Report: Wake Forest 'closing in' on hiring Washington State coach Jake Dickert

Wake Forest is closing in on their top candidate for their head coaching vacancy: former Washington State head coach Jake Dickert, according to CBS Sports‘ Matt Zenitz.

On3’s Pete Nakos confirmed the report. According to the report, former West Virginia coach Neal Brown is another name to watch.

Dickert’s been at Washington State since 2021 and is 23-20 as a head coach. He set a career high in wins this year with an 8-4 record and the Cougars are set to play in the Holiday Bowl.

Washington State is still a Pac-12 member, but the conference has two official members of now. The conference is currently rebuilding amid a move from the Power Five to the Power Four.

A move to a Power Four conference could be enticing for Dickert for the next step in his coaching career. After playing wide receiver at Wisconsin-Stevens Point, he became a grad assistant in 2007 to begin his coaching career.

Dickert had numerous GA and assistant jobs at North Dakota State, South Dakota, Southeast Missouri State, Augustana, Minnesota State, South Dakota State and Wyoming before going to Washington State.

Jake Dickert the front runner for Wake Forest?

Dickert is seemingly the front runner for the job to move cross country and coach Wake Forest. The Demon Deacons saw long time head coach Dave Clawson step down this week.

Clawson’s been the head coach at Wake Forest since 2014, amassing a record of 67-69 in 11 seasons. He led the Demon Deacons to the 2021 ACC Championship Game and the team finished 11-3 with a Gator Bowl victory over Rutgers.

Clawson, 57, went 5-2 in bowl games with Wake Forest. In stops with Fordham, Richmond, Bowling Green and Wake Forest since 1999, he is 157-149 as a head coach.

Clawson won conference titles with Fordham (2002), Richmond (2005 and ’07) and Bowling Green (2013).