Wake Forest hires Jake Dickert from Washington State as next football coach

Wake Forest has found its replacement for football coach Dave Clawson. The school announced the hiring of Washington State coach Jake Dickert on Wednesday, two days after Clawson stepped down after 11 seasons with the school.

Dickert, 41, went 23-20 with the Cougars since taking over midway through the 2021 season. The record includes an 8-4 mark this season and a berth in Holiday Bowl against Syracuse.

‘My number one priority will be building relationships with our current student-athletes and earning their trust,’ Dickert said in a statement. ‘We will have a clear focus on retaining our current roster while adding valuable pieces that fit our program and Wake Forest University. Additionally, I am excited to immerse myself in this special community as throughout this process my belief that this is the perfect place for our family and our program only strengthened.’

Clawson, 57, stepped down after a run with the Demon Deacons that included seven bowl berths but saw them finished 4-8 for the second consecutive year in 2024.

RIGHT FITS: Every college football coaching hire from best to worst

ON THE MOVE: Ranking the top quarterbacks in the transfer portal

Dickert was elevated from defensive coordinator to interim coach at Washington State in October 2021 after head coach Nick Rolovich was fired for refusing to comply with the state’s COVID-19 vaccination mandate.

The Cougars went 3-3 under his leadership in 2021 and lost to Central Michigan in the Sun Bowl. They were 7-6 in 2022 and lost to Fresno State in the LA Bowl before slipping to 5-7 in 2023.

‘I want to express my deepest gratitude to the players, staff, and leadership at Washington State University,’ Dickert said. ‘I will forever be thankful for their belief in me and the opportunity to lead a program that meant so much to my family and me. The relationships built there will remain a cherished part of our journey, and I am immensely proud of what we accomplished together both on and off the field.’

Clawson’s tenure with Wake Forest, produced a 67-69 record (5-2 in bowl games). His 11-win season in 2021 matched the school record set in 2006.

‘Jake Dickert is the perfect fit to lead Wake Forest football into our next chapter of football success,’ Wake Forest athletic director John Currie said. ‘Throughout this process, our team conducted an extensive and detailed search, carefully evaluating not only Coach Dickert’s coaching achievements but also his character, leadership, and alignment with the values that define Wake Forest.’

Washington State announced that assistant coach Pete Kaligis will be the acting head coach for the Holiday Bowl.

‘The search for Cougar Football’s next head coach will begin immediately,’ athletic director Anne McCoy said in a statement Wednesday. ‘… This team has worked so hard and accomplished a great deal this year, they deserve to end the season with a memorable bowl game experience.’