CHARLOTTE – Jake Dickert didn’t waste time defining what Wake Forest football is supposed to be. He said it plainly, repeatedly, and with the conviction of a coach who knows exactly what he wants his program to look like.

Wake Forest is built in the dark.

It’s not a slogan. It’s not a marketing line. It’s the identity Dickert has hammered into the program since the day he arrived – humility, hunger, development, toughness, and a willingness to do the work when nobody’s watching.

Last year, that identity produced one of the quietest nine‑win seasons in ACC history. Wake Forest tied for the third‑best season in school history, won the Duke’s Mayo Bowl over an SEC opponent, and did it with a roster that was supposed to finish near the bottom of the league.

Dickert didn’t shy away from the challenge of sustaining it. “Good is the enemy of great,” he said. “Last year’s hunger, I can’t recreate that. This year’s team has to be humble enough to turn the lights out and get back in the dark.”

Wake Forest returns 60 players, adds more than 50 newcomers, and has one of the best staff retention rates in the country. That continuity is the backbone of Dickert’s confidence. “We can win in a lot of different ways,” he said. “We retained a tremendous depth of experience on the defensive side of the ball.”

The Deacons aren’t trying to be Clemson or Miami. Dickert made that clear. “If we think and act like Miami, we’re not going to be successful,” he said. “There’s a perfect lane of Wake Forest football.” That lane is development, connection, and consistency, and the roster reflects it.

Stability at quarterback

Wake Forest hasn’t always had stability under center, but Dickert believes he has it now in Gio Lopez, the South Alabama transfer who briefly landed at UNC before choosing Wake.

Lopez didn’t need to learn the offense from scratch – Wake’s OC Rob Ezell coached him at South Alabama. “The adjustment was pretty smooth,” Lopez said. “I already knew it.” That familiarity allowed Lopez to lead from day one. “You can’t ask for respect if you’re not doing the right things,” he said. “I had to show up early, be the first guy in, last guy out.” Lopez brings experience, mobility, and a calm presence,  and he’ll play behind a defense that expects to carry its weight.

A defense with continuity

Wake Forest’s defensive front returns intact, and Langston Hardy is the headliner. He doubled his sack total last season and became one of the ACC’s most disruptive edge players.

Hardy missed the spring with an injury, but used the time to become a better leader. “I was able to see things from a different lens,” he said. “How guys like to be coached, how they like to be led.”

The connection across the front four is real. “I can look to my right and see Dallas or Zach and know exactly what stunt we’re running,” Hardy said. “Connection is our edge.”

Then there’s Davaughn Patterson, the versatile chess piece who played through a sports hernia in both groins last season. “My body was hurting, but mentally I wanted to be there for my teammates,” Patterson said. He can line up at defensive end, blitz from the slot, or drop into coverage, and Dickert loves having that flexibility. “He’s one of the fiercest competitors you could ever imagine,” Dickert said.

Schedule Breakdown

Wake Forest’s 2026 schedule is a mix of manageable openers, tricky travel, and a November stretch that will determine whether the Deacons can match last year’s success.

Sep. 3 vs. Akron 

Sep. 12 at Purdue  

Sep. 18 vs. Miami

Akron is a tune‑up, but Purdue on the road is a legitimate early test. Miami on a Friday night in Winston‑Salem will be one of the biggest home games of the season.

If Wake starts 2-1, they’ll be positioned well.

Sep. 26 at Louisville  

Oct. 3 vs. Stanford  

Oct. 10 at NC State  

Oct. 17 at Cal  

This is the stretch that will define Wake Forest’s season. Louisville on the road is tough. Stanford at home is winnable. Then comes a brutal two‑week run: at NC State, then a cross‑country trip to Berkeley to play Cal. If Wake goes 2-2 here, they’re still in the hunt.

Oct. 31 vs. Virginia  

Nov. 7 vs. Merrimack  

Virginia isn’t the pushover it used to be. The Cavaliers reached the ACC title game last season and return enough talent to make this a dangerous matchup. Wake Forest will need to be sharp here, especially coming off a long travel stretch.

Then the difficulty spikes:

Nov. 14 at SMU  

Nov. 21 at Georgia Tech  

Nov. 28 vs. Duke  

SMU and Georgia Tech on the road will test Wake’s depth and toughness. Duke at home is a rivalry game that could determine bowl positioning, or more.

Photos courtesy of ACC Digital Services

CHARLOTTE – Day 2 of the 2025 ACC Kickoff opened with a clear sense of renewal surrounding Wake Forest football. After a tough 2024 season that ended in a 4-8 record, new Head Coach Jake Dickert took center stage, marking the beginning of a new chapter for the program. But this shift goes far beyond a coaching change. As the program has officially described it, this is a full-on “program reimagining.” That means a completely new coaching staff, major roster movement through the transfer portal, and the introduction of a new cultural identity: Built in the Dark.

Head Coach Jake Dickert (Photo Credit: ACC Media)

Coach Dickert’s vision for Wake is straightforward: build a program rooted in hard, often invisible, preparation. Built in the Dark isn’t just a tagline; it’s a philosophy. It reflects a commitment to the kind of behind-the-scenes work that fuels success on Saturdays. This mentality demands a specific type of player: someone who thrives in the grind, embraces early mornings and late nights, and puts in the reps when no one’s watching.

Three players joined Dickert at the press conference to represent different pieces of this overhaul: defensive back Nick Andersen, running back Demond Claiborne, and offensive lineman Devin Kylany. Each brought a different perspective on where the team is headed and what it means to live out this new cultural identity.

Kylany, a transfer from Washington State, offered one of the clearest explanations of Built in the Dark. For him, it’s not just talk-it’s a way of life. “It's more than a statement and it's more than a mantra, it's a way of living," he said. He laid out what that looks like in practice: “If we want to win on August 29th and if we want to win on Saturdays, that starts before the kickoff. That starts with the early mornings, the late nights, the film sessions, the going to sleep at the right time, the eating the right foods, all that stuff will help us win on Saturday. So it's all about getting an advantage and making sure we can win.” That kind of detailed, full-spectrum preparation is what this new era is built on.

Offensive Lineman Devin Kylany (Photo Credit: ACC Media)

Kylany’s background as a high school wrestler also shapes how he approaches the offensive line. He didn’t hold back when offering advice to future college linemen: “PSA to any high schooler who wants to play collegiate or wants to play in the trenches: Start wrestling.” He broke it down even further: “Wrestling is all about being in a powerful position and hand fighting, and those skills directly translate to offensive line play and defensive line play, and wrestling is some of the toughest training I've ever had to do in my life: Physical, one-on-one combat that you have to win.” To him, football is a collection of individual battles (“a whole bunch of one-on-one match-ups happening at the same time”) and wrestling gave him the tools to win those fights. As a former 285-pound heavyweight, he brings that intensity and physical discipline to every rep, perfectly aligning with Dickert’s vision for a tough, technically sound team.

Nick Andersen, Wake Forest’s veteran defensive back, brings more than just experience to the reimagined program; he brings a mindset rooted in consistency, grit, and preparation. His journey from walk-on to ACC tackle leader in 2024 (122 total) reflects the program’s Built in the Dark philosophy at its core. “I think it comes down to consistent hard work,” Andersen said. “That’s something that my family instilled in me when I was a young kid, and I’ll take that for the rest of my life.” Andersen’s identity as a throwback player, someone who plays with stitches in his ear, sacrifices his body, and keeps his original jersey number, comes from deep pride in his roots. “I come from a hardworking background. Then having a lot of pride in not only the name on the back of the jersey but especially the name on the front of the jersey,” he said. That pride drives his physical style of play. “I’m not the biggest guy, I’m not the fastest guy, but putting my body on the line each and every single game and every single day… I think it’s a sense of leadership that my teammates appreciate.”

Defensive Back Nick Andersen (Photo Credit: ACC Media)

Leadership is central to Andersen’s role, particularly in a defense stacked with veteran presence. “You can have higher-level conversations,” he explained. “I can go to someone like Quincy Bryant or Dylan Hazen… and ask them what happened on that play or what do you think about this? Those higher-level conversations… will help our defense elevate.” That ability to process the game is sharpened through relentless preparation. “It’s film study throughout the week, constantly trying to get an edge,” Andersen said. “I might not have the greatest physical traits in the world, so to have a two-step advantage based off film study and then just trusting my instincts is how I can get all the footballs that I want and make as many plays as possible.”

Now under the tutelage of defensive coordinator Scottie Hazelton and co-defensive coordinator Freddie Banks, Andersen describes the new scheme as transformative: “It’s a .300-level education… these guys have opened my eyes to stuff I never could have imagined.” That openness to learning, even as the “old man of the team,” is what keeps him sharp. “My teammates embrace feedback… they want to get better,” he said. “That’s something I’m really, really thankful for.”

Demond Claiborne, the explosive running back who headlines Wake Forest’s offense, was one of the program’s top priorities when Jake Dickert took over, and the feeling was mutual. “When me and Coach Dickert met, it was solely off of: can he help me on the personal aspect of life?” Claiborne said. “A lot of coaches… were calling my phone asking if we could give you this amount of money… Coach Dickert came and his message was, how can I help you as a man off the field?” That initial conversation laid the foundation for Claiborne’s decision to stay at Wake Forest—and to embrace a new culture that gives players a voice. “Coach Dickert gave the team a voice,” he said. “He listened to where we were coming from and what we felt… it ultimately made my decision easier to stay here.”

Running Back Demond Claiborne (Photo Credit: ACC Media)

Claiborne’s fit in the new offense is ideal. Gone is the slow mesh; in its place, a scheme designed to get him into open space. “This offense allows me to get out in space more, allows me to have more one-on-one match-ups, allows me to broadcast speed more,” he said. “When the season comes around, a lot of people will be surprised about how things look.” That speed, by the way, is something he’s confident about, even if the game ratings don’t reflect it. “I think I’m a little faster than a 96 overall,” he said with a smile. But he’s not focused on flash. “My biggest goal is to stay consistent,” he said. “Not really trying to step on the field and do too much… not making it about DC but making it about the Demon Deacons and where we want to go.”

Claiborne’s grounded mentality comes from his upbringing in Aylett, Virginia, a town of just 8,000 people. “Country, country, country,” he said. “We got cows at my school, chickens at my school, turkeys at my school… those country folks, they teach you how to work and go get it.” That work ethic will be key as Claiborne looks to lead the offense, regardless of which quarterback emerges from the battle between Robby Ashford and Santino Purdie. “When I step on the field with either one of those guys, I feel safe. I feel at home,” he said. “They know what they’re doing… and in the long run it’ll be beneficial for the Demon Deacons.”

One theme ran through everything said at the podium: connection and trust. Kylany talked about how vital it is “to understand and trust everyone. Makes it way easier to play with different people around me.” That idea is at the heart of Dickert’s program: real communication, real connection, and real respect. And given the number of transfers now wearing black and gold, that chemistry off the field will be critical to performing in sync on it.

Of course, last season’s 4-8 finish is still fresh. But if anything, it only underscores how much work lies ahead, and how much optimism now surrounds the rebuild. Built in the Dark isn’t just a rallying cry. It’s a daily mindset that shapes everything from morning workouts to late-night film breakdowns. It’s about building a program with character, toughness, and purpose.

As Wake Forest enters the 2025 season, the foundation is being laid, not under stadium lights, but in quiet, focused moments behind the scenes. And the message coming from Dickert and his players is clear: this isn’t about flash. It’s about doing the work, trusting the process, and building something real, one unseen rep at a time. Whether Built in the Dark leads to wins this fall remains to be seen. But there’s no question that Wake Forest is betting on a bold, disciplined vision for the future.

WINSTON-SALEM – Wake Forest University turned to the Pacific Northwest to find its next football leader, naming Washington State's Jake Dickert as the 33rd head coach in program history on Wednesday. Dickert, who compiled a 23-20 record in four seasons with the Cougars, succeeds Dave Clawson following his resignation earlier this week.

The 40-year-old Dickert brings an impressive defensive pedigree and track record of player development to Winston-Salem. Under his leadership, Washington State reached three bowl games in four seasons while achieving top-20 rankings in each of the past two years, climbing as high as No. 13 in 2023.

"Jake Dickert's demonstrated commitment across his coaching career to fostering excellence and developing student-athletes with character and integrity are closely aligned with Wake Forest's mission and values," Wake Forest President Susan R. Wente said.

Dickert's tenure at Washington State was marked by signature wins and defensive excellence. His Cougars secured consecutive victories over nationally-ranked Wisconsin in 2022 and 2023, while also notching two wins in the Apple Cup rivalry against Washington. His defenses have been particularly opportunistic – since 2017, Dickert-led units have forced 166 turnovers, a mark that would rank among the top 10 nationally during that span.

"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," Athletic Director John Currie said.

The Wisconsin-Stevens Point graduate has steadily climbed the coaching ranks over 17 seasons, with stops at Wyoming, South Dakota State, and Minnesota State before landing at Washington State. His defensive coordinator experience includes successful stints at Wyoming and Minnesota State, where his 2014 unit ranked second nationally in scoring defense at the Division II level.

Dickert takes over a Wake Forest program looking to rebound from a challenging 2023 campaign. The Demon Deacons aim to return to the success they enjoyed under Clawson, who led the program to seven bowl appearances in 11 seasons.

"I cannot tell you how excited, proud, and honored I am to be the head football coach at Wake Forest University," Dickert said. "My number one priority will be building relationships with our current student-athletes and earning their trust. We will have a clear focus on retaining our current roster while adding valuable pieces that fit our program and Wake Forest University."