HARD WORK PAYS OFF FOR VERSATILE TYLER CAVANAUGH
A NEW era
Dave Clawson hits the ground running as Wake Forest’s new head football coach
WINNING BACKGROUND
Promising freshman Kimmy Guerin follows in footsteps of former Deacon tennis great Patty Murren
February/march 2014
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VOL. 23 // ISSUE 5 (USPS 014-373) EDITOR
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Gold Rush is published eight times a year in August/ September, October, November/ December, January, February/ March, April, May/June and July by IMG College in conjunction with Wake Forest Athletics. Periodicals postage paid at Winston-Salem, NC 27102 and at additional mailing offices. The price of an annual subscription is $20. Members of the Deacon Club receive a one-year subscription as part of their membership. Persons wishing to subscribe to Gold Rush should send a check or money order (credit cards not accepted) to: IMG College 540 N. Trade St. Winston-Salem, NC 27101 All material produced in this publication is the property of Wake Forest University and IMG and hall not be reproduced in whole or in part without permission. POSTMASTER: Please send all address changes to the attention of Stephanie Hudson, Wake Forest Athletics, 519 Deacon Blvd. Winston-Salem, NC 27105. The appearance of advertising in this publication does not constitute an endorsement of the advertiser and/or the advertiser’s product or service by Wake Forest or IMG. The use of the name of the University or any of its identifying marks in advertisements must be approved by WFU and IMG.
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// J A N U A R Y/ m ar c h 2 0 1 4
A greeting from the Deacon The Deacon mascot greets Wake Forest fan Charlie Wilson at courtside during the N.C. State game. (Photo by Donnie Roberts)
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from the ad
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where are they now?
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calendar
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inside the deacon club
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compliance corner
// 6 A NEW LEADER Dave Clawson, who has spent a lot of time at private schools with high academic standards and built three successful programs, replaces Jim Grobe as the Deacons’ new football coach.
// 10 MAKING A DIFFERENCE Versatile sophomore Tyler Cavanaugh fills several roles for the young Demon Deacon basketball team.
// 14 IMPRESSIVE BACKGROUND Freshman Kimmy Guerin followed Patty Murren, who also played tennis at Wake Forest, as only the second player to never lose a match in high school in Connecticut. ON THE COVER Dave Clawson was introduced as Wake Forest’s new head football coach in a press conference on Dec. 10. february/march 2014
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New football staff brings energy, enthusiasm The last couple of months have brought a great deal of change to the Wake Forest football program. From the resignation of Coach Grobe in early December to the hiring of Coach Clawson, activity inside the Pruitt Football Center has been at a fever pitch.
ron WELLMAN D I R ECTO R O F ATH L ET I CS
Coach Clawson has assembled a quality staff of assistant coaches and support staff members that have all hit the ground running. From visiting with all of our committed prospective studentathletes to assembling the 2014 recruiting class, Dave and his staff have had their hands full. Planning the off-season conditioning program and preparing for spring practice have also occupied a great deal of their time. In fact, Deacon fans will get their first opportunity to preview the 2014 team at the annual Spring Game on April 26. The energy and enthusiasm that the football staff has brought to campus has been contagious, and we fully expect it to carry over to our fans. Our team will have a very different look this fall as we seek to replace All-ACC performers Michael Campanaro and Nikita Whitlock. The coaching
staff will also need to provide strong leadership as we will break-in new starters at quarterback, running back and along the defensive line. A couple of weeks ago, the Atlantic Coast Conference released the 2014 football schedule for all 14 members. There are a number of factors that make this a good schedule for the Demon Deacons. Coach Clawson and his staff will have all four non-conference games at the front of the schedule. After opening at Louisiana-Monroe on Thursday, Aug. 28, our fans will get their first opportunity to see the Deacons at BB&T Field in the home opener against Gardner-Webb on Sept. 6. After visiting Utah State for the first time on Sept. 13, the team will close non-league competition at home against Army on Sept. 20. The final eight games will be against outstanding ACC opponents. Season tickets will go on sale shortly, and we hope to see all of you at BB&T Field this fall!
Go Deacs! Ron Wellman
Russell Cockman, Football Fan
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// dav e c law s o n
A New Beginning Dave Clawson joins Deacons and gets to work By Jay Reddick
D
ave Clawson stood behind a podium at BB&T Field on Dec. 10 and was introduced as Wake Forest’s new head football coach. In the weeks since then, there hasn’t been much time for podiums – or standing still, for that matter. In his first six weeks on the job, Clawson hired a complete coaching staff. He also met with a past generation of Deacon student-athletes, spoke to his current group of players and set to work finding the next wave of current high schoolers ready to make the jump to the challenges of ACC football and WFU academics.
“It’s been 1,000 miles an hour since we started, but that’s a really good problem to have,” Clawson said. The 46-year-old Clawson seems uniquely suited for the job with the Deacons. He graduated from Williams College, immersing himself in the small-college atmosphere at a Division III school. As a head coach, he has rebuilt three programs that were stuck in slumps on the field – Fordham,
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Richmond and Bowling Green – and led all of them to conference championships, including a MAC title with Bowling Green in 2013. So he has spent a lot of time at private schools with high academic standards, and that’s why Director of Athletics Ron Wellman hired him to take the helm a little over a week after Jim Grobe announced he was leaving his post after 13 years. Clawson said Grobe’s success with the Deacons has been an inspiration to him through the years. “I tried to incorporate some of his philosophy when I was at Richmond,” Clawson said, “especially in the aspect of player development. “At a place like Wake Forest, you’re not going to get many ready-made 5-star prospects. It’s critical what we do once we get them. He redshirted as much as he could, and I did the same thing. Having guys with more experience allowed us to compete with other schools with the bigger stadiums and the bigger reputations. Jim Grobe did a masterful job with that, and at Richmond, we were able to put together the best 4-5 year run in the history of the program.” Ideally, Clawson would like to install a similar philosophy at WFU. He understands that’s a slow process, but it’s an important one. “It’s always case-by-case,” Clawson said. “If a player helps us win, we have to play them, but we’re not going to put a guy on two special teams and five snaps to burn his year. We have to establish a threshold, because we don’t just want to get good — we want to stay good.” Clawson’s staff at Wake Forest is a mix of old and new. For example, he brought his three coordinators — offensive coordinator Warren Ruggiero, defensive coordinator Mike Elko, and special-teams coordinator Adam Scheier – with him from Bowling Green. He brings Kevin Higgins, with nine years’ experience as The Citadel head coach, to be his assistant head coach. And he has retained two assistants from Grobe’s staff — linebackers coach Warren Belin and secondary coach Derrick Jackson. “There are guys who are familiar with our systems, coaches who
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have experience recruiting the areas we will target, and a couple of guys who already know what Wake Forest is about,” Clawson said. “We’ll hopefully stick to what has worked but also bring some new ideas.” Clawson’s last Bowling Green team (10-4) finished in the top 25 nationally in both total offense and total defense. He said the way he approaches each season’s philosophy — run, pass, attack, defend — depends on his players. “We certainly have a system, but it’s flexible,” Clawson said. “The terminology, the way we line up, those things don’t change, but it has to be adaptable to the personnel and the school. At Bowling Green, we threw for 4,000 yards one year, but this year we had a 1,500-yard rusher. “You always want to play to your strengths, and I don’t know what those are here yet. That’s the fun part of spring football and recruiting.”
dave clawson Date of birth: Aug. 16, 1967 Birthplace: Youngstown, N.Y. Family: Wife Catherine; children Eric and Courtney College: Williams, class of 1989 (majored in political economy) Experience: 1989-90: Albany, graduate assistant 1991-92: Buffalo, assistant coach (secondary, quarterbacks, running backs) 1993-95: Lehigh, assistant coach (running backs, offensive coordinator) 1996-98: Villanova, offensive coordinator 1999-2003: Fordham, head coach 2004-07: Richmond, head coach 2008: Tennessee, offensive coordinator 2009-13: Bowling Green, head coach 2014-present: Wake Forest, head coach
One of Clawson’s first moves as the new head coach was to set up a conference call in which former players could hear about his plans for the program, ask him questions, and give him a better sense of the Deacons’ history. Dozens of alumni listened in on the call. “I’ve done that everywhere I’ve been,” Clawson said. “You want the perception of people who know what it’s about, but it also lets former players stay connected to Wake Forest. A lot of times, a former player’s biggest connection is with their former head coach, but we want to let them know that here is a place you can walk in and be comfortable – it’s their school, and this is their program.” The call also let Clawson get a sense of the kinds of people who are attracted to the school. “It’s obviously a first-rate academic institution, and the right person with the right value system can thrive here,” Clawson said. “The challenge is finding good players with that value system. The guys who are all about stadium size and the perimeter things — maybe this isn’t the place for them. But for the right player with the right values, Wake Forest is an easy sell.”
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He said he’s carried a little piece of WFU with him since high school. He took a tour of prospective college campuses in 1983, and he said Winston-Salem was a favorite stop. “I was a junior, and it was my dad, my best friend and his dad. We probably visited 10 to 12 schools,” Clawson said. “Out of all of it, I remember two really pretty campuses — Richmond and Wake Forest. I wasn’t good enough to play football at either one, but it’s great that I eventually get to coach at both. The beautiful setting, and the obvious focus
on academics, left the biggest impression on me.” All these years later, Clawson not only knows the beauty of the campus, he knows the pride of becoming a Demon Deacon. Now, Clawson is back, fired up and ready to go. “I was thrilled to even be a candidate for this job,” Clawson said. “It was a very happy day at my house. But then you’re here, and the next day it starts – you can’t congratulate yourself for long. You have to go to work.”
2014 football schedule Date Opponent Location Time 08/28/14 at ULM Monroe, La. TBA 09/06/14
vs. Gardner-Webb
BB&T Field TBA
09/13/14 at Utah State Logan, Utah TBA 09/20/14
vs. Army
BB&T Field TBA
09/27/14 at Louisville * Louisville, Ky. TBA 10/04/14 at Florida State * Tallahassee, Fla. TBA 10/18/14
vs. Syracuse *
BB&T Field TBA
10/25/14
vs. Boston College *
BB&T Field TBA
11/06/14
vs. Clemson *
BB&T Field TBA
11/15/14 at NC State * Raleigh, N.C. TBA 11/22/14
vs. Virginia Tech *
11/29/14 at Duke *
BB&T Field TBA Durham, N.C. TBA
*ACC Games SRC_Gold Rush_2013_v.mech.pdf
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Coming on
Strong Hard work pays off with improvement for versatile sophomore Tyler Cavanaugh By Sam Walker
T
yler Cavanaugh, a 6-9 sophomore from Dewitt, N.Y., may not stand out as spectacular with thundering dunks, highflying rebounds or circus shots, but at the end of the day, one can usually pick out a line where a workmanlike effort has made a difference to help the Wake Forest’s men’s basketball team win a game. It’s success derived through effort. Cavanaugh shot 32 percent from the field, 24 percent from threepoint range, shot 76 percent from the foul line and finished with 77 rebounds as a freshman. It was largely a learning experience and test of confidence, according to Cavanaugh, but it set a nice baseline for improvement. Cavanaugh wasn’t satisfied and took to heart the challenges to change, improve and embrace the program set for him by Wake Forest strength and conditioning coaches. This season there are measurable differences in his game. Through 16 games, Cavanaugh is shooting 41 percent from the floor, hitting 76 percent from the free throw line, averaging 5.1 rebounds per game and averaging 18.6 minutes per contest – all improvements except for free throws, where Cavanaugh shot equally well. “The reason he has come on strong is, like several of our players, he works extremely hard,” head coach Jeff Bzdelik said. “Sometimes he works too hard, and we have to kick him out of the gym. He has worked hard over the spring, summer and fall to change his body to make himself stronger, more athletic. Our strength coach, Greg Brittenham, was hired first by Pat Riley (former NBA head coach and current team president of the reigning world champion Miami Heat). He worked 20 years as the New York Knicks strength coach, and I called him up to see who he would recommend as a strength coach for us and he said, ‘how about me?’ He said he wanted to do this, so he’s helping our guys behind the scenes be not just body builders but quicker, stronger basketball athletes. They’ve all benefited, and it’s helped Tyler be more athletic.” Cavanaugh agreed. “I feel much more comfortable this year and I think guys are getting me the ball in better spots, and overall I just feel like I’m being more aggressive,” Cavanaugh said. “I’ve put in a lot of work this offseason and it’s good to see it paying off. “When the season ended last year we did a lot of work with Coach Brittenham, and when I went home I worked out with one of my high school teammates who plays at Syracuse (DaJuan Coleman). I was able to push myself up there with hard work I did on my own. Syracuse
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Coach (Jim) Boeheim and Coach (Mike) Hopkins, it was nice of them to let me do that because it’s really helped me. I did that six to eight weeks while I was home in May and June. When I came back for Summer Session II (at Wake Forest), I was able to work with Coach Britt in the summer and I just felt a lot better.” Cavanaugh put up shots, was running and lifting daily while he was home over the summer, and he Cavanaugh drives past N.C. State’s Kyle said he can tell the Tyler Washington. (Photo by Donnie Roberts) biggest difference in his conditioning. He said he roughly has the same weight, but he’s really changed his body to be more athletic with added quickness, and he worked hard on his shot and post offense. “We had our program laid out for the summer and it was very structured, and I’m a ‘structure guy’ so when I get into a routine it’s good, and it was beneficial,” he said. “At the end of last season, we decided we needed for me to get in better shape, get my shot off quicker, and I’ve seen that the first part of this season. I haven’t shot the ball really well this year, but I can see guys are respecting my shot more, and when I’m driving the ball, it’s huge to be able to be an insideoutside guy.” Through the N.C. State game, Cavanaugh had scored in double digits nine times and helped Wake Forest earn some big victories over Richmond (15 points and nine rebounds), and North Carolina in the ACC opener with 11 points, four rebounds and three assists. Against
the Wolfpack, Cavanaugh helped the Deacons get off to a good start by hitting his first three shots, which were all three-pointers and finished with 10 points and two blocks. Codi Miller-McIntyre hit the game winner with four seconds left to lift Wake Forest to a 70-69 victory. Cavanaugh attributes his improved play to his increased athleticism and diverse skill set that he has worked on very hard since the end of his freshman season. According to the Wake Forest basketball staff, sometimes he works too hard. “A big part of my job is to make sure he doesn’t do too much,” said Brittenham, who spent the previous 20 seasons with the New York Knicks of the NBA as an assistant coach for player development and team conditioning. “He (Tyler) is always in the gym, and when he’s home, I know he works out at Syracuse and in their weight room and on their court. In the time I’m allowed to work with him, of course, we try to identify what his strengths and weaknesses are. We want to focus on weaknesses and eliminating them, turning them into assets. So we’re working on quickness, agility, reaction response and some of the things you might not think as strength and conditioning, but they are part of becoming a better basketball player.” “We do quite a bit of testing to measure jumps, power, endurance, agility and strength, so we have a good feel for what his strengths are, and then we try to narrow it down so everybody has their own menu, but there is a lot of overlap,” Brittenham said. “With Tyler, we’re working on quickness, agility and power, and he is just an absolute pleasure to work with. He’ll do anything we ask of him. You could absolutely make an argument that since he is versatile and can shoot outside, there must be a lot of variety in his training. “I think the biggest (barometer of improvement) is his confidence, and he believes he can play at this level and against this caliber of player. A lot of it has to do with his work ethic. In the summer when he’s at home, I’m sure he’s getting into some good pickup games against good talent there. He’s driven, has a goal and wants to be the best possible player he can be. “ Growing up in shadows of the hallowed college basketball program and now ACC foe Syracuse, Cavanaugh has a good feel for the level of talent and intensity it takes to win at this level. The difference between his freshman and sophomore season so far has been his belief that his hard work has made him better, and he has evidence to prove it. There’s still work to be done, but he embraces the back-breaking work that goes on in the weight room and in the gym behind the scenes so that on game day there’s a chance to shine, a chance to win one more time.
Tyler Cavanaugh denies the ball to N.C. State’s Jordan Vandenberg in the low post. (Photo by Donnie Roberts)
Tyler Cavanaugh Year: Sophomore Position: Forward Hometown: Dewitt, N.Y. Major: Undeclared Chose Wake Forest: Over offers from Syracuse and Notre Dame. Top Athletic Achievements: Won three straight Class A New York state titles his freshman through junior seasons and a berth in the state semifinals his senior season; Finished as one of six finalists for New York’s “Mr. Basketball”; Named first team all-state by the New York State Sportswriters Association in 2011-2012.
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McKie’s Senior Moment
S ta n Cotten Voice of the Demon Deacons
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At first crack, many mispronounce Travis McKie’s last name. A lot will default and make the mistake of rhyming the last syllable with the word key. But make no mistake, for this Wake Forest team to get where it wants and to win more than most have predicted it will – he needs to be. Key that is. He’s Wake’s only senior. Yes, grad student Coron Williams is contributing greatly and is a very important part of this group’s recipe for success, and like McKie, this is his last season as a Demon Deacon. But he transferred in from Robert Morris. McKie has been at Wake Forest since day one. We know him better. And rightly or wrongly, we expect more from the native of Richmond, Va., who earlier this season passed 1,500 points and 700 rebounds. Only eight other Demon Deacons have ever pulled that off. But halfway through the season, McKie was stalled in some kind of funk that didn’t look much like a senior racing to the finish line. But with McKie, that’s a fine line. He’s athletic and graceful enough that, at times, it appears as though he’s coasting even when he’s not. But he will be the first to admit now that entering the Deacs’ road game at Virginia Tech, he was indeed in neutral. “I was struggling. I had a couple of bad games. It happens,” he admits. “It helps a lot when you get yourself involved. I had a couple of games when I just stood in the corner, and I wasn’t running in and getting myself involved. I was waiting for it to happen instead of making it happen.” And then he went out and put action to his words. His play in the early stages of Wake’s game in Blacksburg against
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Virginia Tech jumpstarted the Deacons who had previously sputtered, especially early, in most of their games away from Winston-Salem. McKie was flying around, hit four straight three point shots, and the Deacons built a doubledigit lead on the Hokies and went on to win their first ACC road game of the season. And his effort didn’t go unnoticed by his mostly younger teammates. “He’s our captain. He’s our leader,” explains Codi MillerMcIntyre. “He’s a senior. We need him. He’s a key to our offense, our defense, our wins. When he gets going like that, it makes it so much easier for anybody else to get going.” “Finally getting that road win and seeing it happen was big,” McKie adds. “I think we’re in a good place.” As each game passes, McKie’s ticking senior clock begins to wind down. But not unexpectedly, he doesn’t seem to be noticing. “Not really,” he says. “I’m just going to enjoy it. I haven’t really gotten anxious about it. I’m just playing.” And how well he plays will be, well, key.
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A Link to the Past Freshman Kimmy Guerin was only the second player to never lose a match in high school in Connecticut, following Patty Murren, who also played at WFU By Jay Reddick
T
he word “lose” hasn’t really been in Kimmy Guerin’s vocabulary for a long time. The Wake Forest freshman never lost a tennis match at Weston (Conn.) High School, only the second women’s player in state history to accomplish that feat. In fact, she never lost a set. So in her first match as a Deacon last September, it came as kind of a shock when she lost her first set 5-7 to Salome Kvitashvili of VCU. Guerin responded as any competitor would — she won the second set 6-0. But then Kvitashvili put her on the ropes again, going up 5-2 in the third and deciding set…before Guerin won five straight games to take the match. Guerin didn’t prove to be quite as unbeatable during the rest of the fall — she compiled a 7-5 record going into the spring dual season — but her talent and poise have been evident right away as she plays an important role in the Deacons’ rebuilding process. Guerin admitted that falling that far behind in a match was a rarity for her.
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“I didn’t come back that much in juniors,” Guerin said. “I was usually either winning big or losing big to the very top players. It was a really fun experience, just trying to keep my head in the game and not freak out.” From the earliest part of Guerin’s high-school days, as she began her 97-match undefeated streak, her name was linked to another former Deacon standout. The only other player in state history to go undefeated in four years was Patty Murren, who went on to a stellar career at Wake Forest. Murren was named All-ACC in 1996, her senior season, and is one of only 10 Deacons to win 100 career singles matches. Murren’s feat, compiled at Immaculate High School in Danbury, Conn., became known in local tennis circles as the “Murren Slam” — an undefeated high school career, including four consecutive State Open singles championships. So Guerin had heard Murren’s name, and knew her background, from an early age — knowledge she said could have played a small role when it came time to pick a college. “I started hearing about Patty after I won the State Open my
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women’s tennis
KIMMY GUERIN Class: Freshman Birthdate: Sept. 1, 1995 Hometown: Weston, Conn. Planned major: Undecided. “Right now, I’m interested in Health and Exercise Science.” Favorite book: “The Giver” by Lois Lowry Favorite sports movie: “The Blind Side” Favorite food: Pizza Any pregame superstitions? “I have a weird thing with the number 11. I’ve had it my whole life — before I serve, I sometimes have to bounce the ball exactly 11 times, that sort of thing. It’s very weird.” Favorite athlete: Chris Paul. “I’ve always thought he was such a good point guard. And he went to Wake, of course, so that makes it even more fun to watch him.”
Patty Murren
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freshman year, so I always knew of Wake Forest,” Guerin said. “Once I started to hear more what the school and the team were about, it later became one of my top choices, and it became a reality.” Guerin’s family emphasized sports when she was growing up, and she said she began to play tennis at age 6, along with several other sports. She said her favorite sport to watch is basketball, but it was tennis and soccer that soon emerged as her favorites to play. “I was better at tennis, and I knew it would take me further,” Guerin said. “My goals were pretty high — by seventh or eighth grade, I was already thinking about college tennis, maybe getting a scholarship.” Guerin finished her recruiting process early. She made unofficial visits to WFU, Boston College, William & Mary, Notre Dame and Tulane in the fall and winter of her junior year at Weston, including a visit to Winston-Salem that February. “I connected with the girls on the team really quickly and the coaching staff,” Guerin said. “I loved the Tennis Center … it was definitely the best fit for me.” Guerin is part of coach Jeff Wyshner’s four-person recruiting class — a group that was rated the No. 8 class in America by TennisRecruiting.net. That makes two highly touted classes in a row for WFU, a run that has the Deacons hopeful of a resurgence in the ACC this season. Guerin has proven her worth even among that elite group — she started the dual-match season playing at the No. 2 or No. 3 singles spot. “She has been a phenomenal freshman,” Wyshner said. “She has adjusted well academically and athletically. She does great in a team environment, she’s a consistently hard worker, and she’s helping herself get better.” The 5-foot-8 freshman’s go-to skills are her big serve, plus a backhand that Wyshner calls “borderline professional level.” She said she’s been more of a baseline player all her life but is learning to play forward to become a better doubles player, while also improving her singles game. “In junior tournaments, doubles has never been much of a focus,” Guerin said. “Here, the doubles point is so important. I’m just still working on being aggressive, moving forward a lot more.” Becoming more team-oriented has been one of Guerin’s favorite college adjustments — both with her doubles partners and more generally with her teammates. “It’s a huge change from junior tennis, where there’s just a lot more individual tournaments. It’s fun having a team, being able to cheer on your teammates, and we’re all really close.” The team has set its goals for the year — earn a top-40 national ranking and break the Deacons’ four-year NCAA tournament drought. Guerin is eager to be a part of a winning program. “Everything is falling into place,” Guerin said. “We have tons of depth – so many girls are so even that we could all play any spot. I’m hoping it’ll all turn out.”
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We can help Coach Clawson get early first ‘win’ Coach Dave Clawson just recently passed the two-month mark on the job as the new head football coach for Wake Forest. With the recent announcement of the final coaching staff, we now have the opportunity to welcome several other families to our Wake Forest community, and I hope you will join me in making them feel at home. We are also excited to welcome the 2014 football signing class and are looking forward to seeing these young men develop on the field and in the classroom when they arrive on campus this fall.
b arry fair c l o t h A s s o c iat e At h l e t i c D ir e c t o r , Development & Sal e s
Since Coach Clawson’s hire, his time has been dominated by a whirlwind of recruiting, travel, media events and meetings. Despite his busy schedule, Coach Clawson and I have had a chance to speak on several occasions, and I have come away with a few first impressions. One of the things that has stood out most about Coach Clawson in the brief time he has been at Wake Forest is his infectious energy. It’s almost as if he’s constantly running on a wave of adrenaline but in a very focused way with a well thought out plan in hand — a plan that he has obviously perfected at previous stops before arriving at Wake. It is a plan that has been focused on the following priorities:
1. Developing relationships with current players. 2. Finalizing a recruiting class based on a detailed analysis of our current team and position needs. 3. Assembling a coaching staff. 4. Engaging with students, former players, fans and donors.
From the moment he was hired, his commitment to the plan has been clear. Upon arrival on campus, he met privately with the team and began to develop those critical relationships. By the second day on the job, Coach Clawson lost no time getting on the road and in front of recruits. Facing a small window of time to visit a large number of recruits, I was fortunate to be able to assist him by calling on some of our generous donors to provide private plane access to Coach Clawson, allowing him to see the most recruits in the shortest amount of time. This travel came after pulling an all-nighter reviewing film of current recruits to determine if they were an appropriate fit for his system. The detailed plan of visits was well choreographed but also required the dedication of someone willing to work into the wee hours of the night. Since then, Coach Clawson has continued to demonstrate his commitment to recruiting and make the most of the time he had to cement a 2014 class that we are all very proud of. Ultimately, he plans to further enhance our recruiting efforts by implementing some systems he gleaned while at Tennessee, and I am excited to see us progress in this area. I have also been impressed with Coach’s desire to engage with the student body at Wake Forest. The night of his introductory
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press conference, he certainly made a big impression by delivering doughnuts to students who were studying in the library preparing for finals, and I know he is looking forward to more opportunities to interact with our students, alumni and fans. With recruits signed, an outstanding coaching staff in place and preparations underway for the start of spring practice, the future is bright for our football program, and I’m certain that Coach Clawson will continue to impress us with his hard work and commitment to “Developing Champions.” While Coach is focused on his priorities on the field, our staff in the Deacon Club is committed to working hard off the field to provide him with the resources he needs to help him succeed. To that end, our No. 1 facility priority is the construction of a new Sports Performance Center that will not only help complement Coach’s efforts and assist in recruiting and the development of our football players, but it will also significantly impact the training of all of our student-athletes. The Sports Performance Center will feature a larger, state-of-the-art strength and conditioning facility that will allow multiple athletes in different sports to work out simultaneously, as well as a nutrition area that will directly support the vital role that proper nutrition plays in the pursuit of athletic excellence. It will also provide our football program with the space necessary to support the coaching staff as they look to enhance and expand their recruiting efforts. While plans for this facility are still being finalized, we are actively fundraising for the project, and I encourage you to consider supporting this game-changing initiative. Another critical area in which the Deacon Club is dedicated to supporting the new coaching staff and football team is ticket sales, so we ask that you renew your football season tickets or consider purchasing them for the first time. I know you’re aware of the impact a spirited atmosphere can have in creating an environment that energizes our players and makes BB&T Field an intimidating place to play for our visiting opponents. We need the support of our fans in order to generate that crucial home field advantage, so I would encourage you to go ahead and make a deposit for your 2014 season tickets, if you have not already done so, by visiting WakeForestSports.com/Tickets or by calling (336) 758-3322. In just a short time, Coach Clawson has certainly demonstrated his commitment to Wake Forest football, so our goal is to provide Coach his first “win” through both strong 2014 season ticket sales and by raising the necessary funds to break ground on the Sports Performance Center in the very near future. This will take an “all in” approach with everyone doing his or her part and coming together as one in this effort. Be on the lookout for more to come on the Sports Performance Center and the exciting changes it will allow us to make in how we train all of our student-athletes to compete. I look forward to discussions with you about how we can come together to provide Coach his first win. Go Deacs! Barry Faircloth
i n s id e t h e d e a c o n c lu b
ACC Tournament Changes To accommodate the expansion of the conference to include Syracuse, Pittsburgh and Notre Dame, the Atlantic Coast Conference has announced that the 2014 ACC Men’s Basketball Tournament will now feature a five-day bracket that will kick off in Greensboro on Wednesday, March 12, with ‘Opening Day Presented By Food Lion.’ Tickets for Wednesday’s ‘Opening Day’ will be sold separately from the tournament book. Each ticket is $35 and includes admission to all three of the Tournament’s first-day games. In addition to all the exciting ACC basketball action, ticketholders may also enjoy a performance by country music sensation Scotty McCreery. The concert will take place inside the Greensboro Coliseum after the conclusion of the second game of the day (approximately 6 p.m.). If you have any questions regarding the purchase of ‘Opening Day’ tickets, please contact the Wake Forest Ticket Office at (336) 758-3322.
Keep up with the Deacon Club on Facebook & Twitter For the latest news and information from the Deacon Club and to connect with other members, be sure to find us on Facebook and Twitter. Facebook.com/WFUDeaconClub @WFUDeaconClub @DeacOnTheRun @BarryFaircloth
Every Gift Counts! Renew your membership by the 2014 pledge deadline on March 15. When you make a pledge by the 2014 Pledge Deadline, it allows the athletic department to better plan for the upcoming year and ensure that we are able to continue offering the best athletic and educational opportunities for our talented student-athletes. If you haven’t already, please consider
Save the Date Football Spring Game and Reunion Weekend
The football spring game will be held on April 26. We also invite all football alumni to reconnect with friends and former teammates and stay engaged with Wake Forest Athletics by attending the reunion April 25-26. Remain on the lookout for more information coming soon.
Deacon Club Appreciation Day – March 1, 2014 We invite you to join fellow Deacon Club members, Wake Forest coaches and staff in celebrating your generous support of Wake Forest Athletics on Sunday, March 1, prior to the men’s basketball game vs. Boston College at 4 p.m. Email invitations will be sent in the coming weeks. We hope to see you there!
making your gift or pledge today. Gifts and pledges can be made online at DeaconClub.com or by calling (336) 758-5626.
february/march 2014
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D ONO R P R O F I L E
// Bria n & V i c k i Mill e r
Parents Excited To Begin Legacy of Giving For Their Upcoming Graduate
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rian and Vicki Miller (P ’14) are self-described “sports fanatics.” Their passion for athletics was instilled in their son, Matt Miller (’14), from an early age and played an important role when it came time for him to select a university to attend. Matt knew he wanted to attend a school with great academics, but he also wanted to go somewhere with Division I athletics so he could enjoy the experience as a fan. Brian said, “We really had no preexisting relationship with Wake Forest and didn’t know much about the University until we visited after Matt’s junior year of high school. He was looking at a number of schools, but when he was on campus for his visit, he almost immediately said it was the place for him.” As a new student, Matt enjoyed being part of a smaller community, getting to know his professors and meeting classmates from many different backgrounds. Said Vicki, “We felt a strong connection immediately with everyone we encountered – we had a great feeling from the start.” The Millers also enjoyed being able to make connections that might not have been possible at a much larger
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school. For example, Matt got to know several members of the soccer and football teams through classes and his freshman residence hall. Matt’s positive impression on his college visit led to the start of a family relationship with the University and the athletic department as Deacon Club members that began before he even set foot on campus. “We support both of our alma maters and are fans of their teams, so it seemed natural to do that with Wake Forest as well,” Brian said. “Since we live a long way away and we’re not on campus frequently, we can’t go to every home game, so it doesn’t make sense to have season tickets, but we still wanted to support the school.” Although the Millers enjoy attending games at Wake Forest when they are able to travel to Winston-Salem from their home in Dallas, their commitment to athletics as donors runs deeper than the gameday experience. “Athletics has been described as the ‘front porch of the school,’ ” Brian said. “It’s a very visible aspect of the University and successes there draw a lot of attention to the institution as a whole. It not only helps in recruiting student-athletes but potential students like Matt, for whom academics are first, but being able to
experience the games and everything that goes with that is important to them. Having more successful athletics contributes to the overall success of the school.” Brian and Vicki, who are alums of Texas A&M University and Southern Methodist University, have been impressed with the impact Wake Forest has made with a much smaller alumni base than their alma maters. “Given that there aren’t hundreds of thousands of living alums and without the public resources that a large public institution has access to, we were very impressed with what the University has done as one of the smallest BCS schools in the country,” Brian said. The Millers contributed to several projects over the course of Matt’s four years on campus, including the Bob McCreary Video Board at BB&T Field, the Walt Chyzowych Alumni Hill at Spry Stadium and the video streaming project at the Indoor Tennis Center.
connected with have generations of connections to Wake Forest, but with us we wanted to begin that legacy.” As a recipient of a Presidents Endowed Scholarship at Texas A&M, Brian has always been grateful to the family that helped pay for his education, and he wanted to provide that opportunity to another family. “The idea that the scholarship was not just funded from somewhere but given by a family that you had a personal connection with was extremely meaningful,” he said.
mother, Rosemary Haggar Vaughan, who the Millers wanted to thank for her commitment to education and great influence in the education of her grandchildren. The Millers are also eager to begin a legacy of giving for Matt as he graduates this spring. By establishing this scholarship, Brian and Vicki are excited to mark the beginning of a lifelong relationship between their son and future Wake Forest student-athletes. Beginning next year, the scholarship will be awarded to the family’s first student-athlete, and every four to five years for perpetuity, a new student-athlete will enter the Miller family’s life. Brian and Vicki are looking forward to Matt being able to “honor his time at Wake Forest and share his pride for the University with future recipients of the scholarship.”
“Many families we’ve connected with have generations of connections to Wake Forest, but with us we wanted to begin that legacy.”
As the Millers look to the future, they are excited for what lies on the horizon for the Demon Deacons. “We are excited about — Vicki Miller, on the family’s decision to endow the new direction and new energy As Matt’s four years as an a scholarship to a Wake Forest football player around the football program and undergraduate draw to a close, are looking forward to building the Millers began to consider how on past successes, taking that they could leave a legacy at Wake to the next level with Coach Forest for Matt and their family. Clawson,” Brian said. The family is “We have really enjoyed the four also looking forward to the new connection This fall, the Millers decided to endow a years Matt has been on campus and have they will have with the program as their first scholarship that will be awarded to a Wake grown to love Wake Forest. It’s been a great scholarship recipient is named this fall. Forest football player, with preference given experience for him and a great experience for to students from their home state of Texas. us,” Brian said. The scholarship is given in honor of Vicki’s Vicki explained, “Many families we’ve
deacon club photos
Deacon Club members are encouraged to submit photos for publication in the Gold Rush. Send your photos in digital format to deacclub@wfu.edu. Submission of a photo does not guarantee that it will be published. Thanks for showing off your Demon Deacon pride!
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1 Deacon Club member Sal Balsamo and his family pose with Michael Campanaro in the Wake Forest football locker room in front of the locker they recently dedicated in his honor.
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2 Jack Hutcherson, son of Elizabeth (’86) and Jim Hutcherson (’83, JD ’89), of Advance poses with head coach Jeff Bzdelik.
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3 The daughters of Mark and Kate (’07) Reece, Mary Charles (left) and Ann Briton (right) are enjoying the time-honored tradition of rolling the quad from an early age.
february/march 2014
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w h e r e ar e t h e y n o w ?
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k e vi n s m i t h
I
n each issue, Where Are They Now showcases a former Wake Forest student-athlete. This issue highlights former football player Kevin Smith (’00). An outside linebacker from Laurinburg, Kevin was a member of the 1999 Aloha Bowl team that defeated Arizona State 23-3 on Christmas Day. He and his wife, Jamila Mendez Smith, currently reside in Raleigh.
Kevin Smith When did you graduate from Wake Forest? I graduated in the class of 2000. What was your major? I majored in Communication. It was my initial goal to work in the field of public relations. What does being a Demon Deacon mean to you? Being a Demon Deacon means pride and responsibility. I have a great deal of pride in the traditions of Wake Forest and the wonderful alumni that make up the Wake Forest family. As a small institution, it takes dedicated alumni and university support for the athletic and academic programs to continuously rank among the nation’s best. Further, being a Demon Deacon also means a sense of responsibility to protect and enhance the Wake Forest experience. When I think about the opportunities that having a Wake Forest degree has afforded me, I get a great sense of responsibility to do whatever I can to make sure that same opportunity is given to someone else. Why are you still involved in Wake Forest Athletics? I am still involved in Wake Forest Athletics because I am an example of what can happen when someone is given an opportunity to attend a first-class university and be exposed to a broader sense of the world. I recognized and appreciate the effort it took to support the athletic programs. Often, those efforts are taken for granted. However, I realized the value of giving back and supporting those things in my life that are unique and special. Growing up in a small town didn’t provide many options for growth and development. Therefore, I am grateful for my experiences at Wake Forest. My college roommate, Fred Robbins, and I spend a lot of time talking about the growth of the program and the benefits of giving back. I find it somewhat selfish to not support the institution that has provided me opportunities that have changed the course of my life for the better. What is your current occupation? I have worked for the City of Raleigh for seven and a half years. It has been a wonderful experience developing a variety of capacity-building programs for the residents of the city. I have worked on a number of special projects that include developing a program providing reduced cost Internet service to residents living in underserved neighborhoods in the city. What is your favorite memory of your time at Wake Forest? My favorite memory is of the 1999 football season. Having the opportunity to compete in the ACC during that time period was a great experience. There were Heisman Trophy candidates, future NFL draft picks and the national champions in the conference, and that made the competition strong. To cap off
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my wonderful experience with a trip to the Aloha Bowl was extraordinary. It is a great feeling knowing that I was a part of a team that made a strong contribution to the growth of the program. The memories and friendships from that team will follow me the rest of my life. What makes you most proud of Wake Forest? I am most proud of my Wake Forest degree. I enjoy the reaction I get when people find out I graduated from such an exceptional university. It acts as a form of affirmation that I made the best decision in taking advantage of the opportunity to attend Wake Forest. Not everyone has had the option to attend, and I realize that Wake Forest saw something special in me to avail a chance to be a part of a great university that would enhance my life beyond belief. Even though there is a cost for tuition, you can’t put a price on the value of having a Wake Forest degree. It feels good knowing that I competed academically and athletically against some of the best in country. When I come back to Wake Forest, I always… When I come back to Wake Forest I always visit my favorite places to eat, the Deacon Shop and the practice field. I was there when… I was there when Wake Forest began the renovation of Bridger Field House. We had to dress in tents in the parking lot. We would be going over game plans and preparing for games while listening to people tailgate. The tents were either too hot or too cold. I also remember scrimmaging on the “old” campus of Wake Forest in the town of Wake Forest. We had the chance to interact with former players and hear their stories. I was also able to hear how each of them continues to support the university beyond their playing days. Who is your favorite coach at Wake Forest, current or past? My favorite coach was James Bell. He served as secondary coach and defensive coordinator. He was a “no nonsense” type of coach and demanded the most out of each player. In addition to pushing us on the field, he was a great resource for teaching life lessons off the field. I have a tremendous respect for the things I learned from him that stretch beyond the chalk lines of the football field.
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Financial planning from the people you know. *
Investment services offered through CUSO Financial Services, L.P.
Allegacy Investment Group, available through CFS,* can be your partner dedicated to providing individuals and businesses with sound financial planning as well as specialized products and services for every stage of life — from building wealth to protecting it. Our CFS* advisors offer Allegacy members complimentary plans and free, no-obligation educational workshops to help you stay informed in an ever-changing market. We understand that financial planning is an individualized process and we will work with you to address your unique goals.
Not yet a member of Allegacy? Not a problem. It’s easy to join. To schedule a meeting with an advisor, visit your nearest Financial Center, AllegacyInvestmentGroup.org or call 336.774.3400. *Non-deposit investment products and services are offered through CUSO Financial Services, L.P. (“CFS”), a registered broker-dealer (Member FINRA/SIPC) and SEC Registered Investment Advisor. Products offered through CFS: are not NCUA/NCUSIF or otherwise federally insured, are not guarantees or obligations of the credit union and may involve investment risk including possible loss of principal. Investment Representatives are registered through CFS. Allegacy Federal Credit Union has contracted with CFS to make non-deposit investment products and services available to credit union members. For specific tax advice, please consult a professional tax advisor. ©2013 Allegacy Federal Credit Union
february/march 2014
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jr . d e a c o n r e p o r t e r
Devin Thomas sat down for an interview with Sullivan Sowell on Monday, Jan. 6, the day after Wake Forest’s 73-67 win over North Carolina. Sullivan is a 9-year-old Junior Deacon Club member from Winston-Salem.
MR. REBOUND By Sullivan Sowell
D
evin Thomas, a star rebounder from Central Dauphin High School and Wake Forest sophomore, is looking to build on a great freshman season at Wake Forest, and so far this season he’s done just that. As a team leader in rebounds in almost every game, Devin shows just how important rebounds are. In games in which he leads the team in rebounds so far this season (through Jan. 18), the Deacons are 9-2. When he does not, the Deacons are 3-4. Now that’s quite a stat. His mom (Tina Thomas) was a great rebounder and ranks fourth alltime at her school, Millersville University. So I asked Devin if he gets his rebounding skills from his mom. He replied, “You could say that and probably my sister, too. She plays at Maryland and averages more rebounds than me. I guess it is just a skill, too.” I asked him what rebounding tips he would give to a kid my age. “When you see the ball go up on the rim, do everything you can do to go after it and get the ball. If you do that, if you pursue the ball, you’ll get it,” Devin told me. I added, “...and don’t foul.” He agreed, and I agree he gave me some good advice I can put to use in my next game. Devin grew up in Pennsylva-
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nia, and I wanted to know how this helped his basketball skills. This is what Devin had to say about growing up in Pennsylvania. “It made me the player I am today. The competition I had growing up in Pennsylvania ... it’s probably one of the best bas-
ketball states in America. I think it helped me a lot.” I figured for Devin to choose Wake Forest, he must have had an idol from the Deacs to make Wake Forest his college choice. I asked what former Wake Forest player did Devin like growing up.
“I liked all of the stars. I liked Josh Howard, Chris (Paul), Tim Duncan. The person I should emulate my game after — at Wake Forest — should probably be Rodney Rogers,” Devin said. I shared with Devin that my favorite player is Chris Paul. If he got an offer to Wake For-
est, I thought there must have been some good feelings that went over him since he chose the Deacs. I asked what it felt like when he received an offer to go to Wake Forest. “It felt great. It was a hard decision because there were a lot of other good schools that had offered me, but in the end I think it was the best choice for me. It was the best decision I probably ever made.” Knowing that Devin and most of his family played college hoops, I wondered how much the sport of basketball meant to his family. Both of his parents played at Millersville University, and his sister (Alyssa) plays at the University of Maryland. “Basketball means a lot to my family. My parents were all about playing basketball at Division II, so they have been around it a whole lot. My sister and I playing in Division I means a lot to my family – getting a free education and using it as a tool to get you where you want to be in life is important.” Devin wore No. 2 in high school and college. I wanted to know why he chose
this number. Devin said, “Growing up, my sister’s best friend’s brother, who was a role model to me, wore No. 2. So I decided to wear No. 2.” In the summer of 2013, Devin was asked to attend the USA Basketball Men’s Under-19 World Championship Team training camp. I asked Devin what it felt like when he was asked to attend the USA Under-19 training camp? “It felt good. I had never really had an opportunity like that offered to me before. It felt good and showed that all of the hard work I have put in is paying off.” Since the Sochi Winter Olympic Games are coming, I asked Devin if he could participate in any Winter Olympic sport, what it would be. Devin replied, “I am not good at snowboarding. I’m too big to snowboard...or ski.” He asked me what I would do? I told him I would like bobsledding, and he added he would probably do bobsledding, too. With school and basketball season going on, I figured he hasn’t had much time to think
about the Winter Olympics too much. Well, that wrapped up my interview, I thanked Devin for his time, and he went back to practicing with his teammates. It was an honor to speak with Devin about being a Division I basketball player in the ACC. He was really easy to talk to.
LITTLE DEACONS! BIG FANS! join the junior deacon cluB
New for 2013-2014
• Custom Junior Deacon Club Credential/Lanyard (pass to all home Wake Forest Olumpic sporting events)
Drawstring backpack Deacon Shop “goodies” Custom designed T-shirt Welcome letter from the Deacon
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D EA C ON
Ju n i o
• • • •
CLUB
• • • •
Weekly email updates Birthday wishes from the Demon Deacon Build Deacon Club Points Free tickets to select home football and men’s basketball games • Invitations to exclusive Junior Deacon Club events
MEMBERSHIP ONLY
$25
NEW SIBLING DISCOUNT each remaining sibling only
$15
Available to kids 8th grade and younger
For more information, call 336-758-5011 or visit www.Wakeforestsports.c om february/march 2014
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summer camps
Wake Forest Offers A Wide Variety Of Summer Camps
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ummer will be here before we know it, and many parents may be already trying to make summer plans for their children. Don’t forget that Wake Forest offers a wide array of Sports Camps for children of all ages. For information on Wake Forest Summer 2014 Sports Camps, please visit WakeForestSports.com/camps. Enrollment in all camps is limited, so register today.
The Ethan Reeve Speed and Athletic Development Class This camp is designed for local athletes within driving distance of campus. There will be four two-hour classes each week for four weeks. You can choose morning or evening sessions. Athletes who want to be able to run faster, jump higher, be more flexible, attain body awareness, balance, strength, speed, power and sport performance in his/her particular sport should attend. For more information, email reeveec@wfu.edu or call (336) 758-6406.
All Sports Camp Now in its 53rd year, this camp continues to offer a vast array of sporting activities for boys and girls ages 6-12. From box hockey to volleyball, from archery to the climbing wall, the All Sports Camp truly does provide something for every child. As guided by an experienced and enthusiastic staff of instructors and counselors, this camp is a must for every Piedmont youngster. The camp continues in its popularity not only due to the quality staff and top-notch facilities but the sporting and social fun that the camp format provides. Spots are limited. For more information, contact Max Floyd at floyd@wfu.edu or call (336) 758-7178.
Baseball Camp The Tom Walter Baseball Camps are dedicated to providing a baseball camp that is both instructional and informational along with creating a great atmosphere to learn! The coaching staff prides itself on teaching the game of baseball to players of all ages and ability levels. All camps are taught by our coaching staff and players. The mechanics and drills that are taught at the camps are used with the Wake Forest college players. The coaching staff is determined to provide the best possible learning experience for their campers. For more information, contact Bill Cilento at (336) 758-5645 or email cilentwt@wfu.edu.
Basketball Camp – Male The objective at The Hoops Academy at Wake Forest University is simple: we want to teach you as much as possible while everyone has fun playing the game we all love! With four great camp sessions to choose from, the Hoops Academy has something to offer for campers of all ages. Day camps are available to boys in grades 1-8 while residential camps are available to boys in grades 4-12. We are also offering a Father/Son Camp on June 13-14 and a Team Camp on June 20. For more information on these camps, please visit WFHoopsAcademy.com.
Basketball Camp – Female The mission of the Jen Hoover Basketball Camp is to ensure that all participants receive a unique and memorable experience based on a creative curriculum, an energetic and knowledgeable staff, and engaging activities that enhance skills! Campers will be exposed to the fundamental individual and team skills necessary to learn the game of basketball. We have an outstanding staff that includes the Wake Forest University women’s basketball coaches, including WFU Hall of Famer and all-time leading scorer Jen Hoover, as well as many of our current Demon Deacon student-athletes! For more information, please visit JenHooverHoops.com.
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Field Hockey Camp The mission of the Field Hockey Camp is to ensure that all participants receive a premier camp experience based on a creative curriculum and an energetic and knowledgeable staff, while playing on a world class artificial playing surface. Campers will be exposed to the most recent coaching styles and strategies. We have an outstanding staff that includes the Wake Forest University hockey coaches, as well as other college coaches and elite players. This year we will be hosting our Demon Camp and Deacon Camp instead of Elite and Team camps from previous years. Both camps are open to whole club/high school teams as well as individuals and will cover team play aspects and individual/small group skills. The curriculum is designed to enable all levels of player to develop in a fun environment, and campers will be continually assessed throughout the camp so they remain in a comfortable yet challenging arena. For more information, go to WakeForestFieldHockeyCamps.com.
Football Camp At the Dave Clawson Football Camp, boys and young men receive professional instruction from our Wake Forest football coaching staff. Instruction includes drills and technique work in all areas of football to help develop techniques for individual and team play. For more information, call (336) 758-5633.
Golf – Male The Jerry Haas Summer Golf Camp gives young golfers, ages 11-18, a unique opportunity to live on a college campus and learn the game of golf from some of the best in the business. Coach Haas and a staff of college coaches serve as camp counselors and golf instructors during each session. Campers receive personal instruction covering everything from short game to the rules of golf. Play and practice are at the new Wake Forest state-ofthe-art golf practice facility and at local courses. For more information, call (336) 758-6000, email Laura Statham at stathals@wfu.edu or visit WakeForestGolfCamp.com.
Golf – Female The Dianne Dailey Girls Golf Day Camp is for day campers ages 8-18. Participants receive professional instruction from a qualified staff of collegiate coaches and LPGA teaching professionals on Wake Forest’s new state-of-the-art on-campus learning center. Campers are grouped by age and skill and receive personal instruction on full swing, chipping and putting, and will be supervised at all times. Other topics include fitness, nutrition, sport psychology, college admissions and recruiting as well as course management, rules and etiquette. For more information, call (336) 758-6000 or email Laura Statham at stathals@wfu.edu. The Dianne Dailey Ladies Golf Camp is unique because classes are small and the instruction is geared toward women and their swings. This camp is for ladies ages 18 and over. Sessions are limited to 18 participants, which allow top-line instructors to spend more time with each player on a one-on-one basis. The camp employs up-to-date techniques, which include videotaping of all swings, teaching aids, and hitting bays for inclement weather. The session is highlighted by a 9-hole playing lesson at Bermuda Run. For more information, please visit WakeForestSports.com/camps/girls-golf.
Soccer – Male The Jay Vidovich Soccer Camp is not an ordinary soccer camp, it is a soccer experience. Wake Forest University has developed over 27 professional players in the past nine seasons. At the same time going to four consecutive College Cups, winning five ACC Championships and the 2007 NCAA National Championship. Coach Vidovich has a recipe for developing players and doing it the right way ... THE WAKE WAY. THE WAKE WAY is a unique brand in college soccer where every pass has a message for players running off ball. This allows for fantastic combination play and a fun way to play for not only the players but for fans as well. You have a choice in the way you want to play and develop ...make it THE WAKE WAY. For additional information on any of these camps, please go to WakeForestSoccerCamp. com or contact Dane Brenner at (336) 758-3059, wfsoccer@wfu.edu or wakeforestsoccercamp@gmail.com.
Local seasonal ingredients. Fresh from scratch. Extensive wine list.
Soccer – Female The Tony daLuz Girls Soccer Camp is committed to each individual player’s development from the ground up emphasizing first touch ball control, composure under pressure and confidence in attack. We believe that soccer should be played with style, creativity and teamwork. Our priority in teaching is to master the ball first, then move on to competitive play and team tactics. Our staff will create an intense, passionate soccer environment, inspiring your daughters to reach new levels in their game. Residential and day camps are available. For more information, please go to WakeForestGirlsSoccerCamp.com or contact Megan Jessee at (610) 2178759 or JesseeM@wfu.edu.
Tennis Camps The Tennis Camps at Wake Forest University offer boys and girls ages 6-18 of all tennis abilities and experience, the opportunity to work on their games under the continued tutelage of coaches Tamer Hegazy (lead instructor for tennis camps at Wake Forest since 2001), Andy Roland (assistant women’s tennis coach) and Jeff Wyshner (head women’s tennis coach). Camp utilizes the world-class tennis complex that is home to both the ATP Tour’s Winston Salem Open and the Wake Forest men’s and women’s tennis programs. The Camp program emphasizes a game-oriented, fun learning environment while giving the technical instruction and repetition required for tennis improvement in the morning sessions with a match-play focus in the afternoons. Full-day resident and commuter programs are offered to campers ages 8-18 and half-day opportunities are available to campers ages 6 and 7. Extensive use of the University’s 8 indoor courts helps to make camp more productive and fun than having to spend all of camp in the sun. Tennis the Right Way. For Fun. For Life. For more information, visit WakeForestTennisCamps.com, call (336) 422-4358 or email wftenniscamps@ gmail.com.
411 South Marshall Street | Winston-Salem, NC 27107 336-722-8889 | www.meridianws.com
Volleyball Camps The Ken Murzcek Volleyball Camps are designed and offered for beginner, intermediate and advanced players. Campers work on various aspects of their games led by some of the top coaches in the country. For more information, call Jen Murczek at (336) 505-9385 or email wfvbcamp@wfu. edu.
february/march 2014
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d e a c o n S I N THE P R OS BASEBALL
Women’s Soccer Bianca D’Agostino Boston Breakers
Coaches/Scouts Neil Avent Adam Bourassa John Hendricks Michael Holmes Kevin Jarvis Bill Masse Matt Price Mike Rikard Eric Schmitt Ross Atkins Danny Borrell
MLB MLB MLB MLB MLB MLB MLB MLB MLB MLB MLB
Adam Wogan Tommy Gregg George Greer
MLB AAA A
Oakland A’s Area Scout San Diego Padres Area Scout Toronto Blue Jays Area Scout Oakland A’s Assistant Scouting Director San Diego Padres Pro Scout Seattle Mariners Area Scout Kansas City Royals Pro Scout Boston Red Sox National Cross Checker New York Yankees International Scouting Cleveland Indians Director of Player Development New York Yankees Minor League Pitching Rehab Coordinator New York Mets Director of Minor League Operations Kansas City Omaha Storm Chasers Hitting Coach New York Mets St. Lucie Mets Hitting Coach
Minor League Ranks Pat Blair Dave Bush Tim Cooney Michael Dimock Allan Dykstra Brian Holmes Carlos Lopez Mike MacDougal Niko Spezial Justin Van Grouw Mac Williamson
Tampa Bay Rays Free Agent St. Louis Cardinals Houston Astros New York Mets Houston Astros Washington Nationals Free Agent Washington Nationals Arizona Diamondbacks San Francisco Giants
MEN’S GOLF Lee Bedford Bill Haas Jay Haas Gary Hallberg Scott Hoch Len Mattiace Kyle Reifers Jay Sigel Curtis Strange Webb Simpson Ron Whittaker
Web.com Made over $30,000 last year in first full pro season; will be on Web.com again PGA Finished T6th at the Humana Challenge; Has finished in the top-25 in all 5 events Champions Finished 4th in the season-opening Mitsubishi Electric Championship Champions Had five top-25s last year; Has yet to start his season Champions Had 12 top-25s in 20 events last season Web.com Finished T49 at the PGA Tour’s OHL Classic at Mayakoba in November Web.com Played in 2 PGA Tour events at the end of the year. Web.com season starts Feb. 10 Champions Played in two events last season Champions Finished T34th in the season-opening Mitsubishi Electric Championship PGA Finished T3rd at the Tournament of Champions; Has 4 top-10s in 5 events Web.com Made 10 cuts last year. Season starts Feb. 10
MEN’S BASKETBALL Al-Farouq Aminu NBA Tim Duncan NBA Taron Downey Cyprus Josh Howard NBA James Johnson NBA Chris Paul NBA Ishmael Smith NBA Jeff Teague NBA Justin Gray Turkey C.J. Harris Germany Jamaal Levy Argentina Chas McFarland Japan Nikita Mescheriakov Belarus Darius Songaila Lithuania Kyle Visser Germany David Weaver Portugal L.D. Williams France
New Orleans Pelicans San Antonio Spurs Etha (Cyprus) Austin Toros Rio Grande Valley Vipers L.A. Clippers Phoenix Suns Atlanta Hawks Pertevniyal Istanbul Ludwigsburg MH Basket Akita NH Tsmoki-Minsk Lietuvos Rytas NY Phantoms Benfica Bourg
WOMEN’S PRO BASKETBALL Lakevia Boykin Sandra Garcia Alex Tchangoue
France Pau Puerto Rico France
Orthez FoA Nice
FOOTBALL Tommy Bohanon Josh Bush Tyson Clabo Chris DeGeare Brandon Ghee Chris Givens Joe Looney Calvin Pace Steve Vallos Kyle Wilber
NFL NFL NFL NFL NFL NFL NFL NFL NFL NFL
FB S OL OL CB WR OL LB OG LB
NY Jets NY Jets Miami Dallas Cincinnati St. Louis San Francisco NY Jets Denver Dallas
Carolina NY Giants Carolina Carolina Minnesota San Diego Indianapolis
Vice President Offensive Line Coach Strength Coach Wide Receivers Coach Defensive Line Coach Executive VP of Football Operations Quality Control Defense
Coaches/Staff Charlie Dayton Pat Flaherty Joe Kenn Ricky Proehl Diron Reynolds John Spanos Brad White
NFL NFL NFL NFL NFL NFL NFL
WOMEN’S GOLF Laura (Philo) Diaz Jean Chua Nannette Hill Natalie Sheary Michelle Shin Cheyenne Woods
LPGA Made over $40,000 in 18 events: was co-captain for the Solheim Cup team last season Symetra Symetra Tour starts its 2014 season on Feb. 22 Symetra Symetra Tour starts its 2014 season on Feb. 22 LPGA Earned LPGA status through Q-School; will be playing her first LPGA events this season Symetra Symetra Tour starts its 2014 season on Feb. 22 Symetra Earned status on the Symetra Tour after playing on the LET last season
MEN’S SOCCER Anthony Arena Corben Bone Brian Carroll Sam Cronin Austin da Luz Chris Duvall Akira Fitzgerald Luca Gimenez Tolani Ibikunle Stephen Keel Michael Lahoud Justin Moose Ike Opara Sean Okoli Michael Parkhurst Jalen Robinson Zack Schilawski Jared Watts
Houston Dynamo Philadelphia Union Philadelphia Union San Jose Earthquakes Carolina RailHawks (NASL) New York Red Bulls Carolina RailHawks (NASL) Philadelphia Union Colorado Rapids FC Dallas Philadelphia Union SJK (Finland) Sporting Kansas City Seattle Sounders Columbus Crew D.C. United Carolina RailHawks (NASL) Colorado Rapids
Coaches John Hackworth Rob Vartughian
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Philadelphia Union (Head Coach) Philadelphia Union (Technical Director)
gold rush magazine
Former Deacon offensive lineman Steve Vallos and his family celebrate after the Denver Broncos beat the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship Game to advance to the Super Bowl.
c o m plia n c e c o r n e r
// t o dd h air s t o n
NLI Signing Day: Behind the Scenes
t o dd h air s t o n A s s o c iat e At h l e t i c D ir e c t o r , C o m plia n c e
The spring signing period for the National Letters of Intent (NLI) is here. This is the time when our football, field hockey, men’s and women’s soccer, and men’s and women’s track and field prospects who have verbally committed to Wake Forest can make it official and become future Demon Deacons. The spring period started on Feb. 5 and extends through April 1 for football, and Aug. 1 for field hockey, soccer and track and field. However, while most people are aware that signing day occurs each year, you may not be quite as familiar with some of the NCAA rules surrounding the signing of an NLI. So let’s take a behind-the-scenes look at some of the stipulations that each institution must follow once a student signs his or her NLI: Processing the NLI: • An institution issues an NLI and offer of athletic aid to the prospective studentathlete (PSA).
• The PSA signs two copies, returns one to the institution and keeps one.
• The NLI must be signed within seven days of the issue date.
• The institution verifies the required information and sends to the conference office for validation.
• NLI must be filed with the conference within 14 days of final signature.
Publicity After Signing: • An institution may hold multiple press conferences.
• Signed prospects may appear on institutionally produced television or radio programs with the coach, provided no media are present during the production.
• An institution may promote official and unofficial visits of a signed prospect on its website, social media, etc.
Recruitment After Signing: • Coaches may have unlimited contact with the PSA.
• Coaches may post public messages about the PSA via social media.
Additionally, it is permissible for a signed prospect to be employed at an institution’s summer camp. However, it is not permissible for coaches to engage in coaching activities such as chalk-talk and film review until the first day of classes or the first official practice, whichever occurs earlier. For any questions related to this issue, please contact Todd Hairston at hairstct@wfu.edu.
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