has two conference championships.
List of Wake Forest head coaches.
Wake Forest has played in 18 bowls in its history and owns a 12âÂÂ6 record in those games. For the 2006 season, the school earned a bid to its first ever BCS game, with an Orange Bowl match-up against Louisville. Wake also had played in the 1982 Mirage Bowl in Tokyo, Japan against Clemson. However, because this game was played during the regular season, the NCAA does not recognize it as an official bowl game. Wake also competed in the 1951, 1953, 1954 Tobacco Bowl in Richmond, Virginia. According to the NCAA, it doesn't count as an official bowl game since this game isn't a postseason bowl.
Wake Forest is referred to as being a part of "Tobacco Road" or the Big Four, terms that refer to the four North Carolina schools that compete heatedly against each other within the ACC. Wake Forest swept the series with its Tobacco Road rivals in 1924, 1951, 1970, 1984, 1987, 2006, 2007, and 2019.
The series with Clemson has been played 89 times with the bordering state schools meeting every year uninterrupted since 1933 except for 1934 and 1952. Both universities were founding members of the Atlantic Coast Conference in 1953 and were both placed in the same division when the conference split into non-geographical divisions in 2005, thereby ensuring an annual meeting between the rivals. Despite the end of ACC divisions after the 2022 season, the teams will meet during the 2024 regular season. As of the completion of the 2023 season, Clemson leads the all-time series 71âÂÂ17âÂÂ1.
Wake Forest shares a football rivalry with Duke University. This rivalry started due to the schools' historical religious affiliations and close proximity to one another within the state of North Carolina (Wake Forest University was originally located in the town of Wake Forest before moving to Winston-Salem in 1956). Duke was originally known as Trinity College and the athletic teams were known as the Methodists, while Wake Forest's athletic teams were known at the time as the Baptists. The series is 61âÂÂ40âÂÂ2 in favor of Duke. Duke won the most recent matchup in 2025 by a score of 49âÂÂ32. This matchup was the key final victory to propel Duke to qualify for the ACC championship game, which it would end up winning over Virginia. As of 2025, Wake Forest and Duke are thus the only Tobacco Road schools with ACC championship game victories since its inception. With the exception of 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, these teams have played each other in consecutive years uninterrupted since 1921, one of the longest-continued rivalries in college football with both teams not skipping a beat.
Wake Forest and in-state rival NC State face each other every year and is a protected rivalry within the ACC. The rivalry is also the longest continuous rivalry between two ACC schools, having been played every year since 1910, as well as being the fourth longest continuous rivalry in NCAA history. Although the series has been interrupted since its inception, it has been uninterrupted since 1910, tying it with Oklahoma/Oklahoma St. for the second-longest continuous rivalry in FBS Division I college football, after only Minnesota/Wisconsin (uninterrupted since 1907). The Lafayette/Lehigh game in the FCS college football subdivision has been played, uninterrupted, since 1897. Wake Forest trails in the series 43âÂÂ70âÂÂ6 through the 2025 season.
Wake Forest defeated North Carolina 6âÂÂ4 on October 18, 1888, during the first intercollegiate football game played in the state of North Carolina. Wake's all-time record against UNC is 36âÂÂ68âÂÂ2.
The Demon Deacons have retired five jerseys.
2014 - Tylor Harris 2015 - Brandon Chubb, Alex Kinal 2016 - Mike Weaver, Jessie Bates, Marquel Lee 2017 - Cam Serigne, Ryan Anderson, John Wolford, Greg Dortch, Mike Weaver, Duke Ejiofor 2018 - Greg Dortch, Phil Haynes, Essang Bassey, Cameron Glenn 2019 - Sage Surratt, Boogie Basham, Nick Sciba, Dom Maggio The ACC and SoCon All Decade, and the allâÂÂconference lists aren't complete. The allâÂÂconference lists include selections for 1st team, 2nd team, and honorable mention.
Announced schedules
Seifried, C.S. (2024). University Social Anchors: A Descriptive History of Early Football Stadia at Wake Forest North Carolina Historical Review, 101, 181-214.