Wake Forest has agreed to a deal with Washington State’s Jake Dickert to become the Demon Deacons’ next football coach, a person familiar with the decision said Wednesday.
The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the school hasn’t spoken publicly yet about its coaching search. Dickert is set to replace Dave Clawson, who resigned unexpectedly Monday after 11 seasons that included regular bowl bids and an Atlantic Coast Conference division title.
The Athletic first reported Wake Forest was set to hire Dickert.
Dickert, 41, took over during the 2021 season as the Cougars’ interim coach after Washington State fired Nick Rolovich for refusing a state mandate that all employees get vaccinated against COVID-19. Dickert led the team to a 3-3 finish to earn the permanent job, then went 20-17 in the three seasons since.
Washington State has spent nine weeks in the AP Top 25 poll over the past two seasons, peaking at No. 13 during a five-week run amid a 4-0 start in 2023 and reaching No. 19 in early November of this season.
Washington State went 8-4 this year, the first since the Pac-12 fell apart with the majority of its schools scattering to the Atlantic Coast Conference, Big 12 and Big Ten. The Cougars are set to play No. 22 Syracuse in the Holiday Bowl on Dec. 27.
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