College Football

Dave Clawson reportedly leaving Bowling Green for Wake Forest

The coach of the MAC champions will reportedly trade Bowling Green, Ohio, for Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

By Chris Fuhrmeister@ccfuhr Dec 9, 2013, 9:40pm EST

Dave Clawson will be the new head coach at Wake Forest, taking over for the now departed Jim Grobe, according to the Winston-Salem Journal. Grobe, who spent 14 years as the head of the Demon Deacons' program, stepped down last week after a second consecutive bowlless season.

Along with Pete Lembo from Ball State, Clawson was one of two finalists for the Wake Forest opening. He comes over from MAC champion Bowling Green, where he has built the program back into prominence -- after an initial drop from seven wins in 2009 to two in 2010, Clawson has had the Falcons rising ever since, peaking with a 10-win season and a Little Caesars Bowl appearance in 2013.

More: Wake Forest site Blogger So Dear MAC site Hustle Belt

Before his coaching career began, Clawson spent four years as a defensive back at Williams College from 1985 to '88. He got his first job coaching quarterbacks, running backs and defensive backs at Albany in 1989. Over the next 10 years, he made stops at Buffalo, Lehigh and Villanova, serving as the Wildcats' offensive coordinator from 1996 to '98.

The following season, Clawson was hired as a head coach for the first time, taking over the program at Fordham. He spent five seasons with the Rams, leading them to one Division 1-AA playoff appearance. In 2004, he moved on to Richmond, where he compiled a 29-20 record and two playoff appearances in four years. After an 11-3 campaign in his final year with the Spiders, he spent one season as Tennessee's offensive coordinator in 2008.

In 14 years as a head coach, Clawson has compiled an 90-80 record, although he is 0-4 in bowls and FCS postseason appearances.