Dave Clawson stepped down as head coach of Wake Forest after 11 years at the helm. “It’s time.” An emotional Clawson met with the media as well as boosters and school administrators Tuesday for the official announcement that he is stepping down as Wake’s head coach. A crowd of a couple hundred people turned out for the event.
The news broke Tuesday after Clawson had told athletic director John Currie at the end of the 2024 season that he needed a couple of weeks to consider his future.
Clawson’s Official Farewell
Clawson has long said that the current state of college athletics with the transfer portal, nil, and revenue sharing made the job more taxing than what he went into coaching to do.
Clawson got emotional several times as he reflected on past players and teams. “My overwhelming emotion right now is just gratitude,” he said during his opening remarks.
He has been a head coach for 25 years with stops at Fordham, Richmond, and Bowling Green prior to his arrival at Wake Forest. He reflected on what that kind of time away had meant that he missed out on. “There is no average Saturday as a coach,” he said. “When you’re a coach’s family, everything revolves around your job.” He noted that even during the off-season the weekends were spent with recruits, boosters, and players. “It is an all-in profession with your family.” He said he would be spending time with his family without worrying about player texts or messages from his assistants.
He is, for the time being, moving into the role of special advisor to athletic director John Currie. What that looks like, in terms of the details, neither of them was prepared to address, as it is clear it is still a work in progress. “Today is the first time in 47 years that I haven’t been part of a team.”
The Impact
He admitted that he considered staying another year, or longer because he worried about the future of his coaching staff now that he is no longer head coach. He teared up again in paying tribute to his staff. “The hardest part of this decision is I know the impact it’s going to have on their lives. For that reason, I wanted to try to keep going.”
Clawson was clear that the last two years have taken a toll. It has been clear to those who cover the program that the losses were hitting a lot harder this season. Clawson said the change in the systems that are the new foundation of college football made it hard to see himself continuing to do this. He said after the season that he told Currie, “I don’t know if I am going to get back to a point that I’m still the best leader for this program.”
Clawson added, “I truly believe it’s time for new leadership. And the bottom line is right now this is somebody else’s job.”
The Game
With regard to the changes in college sports, “I’ve made no secret that the last two years have been very frustrating.” He has been an advocate for players getting paid, and for players being able to move from school to school, but the system in which they are happening has made the job more difficult, Clawson said, though he made it clear it was not the only reason he was leaving the job. “I’m at peace with the decision.”
So what is next for him? The advisor role gives the appearance of a lot of fluidity. It allows Clawson to stay employed at Wake and have the occasional big-picture meeting with Currie. But beyond that, there is not a lot of structure or detail yet. Clawson made it clear that he will not be hanging out at football practice under the new coach. He said the new coach needs to be free of the shadow of the predecessor. He also said he would have no role in picking his successor.
The Big Picture
Because Clawson has been so freely outspoken about the current state of college football, he was asked if he could now see himself in a bigger, more global role in the game and its future.
“I’ve just jumped off that cliff. I’m floating somewhere. I have no idea where I’m going to end up landing right now,” he responded. But he did not deny that in the not-so-distant future, he could see himself playing a bigger role in the game. “I’d certainly love to be able to help it get to a better place than it’s in right now. College football, college sports right now is not in a healthy place.” He said he could see himself in a role with the NCAA or ACC being an advocate for the game.
Next
Clawson did not shut out the potential that somewhere down the road he could coach again, saying, “You never say never.”
Clawson said in recent days he has heard from coaches around the country like Mack Brown, Dabo Swinney, Mike Elko, and Clark Lea, some of who he has worked with and others with whom he knows through the profession.
Currie would not give a timeline for naming the new head coach. He acknowledged that he started working with a search firm while Clawson was still pondering his future, knowing that tie was of the essence if the coach walked away. But as the new college football system takes its revolutions, Currie was asked about Wake’s commitment to revenue sharing once the House v. NCAA settlement is finalized in April. Currie confirmed that Wake intends to spend all the way to $20.5 million cap. That will be a large financial asset for whomever the next coach is.
Speculation is that we will have a name within a week, likely sooner.
The post Dave Clawson Leaves Because “It’s Time” appeared first on Last Word on College Football.