2019-20
// Y E A R I N R E V I E W
5 GOALS DRIVE WAKE FOREST ATHLETICS 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
A World Class Student-Athlete Experience Integrity in Academics, Compliance, Finance, Inclusion and Safety Value to the University, Winston-Salem and Triad Communities Win Championships The Best Fan Experience in North Carolina
NEW DEACON LEADERS
ENHANCED COMMUNICATION WITH DEACON NATION
Several new administrators joined Athletics in 2019-20 and have had a positive impact on the student-athlete and fan experiences.
Deacon Nation is now more informed than ever before! From an increased social media presence to regular updates “From the Quad� and the introduction of Deacon Sports Xtra, a daily email featuring exclusive stories and profiles, there are plenty of opportunities for fans to stay up-to-date on the latest Demon Deacon news.
Lindsey Babcock Deputy AD, Internal Operations
Murphy Grant Sr. Associate AD, AHCA
10%+ Rhett Hobart Associate AD Fan Experience & Sales
Will Pantages Associate AD Athletic Communications
Cameron Speaks Sr. Creative Director Video Services
growth of social media audience since January 1
8 accounts had the highest growth percentage among ACC schools
ATHLETICS TASK FORCE
RESPONDING TO COVID-19 Wake Forest Athletics is proud of the perseverance of all our studentathletes, coaches and staff throughout the COVID-19 pandemic as they faced a variety of challenges from the upheaval of the spring semester and adapting to remote learning, to staying fueled and in shape while sheltering at home.
Created on March 10, the Athletics Task Force led by Assoc. AD Ellie Shannon met daily to ensure a safe and appropriate operation for Wake Forest Athletics.
Remote Learning
Instagram Workouts
PHASED RETURN (WFAPARP) Wake Forest Athletics created a detailed phased return plan that began in early June when select student-athletes recovering from a previous serious athletic injury or surgery were provided an opportunity to return to campus for rehabilitation and treatment in the Miller Athletic Training Room. Phased return continued throughout the summer until all fall sport athletes were back on campus by mid-August.
WAKE ATHLETICS 2019-20 YEAR IN REVIEW
874,000+ Views The Forbes video announcement received the most views of any social media video in Wake Forest history.
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A NEW ERA OF DEACON BASKETBALL In the midst of the pandemic, Wake Forest ushered in a new era of Deacon Basketball with the hiring of Steve Forbes. Despite the restrictions and social distancing requirements, the announcement was made with much fanfare and got Deacon Nation fired up about the future of the program.
A SCHOOL RECORD 4TH STRAIGHT BOWL APPEARANCE The New Era Pinstripe Bowl garnered 3.8 million viewers on ESPN, the highest national TV viewership of any North Carolina bowl team – outpacing the next closest team by more than 1.7 million viewers. Highlights from the experience included Coach Clawson and team captains ringing the bell at the NYSE, the most Wake students at a bowl game since the 2007 Orange Bowl, a sold out 2,000-person pep rally prior to the game and an estimated 10,000 Deacon fans in attendance.
WOMEN’S GOLF KICKS OFF GREAT YEAR BY WINNING PRESTIGIOUS EAST LAKE CUP Last fall, women’s golf took on the nation’s top 8 teams and claimed its first win at the prestigious East Lake Cup. It was one of four team championships for the Deacs before the spring season ended abruptly due to the pandemic. The team finished the shortened season ranked No. 1 in the country.
MEN’S SOCCER RETURNS TO THE COLLEGE CUP After surpassing the 500-win mark this season, the men’s soccer program reached the College Cup for the sixth time in school history and defeated seven top 25 opponents. Wake Forest is the only school in the nation to earn a top 4 seed in five consecutive years since the NCAA started seeding in 1994.
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WAKE ATHLETICS 2019-20 YEAR IN REVIEW
SPRY STADIUM WAS THE HOME OF THE 2019 NCAA MEN’S SOCCER TOTAL SEASON ATTENDANCE CHAMPIONS Wake Forest advanced to its sixth College Cup and beat seven top-25 opponents.
THE SUTTON SPORTS PERFORMANCE CENTER AND SHAH BASKETBALL COMPLEX, which opened last fall, has quickly proven to be an advantage for all Wake Forest student-athletes.
THE KEENER WEIGHT ROOM IN THE SUTTON SPORTS PERFORMANCE CENTER provides more than 10,000 square feet of dedicated strength and conditioning equipment for all men’s and women’s Olympic sports.
BB&T FIELD SAW A SCHOOL-RECORD 6 HOME WINS IN 2019, including three victories over UNC, NC State and Duke for the Deacs eighth Big 4 Championship.
WAKE FOREST CELEBRATED THE 30TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE LJVM COLISEUM By the early 1980s, the need for a new coliseum in Winston-Salem had been a topic of discussion for years. Previous bond referendums had failed in 1976 and 1979, but Memorial Coliseum was decaying and a majority of Wake Forest’s home ACC basketball games had been moved to the Greensboro Coliseum. But in 1984, spurred by the construction of large, new coliseums in Charlotte and Chapel Hill, city officials received enough support to put in motion the events that brought about the construction of the Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum. As part of the yearlong anniversary commemoration, Wake Forest celebrated by honoring the 1995 ACC Championship team, raising a banner for Coach Dave Odom, and inviting and honoring countless Winston-Salem city officials and former Demon Deacons.
WAKE ATHLETICS 2019-20 YEAR IN REVIEW
NATIONALLY RANKED WOMEN’S GOLF & WGCA NATIONAL COACH OF THE YEAR
#1
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4x1 7
4
DISTANCE MEDLEY RELAY ACC CHAMPIONS
PROGRAMS SCORE 990+ IN APR REPORT
72
SCHOOL-RECORD CONSECUTIVE BOWL GAMES
#5
STUDENT-ATHLETES GRADUATED IN 2019-20
NATIONALLY RANKED MEN’S GOLF (when the season ended due to the pandemic)
#13 NATIONALLY RANKED MEN’S TENNIS (when the season ended due to the pandemic)
14 SCHOOL RECORD FOOTBALL ALL-ACC SELECTIONS
#16 NATIONALLY RANKED WOMEN’S TENNIS (when the season ended due to the pandemic)
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WAKE ATHLETICS 2019-20 YEAR IN REVIEW
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ACC POSTGRADUATE SCHOLARS Madison Hammond (women’s soccer), Alistair Johnston (men’s soccer), Elijah Shalaway (men’s track & field), Siyn Liu (women’s golf)
95%
GRADUATION SUCCESS RATE (GSR)
72
Wake Forest student-athletes earned their degrees.
TOP 10%
73%
of Wake Forest student-athletes made the ACC Honor Roll.
(highest team GPA)
2019-20 DEAN’S CUP WINNERS
Five of Wake Forest’s teams were honored with NCAA Public Recognition Awards which are presented annually to teams finishing among the top 10% of their sport in APR: field hockey, football, men’s golf, women’s tennis, and women’s basketball.
990
Wake Forest Football recorded its highest APR score in program history
WOMEN’S SOCCER
MEN’S GOLF
WAKE ATHLETICS 2019-20 YEAR IN REVIEW
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STUDENT-ATHLETE ADVISORY COMMITTEE
UNIQUE DEAC
SAAC, in partnership with the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, helped organize the first-ever Unique Deac Day on Oct. 24, 2019, which provided an opportunity for all in the Wake Forest community to share, see, understand, and value differences.
PRIVILEGED
In January Wake Forest welcomed 17year NBA veteran Kyle Korver to campus as part of the University’s Voices of Our Time series. Korver garnered national recognition and initiated a larger conversation around systemic racism and being a true ally to others in a personal essay in The Players’ Tribune in April 2019. During his visit Kyle led an impactful discussion with a group of student & student-athlete leaders in the Sutton Sports Performance Center. He encouraged his audience to identify their blind spots, use their privilege for good, and stand up for what’s right.
INCLUSION & SOCIAL JUSTICE
#BLACKLIVESMATTER In the aftermath of George Floyd’s murder Wake Forest student-athletes, staff and coaches shared many thoughtful — and thought provoking — social media posts and videos using their platforms to promote awareness and the need for real social change.
COMMUNITY SERVICE
100%
of Wake Forest teams participated in community service initiatives 34TH ANNUAL SANTA’S HELPER
Student-athletes wrapped and delivered gifts to more than 1,000 underprivileged children in the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County community.
CAREER DEVELOPMENT LEADERSHIP
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WAKE ATHLETICS 2019-20 YEAR IN REVIEW
$284,099,585
WAKE WILL LEAD COMMITMENTS TO DATE
(INITIAL GOAL OF $95 MILLION)
The Sutton Sports Performance Center and the Shah Basketball Complex, dedicated on September 13, 2019 are the 16th and 17th new or renovated athletic facility completed over the course of the campaign.
$22,955,014
TOTAL CASH DEACON CLUB RECEIVED IN FY20
$21,172,987
TOTAL COMMITMENTS RECEIVED IN FY20
WAKE ATHLETICS 2019-20 YEAR IN REVIEW
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FOREVER DEACS
Forever Deac members establish a “Forever” endowment through cash gifts or estate commitments.
42 19
$3.9MM
new Forever Deac members
in estate commitments
10% increase in estate donors
new endowed scholarships
EXCELLENCE FUNDS Excellence funds are used to
TRANSFORM SPORT BUDGETS
92%
increase in cash gifts for “Excellence Funds Today” (program-specific contributions)
➤ ➤
Increase recruiting budgets
Provide additional competition opportunities for the entire team ➤
Upgrade technology for teaching, training and performance ➤
Provide additional summer school opportunities ➤
Upgrade travel and transportation
➤
Provide foreign tour opportunities ➤
Retain key coaches
Introduced in spring 2020, the International Leadership Circle (ILC) is a comprehensive new program which recognizes Wake Forest’s top annual athletic donors for their leadership and support through enhanced communication and engagement. Each member of the ILC has combined annual giving of at least $15,000 with donations going to the Deacon Club Annual Fund, program-specific Excellence Funds and/or priority seating gifts.
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ILC MEMBERS
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WAKE ATHLETICS 2019-20 YEAR IN REVIEW
SUTTON SPORTS PERFORMANCE CENTER & SHAH BASKETBALL COMPLEX Dedicated: September 13, 2019 More than 100,000 sq. ft. | 725 tons of steel | 500,000+ bricks | 5,000 cu. yds. concrete
“The opening of Sutton Sports Performance Center and the Shah Basketball Complex is a generational moment symbolizing Wake Forest’s commitment to achieving at the highest level of college athletics. This transformative facility is yet another enhancement to our world-class student-athlete experience.” - Athletics Director John Currie