Gold Rush - December 2017 by Wake Forest Athletics

DEACON FOOTBALL TEAM GOING BOWLING AGAIN

COMPLETE PACKAGE

Tight end Cam Serigne makes a case for being Wake Forest’s and the ACC’s best-ever tight end

NEW ROLE FOR LEGEND Former Deacon basketball star Skip Brown is back at WFU in a new capacity

DECEMBER 2017

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Gold Rush is published eight times a year in August, October, November, December, February, March, May and June 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 shall 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.

CONTENTS

// D E C E M B E R 2 0 17

NO. 1 SOCCER TEAM OUSTED: Senior standout Jon Bakero (pictured) and the top-ranked Wake Forest men’s soccer team lost to third-ranked and two-time defending champion Stanford 2-0 in the NCAA quarterfinals, falling just short of a return trip to the College Cup. The Deacons finished 19-2-2, and the senior class totaled 65 wins in its four seasons, including an NCAA-best 55 wins over the last three years.

4 20 22

FROM THE AD 100% COTTEN INSIDE THE DEACON CLUB

26 27 30

WHERE ARE THEY NOW? CALENDAR COMPLIANCE CORNER

// 6 TOP TIGHT END Senior Cam Serigne has the numbers to show he’s Wake Forest’s and the ACC’s best-ever tight end, but there’s much more to the overall impact he has made as a Deacon.

// 12 STANDING ALONE Mitchell Wilbekin is the lone experienced senior and one of the team captains for a Deacon men’s basketball team developing a new team chemistry with five newcomers.

// 16 A DIFFERENT ROLE

ON THE COVER Cam Serigne holds career records for pass receptions and receiving yards by a tight end at Wake Forest and in the ACC.

Skip Brown enjoyed a Hall of Fame basketball career at Wake Forest in the 1970s and he’s now back at the university making an impact in a different way.

DECEMBER 2017

FROM THE A.D.

// R O N W E L L M A N

Fall provides best start in many years Dear Demon Deacons, With the conclusion of the fall sports seasons, it is a good time to reflect on the achievements of our teams and student-athletes. There is much to celebrate as they have had outstanding seasons. RON WELLMAN DIRECTOR O F AT H L E T I C S

As you know, we are in the business of educating our student-athletes. Our goal is to graduate everyone who comes to our program. The NCAA recently released our Graduation Success Rate of 94 percent, which is one of the best in the country. Seven of our teams (men’s soccer, men’s tennis, women’s basketball, field hockey, women’s golf, women’s tennis and volleyball) had a perfect GSR of 100 percent. Even more impressive is that five of our teams (women’s basketball, volleyball, women’s tennis, women’s golf and men’s tennis) have posted a perfect 100 percent GSR every year since 2004-05 when the GSR was instituted. Not only are we excelling in the classroom, our fall sports have gotten the year off to a great start. Men’s soccer didn’t rebuild as many expected…they simply reloaded and won the ACC regular season, won the ACC Tournament Championship for the second year in a row and earned the No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament again this year. Head Coach Bobby Muuss and his team continued their dominance in postseason awards as Bobby was the ACC Coach of the Year for the third consecutive year.

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That is the first time in ACC history that a coach has won the Coach of the Year honors three times in a row. Coach Muuss and his staff were also recognized as the South Region Staff of the Year by United Soccer Coaches for the second consecutive season. Jon Bakero was named the ACC Offensive Player of the Year and Kevin Politz named the ACC Defensive Player of the Year. That’s a clean sweep for the Deacs! Football has earned its second consecutive bowl bid and improved its record again under head coach Dave Clawson against the toughest schedule we have played during Dave’s tenure with us. When he came to Wake Forest, Dave was asked to build a sustainable championship program. He is certainly achieving that goal. The foundation that Dave and his staff have built continues to excite our fans. Possibly the surprise of the fall season was our men’s and women’s cross country teams. In the second year for head coaches John Hayes and Michelle Chewens, we anticipated some improvement, but both teams performed much better than we anticipated as both advanced further up the ACC ladder than anyone could imagine. The women finished fifth and the men sixth in the ACC Championships. Those finishes were huge steps forward as we strive to establish our distance

programs as the best in the ACC. Women’s soccer returned to national recognition as they returned to the NCAA Tournament and won their first-round game. With a core of outstanding returning players, head coach Tony daLuz will undoubtedly continue our improvement and NCAA Tournament advancement next year. Jen Averill led our field hockey team back to the NCAA Tournament this year. We returned to the middle of the ACC standings with our fifthplace finish and fully expect to be back on top of the ACC in the near future. Volleyball head coach Bill Ferguson finished his second year and continues to build a program that will be strong in the ACC. With the recruits he is bringing to Wake Forest as well as his coaching ability, it won’t be long before we see the Deacs at the top of the ACC standings. This fall has been the best start we have had in many years. It is exciting to watch our teams and student-athletes do so well competitively as well as in the classroom. It is so much fun to see them excelling in all phases of their lives. I look forward to seeing you at the games!

Go Deacs!

Ron Wellman

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DECEMBER 2017

FOOTBALL

// C A M S E R I G N E

THE

BEST EVER 6

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HUMBLE DETERMINATION, HARD WORK DROVE CAM SERIGNE TO BECOME WAKE FOREST’S, ACC’S BEST TIGHT END By Sam Walker

o be called the best in school history at any position in football is a tricky proposition, but sports fans like to make their cases. The game changes, eras are difficult to compare, and although statistics can be quoted as hard data, they alone can’t be conclusive.

But there’s no question the consistently positive impact tight end Cam Serigne has had on the Wake Forest football program over the last four years has resulted in some of the best catches, solid blocks and unselfish leadership any Wake Forest or ACC football fan has seen in quite some time at his position. The 6-3, 240-pound standout from Ashburn, Va., has started 47 of 48 possible games, and he ranks among Wake Forest’s top 10 in receiving yards, touchdowns and career receptions. Comparatively, in the ACC he holds career records for pass receptions and receiving yards by a tight end, and is tied with Heath Miller (Virginia) and Bucky Hodges (Virginia Tech) for touchdown receptions by a tight end. That’s a record he may well claim for himself in Wake Forest’s bowl game.

Stan Cotten, the voice of the Demon Deacons on the Wake Forest/IMG Sports Radio Network, calls Serigne the best tight end to ever play for the Deacons, and it’s not just because of the raw numbers, but more because of the way he has amassed them. “You look at the numbers, and they are what they are,” Cotten said. “They’re better than anybody else’s in Wake Forest history and in the conference as well, but maybe what makes him special is his value to Wake Forest in that whatever he does, he does it at a high level. I think his unselfishness, the fact that he is such a team player...I mean he could have 10 to 12 catches a game, but if they ask him to stay in and block, he does it. And he does it with a smile on his face, gladly because he gets it. “He understands the ultimate goal is to win games. It’s not for Cam Serigne to be in the Wake Forest Hall of Fame one day, but he will be. It’s not for when he gets old and gray to be a Wake Forest legend, but he will do that. But it’s just to win the football game. His numbers, sure, you can’t argue with those, but the fact that he just has bought in completely to what Dave Clawson wants and what they want him to do without reservation makes him great more so than catches, yards and touchdowns.” Serigne was named the ACC Receiver of the Week after catching seven passes for 119 yards and three touchdowns in the 64-43 victory at Syracuse, his best outing of many great ones during the season. That was followed by Serigne being selected first-team AllACC for the first time and then being invited to play in the EastWest Shrine Game in January. DECEMBER 2017

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“I came to Wake Forest pretty and in football is just not something humbled because I wasn’t a heavily you get to do at many schools. It’s recruited kid out of high school, so I been the best decision I ever made.” had to come here and prove myself,” His quarterback, John Wolford, Serigne said. “I just had to put my said that Serigne is a great POSITION: Tight End head down and work that redshirt competitor and they always go at it HEIGHT: 6-3 year so I could show I was capable of whether they’re playing ping pong or playing that next year. Head coach whatever else. WEIGHT: 240 Dave Clawson and Coach (Brandon) “He’s just a competitive guy, and CLASS: Redshirt Senior Hourigan in the weight room have he’s not the typical tight end at 6-6, MAJOR: Finance done a great job developing me and but he just works hard,” Wolford giving me the tools I needed. To be said. “Every single day he just grinds HOMETOWN: Ashburn, Va. named All-ACC after the last four it out, and that’s why he’s been so FAVORITE BOOK: “Rich Dad Poor Dad: What the Rich years, it’s something I’m happy about.” successful. Not being 6-6, I think he Teach Their Kids About Money That the Poor and Serigne said he had a lot of midhas a bit of a chip on his shoulder. Middle Class Do Not!” by Robert T. Kiyosaki major collegiate scholarship offers, He is a great route runner, and he’s FAVORITE FOOD: Fajitas and that he had talked to many other meticulous and always has a plan. major collegiate programs, but they He’s faster than people give him FAVORITE WAKE FOREST MOMENT: “To be able to walk across that stage this spring with those all seemed to have questions about credit for, and he’s in and out of guys I came in with, and to be able to look at each his height (6-3) or whether his body cuts fast. Then you add he has some other and say we made Wake Forest football better. could hold the weight to play tight of the best hands I’ve ever seen, so We did something here.” end. Serigne said those recruiting 99 percent of the time he’s coming processes were more “passive,” but down with it.” that Wake Forest stuck with him In year four of Clawson’s tenure after they saw him play. “Wake Forest said they really wanted me, as head coach, Wake Forest won seven regular season games (4-4 and my heart had been here since the day my dad and I set foot on in ACC), matching its overall win total from a season ago with the campus,” Serigne said. “I went to a camp at Wake Forest, and the Belk Bowl against Texas A&M still to come. Serigne has had a large moment my dad and I got here, we were just blown away. We had part in making that happen but also laying the foundation of a never seen anything like it, how nice and top-class everything was solid football program. and a beautiful family environment. Education was important to “He’s a complete player,” Clawson said. “He was always a good me, too, so to get to compete at the highest level in the classroom receiver and route runner. He was a tight end playing receiver, but

CAM SERIGNE

D E K C I W ER

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DECEMBER 2017

FOOTBALL

// C A M S E R I G N E

“(QUARTERBACK) JOHN WOLFORD AND CAM SERIGNE ARE VERY SIMILAR. THEY WON’T TALK ABOUT THEMSELVES, THEY WON’T TALK ABOUT THE PAST, BUT THEY TALK ABOUT WHAT’S AHEAD OF THEM, WHAT THEY HAVE TO STILL DO. WHEN YOU GET TWO GUYS LIKE THAT WHO COMPLEMENT ONE ANOTHER WITH THE WAY THEY APPROACH THE GAME WITH ONE THROWING, ONE CATCHING, THEY’RE KIND OF LIKE A PITCHER-CATCHER BATTERY IN BASEBALL OR AN OLD MARRIED COUPLE WHO CAN ANTICIPATE EACH OTHER. THEY’RE BOTH ON THE SAME PAGE AND ONE OF THE MOST DYNAMIC DUOS I’VE SEEN SINCE I’VE BEEN HERE IN 22 YEARS.” – STAN COTTEN, VOICE OF THE DEACONS ON THE WAKE FOREST/IMG SPORTS NETWORK 10

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now he’s a true tight end. He’s a good blocker. He understands coverages. He knows where the seams are. I think he and John always have had a good rapport. It’s a trust, and it shows that there is no substitute for time. If you go back to practices and games and summer workouts, those guys have worked together a lot over the last four years.” Serigne’s 47 career starts are the most ever by a Deacon tight end, and his durability has proved to be an assuring presence on the field. His leadership has been revealed by his attitude, unselfishness and work ethic. Serigne ended the regular season with 1,963 career receiving yards, good for 10th place in school history, and he needs just 77 more yards to tie for ninth. His 20 touchdown catches are tied for fifth with Desmond Clark (1995-98). The redshirt senior’s 165 career receptions places him in fifth in school history. Serigne was named one of eight semifinalists for the John Mackey Award, which is given annually to the nation’s top tight end. When he was growing up, Serigne said that his father gave him three rules by which to live. The first was to never quit, the second was to have good sportsmanship, and the third was to give everything you have. Serigne said if he ever strayed from any of those rules his father would bring him “back down to earth.” “For me, I had one goal when I came to school here and it was to leave Wake Forest a better place than I found it,” Serigne said. “That’s why I work so hard to become the best player I can. If I can look myself in the mirror and tell myself I did everything I could, then I would be satisfied and happy where I ended up. Now I just feel so blessed

because first and foremost I’ve had a pretty good career myself, and I’m happy with where we’ve left it as a team.” Serigne said that his father grew up in a small town in Louisiana comprised of mainly blue-collar workers, and he came from a family of hard workers. His grandmother on his mother’s side immigrated to the U.S. from Nicaragua, knowing no English, with no prior schooling, and raised four children on her own. “I just grew up knowing I’m blessed with more than they (his parents) ever had, so with these opportunities I do justice by them, honor them, with what I do with class and respect,” Serigne said. “I could see where my mom and dad (David and Michelle) came from, and that drives me because they gave me much more than they ever had.” Wolford said he and Serigne bought into changing the culture of creating a program where hopefully the Deacons are competing for ACC championships every year. “What’s great about Cam is that he just comes to work, doesn’t pay attention to what other people say, and when we were 3-9, he was leading the team,” Wolford said. “But he stuck to his routine, worked hard, and I was right along there with him. So he was someone I could relate to when we were going through those hard times. And when you have the good times, like recently we’ve had some success, and you kind of see the light at the end of the tunnel, you share the success. As much as anyone on this team, and he’s a two-time captain, he pushed through the hard times and led us until it was our turn.” DECEMBER 2017

BASKETBALL

// M I T C H E L L W I L B E K I N

SAVVY

SENIOR DESIRE TO WIN FUELS MITCHELL WILBEKIN’S DRIVE AS HE HELPS LEAD A TEAM ADJUSTING TO NEW MIX By Sam Walker

ith five players lost and five newcomers, this year’s Wake Forest’s men’s basketball team is reinventing itself. Most prominent is the loss of John Collins, the sophomore forward who was selected by the Atlanta Hawks with the No. 19 overall selection of the 2017 NBA Draft. Add in the loss of graduate student Austin Arians and rising junior Dinos Mitoglou, and much of the team that finished 19-14 and earned Wake Forest’s first NCAA Tournament bid since 2010 is missing. It’s hard to replace that kind of experience and find a new team chemistry. Fast forward to the 2017-18 season and standing as the lone experienced senior is Mitchell Wilbekin. He has played the role as a starter, and and he’s come off the bench, but no matter if his name makes the starting five, he’s playing long stretches.

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His experience is invaluable, and his passion for winning is an element this team needs. “Last year we had a great team and I’m happy for JC (John Collins) and Dinos (Mitoglou) because they were a big part of what we were doing, but there’s nothing they can do for us now, so we can’t look back at all,” Wilbekin said. “We just have to focus on this year, and I think some of the younger guys are stepping up to fill the shoes. This is going to have to be a team effort to replace those pieces.” It is commonly known Mitch’s brother Scottie was a fouryear letter winner in basketball at the University of Florida, and Scottie was named the 2013-14 SEC Player of the Year and an AllAmerican while leading the Gators to the Final Four. But that’s not Mitch’s basketball journey. He signed with Wake Forest as part of Danny Manning’s first recruiting class with a reputation as a scorer, having finished his career as the all-time leading scorer in The Rock School’s history with 1,755 points. He joined the varsity at The Rock School as a seventh-grader and was a four-time all-state honoree. “Scottie was a talented basketball player and SEC Player of the Year, but we recruited Mitch because we knew what kind of player he was,” Manning said. “Mitch has been someone who has been extremely coachable, and he’s going to leave here as one of the top 10 all-time three-point shooters in Wake Forest history. We’re very fortunate to have him because he is one of our better

DECEMBER 2017

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MITCHELL WILBEKIN POSITION: Guard HEIGHT: 6-2 WEIGHT: 180 CLASS: Senior MAJOR: Communication HOMETOWN: Gainesville, Fla. FAVORITE BOOK: Game of Thrones Series by George R.R. Martin FAVORITE FOOD: Ribeye steak off the grill, baked mac & cheese, greens and cornbread FAVORITE ATHLETE: Michael Jordan FAVORITE WAKE FOREST MOMENT: Making the 2017 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament field

defenders, because he’s so savvy and has a great feel for the game. “We desperately needed outside shooting the day I walked on campus. That’s why we brought him in. He’s been rock solid for us from day one, had a lot of pressure on him as a freshman and sophomore to make shots, as a junior to make shots, and now as a senior to make shots. He’s never shied away from it, and he’s someone who is very important to the turnaround we’ve gone through here in terms of getting to where we are now.” Wilbekin was convinced to be part of a process Manning envisioned for the Wake Forest basketball team when he was hired to rebuild an ACC contender and a program of national relevance. It was a leap of faith, as all college athletic commitments are. This is the second straight season Wilbekin along with Bryant Crawford and Keyshawn Woods have been chosen as team

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captains. Their election by their teammates speaks to their different leadership styles and abilities. All three are also guards. “All of our returning guards are really solid, so it doesn’t really matter who starts because we know who is going to play the majority of minutes and who is going to be in there at the end of the game,” Wilbekin humbly said of the group chosen to once again lead. Manning said he knew why he would have voted for Wilbekin as team captain. “He’s a talented kid, he works hard, he wants to be successful, he sees the big picture, and he’s got a great feel for the game,” Manning said. Wilbekin said he sees being named team captain as an honor, but there’s more to it. “But I think all of us – me, Bryant and Keyshawn – need to continue talking and lead more as we go forward,” Wilbekin said. “I’ve been trying to talk the full 40 minutes, talk to guys on the bench and talk to guys when I’m on the floor. I’m a senior. I’ve seen certain things, and our freshmen are really talented so anything I can do to help them out along the way, just like the upperclassmen did for me when I was young, I’m going to do what I can to get this thing rolling.” Wilbekin has led Wake Forest in free-throw percentage in each of the past three seasons and has the opportunity this season to match former Deacon Darius Songaila (1999-2002) as the only player in school history to lead Wake Forest at the line four straight seasons. His career average entering the season was 83.2 percent. He also entered the 2017-18 season ninth in Wake Forest history with 148 career three-pointers. Wilbekin played in 29 games and started 26 as a true freshman, and made 30 starts in 31 games as a sophomore. As a junior, he started just three games, but appeared in all 31, and averaged 7 points and 1.5 rebounds per game. Through six games this season, Wilbekin was averaging 7.3 points and just over 22 minutes per game. He scored 15 points, hitting 3 of 4 from three-point range in a 78-73 loss to Houston in the Paradise Jam tournament in Lynchburg, Va. It was his season high and two points off his career high. Three games into the season, Wilbekin entered the starting lineup and his production increased, averaging 10 points and shooting 44 percent from the floor and 50 percent from three-point range. In the seventh game of the season against Illinois, Wilbekin made his fourth start of the season, scored 12 points, was 4 of 6 from the floor and 2 of 3 from three-point range in an 80-73 victory. Wilbekin is a composed player on the court, but he is a player that perhaps takes a loss harder than most. The will to win is powerful and contagious, so as a senior, Wilbekin is hoping his drive for excellence permeates through a young and evolving team. “I hate to lose,” Wilbekin said. “I probably need to be less emotional after a loss after the game. But as a program, I’ve seen us be successful, and I’ve seen us have some years where we could have done a little bit better. So that’s part of the reason winning is what matters to me at the end of the day. I realize what it means for the school and the city, and I see people taking pride in Wake Forest basketball.” Manning said it’s easy to see Wilbekin’s intense desire to win. “He played for his father (Svend Wilbekin), he watched Scottie play, he played for a great coach in Justin (Harden) at The Rock, and he knows you’re not going to get too high and you’re not going to get too low,” Manning said. “Coming in as a freshman, he had the same mentality and mindset. Mitch has been part of the turnaround process, one of the cornerstones, and we’re going to be sad to see him go.”

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BASKETBALL

// S K I P B R O W N

SKIP BROWN ENJOYED A HALL OF FAME CAREER AS A DEMON DEACON BASKETBALL PLAYER. NOW HE’S BACK AT WAKE FOREST AS AN ATHLETIC ADMINISTRATOR AND MAKING AN IMPACT IN A WHOLE DIFFERENT WAY.

By Dan Collins

kip Brown’s career in basketball hit a ceiling soon after his graduation from Wake Forest.

But not before he accomplished enough – and then some – to have a banner with his likeness and No. 15 hanging from the rafters at both Joel Coliseum and the program’s practice facility, Budd Gym. Anyone wondering just how good Brown was during his All-ACC playing career from 1973-74 through 1976-77 might have to ask somebody besides Brown, who after retiring from a long and distinguished career in the banking industry returned to his alma mater in 2013 as assistant director of athletics for community and alumni engagement. “I rarely talk about basketball,’’ Brown said. “When I retired, I retired. I haven’t picked up a ball in well over 20 years. “I just didn’t want to be one of those guys who lived in the past, wouldn’t let it go, talked about stuff from 30 years ago that only a handful of people care about.’’ So it’s left to Dave Odom, an assistant coach during Brown’s career who returned a decade later as head coach, to explain how Brown made more field goals (846) than any player to ever play for Wake Forest. Brown’s 2,034 points rank fifth all-time, his 579 assists rank third, and his 43 consecutive free throws made are most ever by a Deacon. “I’m going to start off with a comment that tells it all,’’ Odom began. “If he was playing in an era where there was a 3-point line, he would still be playing today – even at his advanced age. He was that good. “And the second thing is, to this day, he was as fast from end to end with the basketball as I have ever seen. In the NBA, you think of John Wall. He was of that ilk.’’ Brown, for the record, turned 62 on Jan. 21, 2017. Of those 62 years, only a third were spent as a basketball player.

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A third-round draft choice by the Boston Celtics in 1977, Brown’s cup of coffee was still cooling in the saucer when he left basketball for good to enter the profession he had attended Wake Forest to learn. “I went through camp (at Boston) and they later traded for Dave Bing,’’ Brown recalled. “So they didn’t need my services after that, and that’s when I got cut. “People react a little different when I say I was not devastated when I got cut. It was a different lifestyle. I had other goals. And as much as I love basketball, and as much as I love to play, I was still able to regroup and get on to my long-time goals.’’ There were good people from his hometown of Kingsport, Tenn., who helped Brown get over the mountain to Wake Forest and become such a success once he got there. First and foremost was his father for whom he was named, Simpson Ollie Brown, who, despite being rendered legally blind by glaucoma had too much pride to raise his son and six daughters in public housing. Told by a guidance counselor he could never qualify for Wake Forest, Brown was lucky enough to have an English teacher named Nancy Larkey (now Slagle) who said she’d help him get there. “We got it done, and I ended up getting it paid for,’’ Brown said. “So it was the best of both worlds there.’’ His high school basketball coach, Walter “Buck” Van Huss, convinced him that just being good in basketball wasn’t good enough. “He used to say: `Point guards are a dime a dozen – so when you get out there you’d better make a difference, because I can find someone else to get the ball up the court,’ ’’ Brown recalled. “He used to preach that. In basketball, in life, in jobs, whatever you were doing he would say: `Figure out a way to make a difference.’ ’’ And then there was William Greene, the man perhaps most instrumental in Brown attending Wake Forest. Greene played basketball at Wake Forest for Coach Bones McKinley in the late ‘50s before returning home to become one of the most prominent bankers in Eastern Tennessee.

SECOND TIME AROUND DECEMBER 2017

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Greene was Brown’s mentor, both during Brown’s childhood and later during Brown’s three-and-a-half decades in the banking industry. “Bill and I have known each other probably since I was 10 or 12 years old,’’ Brown explained. “Bill took an interest in me early, in junior high. I knew that he went to Wake Forest. He played at the same high school I played at (Dobyns-Bennett High School). “So we just formed a relationship early, and he talked a lot about banking during that time. That fueled a lot of my interest in banking, just knowing what he had done and what he had accomplished at a very young age in banking. “I didn’t consider any school other than Wake Forest, even though I was highly recruited (by Tennessee, N.C. State, Virginia Tech and Florida State).’’ Brown’s bank shot began with five years spent at First Federal Savings and Loan, during which time he earned his MBA at Wake Forest. From there he entered commercial banking with NCNB, which was to be swallowed up by Nations Bank and eventually Bank of America. But all along he had his sights set on starting his own bank, a goal that was realized in 2004 by attracting the $16 million he needed to launch TriStone Community Bank. Brown’s professional profile was raised further when he was elected chairman of the North Carolina Bankers Association, which represented 144 banks. After TriStone, in turn, was bought out by Virginia-based First Community Bancshares in 2009, Brown spent the free time he suddenly had helping his wife Minda raise their two daughters and enjoying the pastime of cycling the back roads around Winston-Salem. Maya Elizabeth, 25, graduated from Wake Forest and is a lawyer, having passed the Law board last July. Samatha Anne, 23, graduated from Vanderbilt and now works for Morgan Stanley Investment Bank in New York City. Brown, over the years, became friends with Ron Wellman, the Wake Forest director of athletics who served on the board of TriStone. In 2013, Wellman convinced Brown to return to Wake Forest. Both Brown and Wellman said the job description for assistant director of athletics for community and alumni engagement is constantly evolving. “That involves working as much as I can with community organizations, community groups, school groups, any groups that might have an interest in Wake Forest – attending a sporting

GOLD RUSH MAGAZINE

event, volunteer activities for athletes, any of those types of things,’’ Brown said. “From an alumni perspective I try to do a lot of work with former athletes. A lot of it is career-related. A lot of it is just trying to build the Wake Forest family, get athletes to come around more, come back more often.’’ Brown mentors every athlete he can at Wake Forest, but works most closely with the men’s and women’s basketball programs. He travels often with the teams, and has been known to climb on a bus to Richmond with the women’s team or a plane to Rutgers. “He’s been awesome,’’ Coach Jen Hoover of the Wake Forest women’s program. “He’s got a great basketball perspective, and he talks to the players about `How many shots have you made today?’ “He’s my immediate supervisor, so he’s been instrumental to helping us plan an international trip for next August. And he’s another person that’s hanging in the rafters, and our kids see him and know him. We love having that interaction. He’s been a great resource for some of our kids.’’ Wellman said he recognized the opportunities available to Brown once his banking career ended and feels fortunate to have lured him back home. “First of all, we brought him back because he represents everything Wake Forest should represent,’’ Wellman said. “He has all the qualities that you would want in a staff member. He has all the qualities that you would hope that our former athletes have. And he’s living the life that you would hope that our former athletes do. “What we have found is he is an incredible mentor to our athletes. They recognize who he is and what he has accomplished athletically, certainly, at Wake Forest and even after that – but even more importantly, what he has accomplished as a man, as a father, as a husband. “And the role model he exhibits every day for our athletes is something that we want them to emulate and understand the importance of living that type of life. He has been an outstanding addition to our staff.’’ Dan Collins was a fixture at major Wake Forest sporting events for more than 25 years as the Demon Deacon beat writer for the Winston-Salem Journal. He is the author of Tales from the Wake Forest Hardwood and The ACC Basketball Book of Fame and continues to write on a regular basis with his blog, My Take on Whatever (mytakeonwhatever.com), and other assignments.

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// S TA N C O T T E N

A Texas First

S TA N COTTEN VOICE OF THE DEMON DEACONS

Congratulations to Coach Dave Clawson and the Demon Deacons – bound to the Belk Bowl later this month against the Texas A&M Aggies and postseason participants for the second consecutive season. Good stuff. Success in years three and four for Coach Clawson’s teams in Winston-Salem shouldn’t be a surprise. The same positive trajectory at Fordham got Clawson to Richmond. And from Richmond to Bowling Green. And from Bowling Green to Wake Forest. And at Wake Forest to the Military Bowl last season and a win over a championship Temple team. And now in 2017 Clawson has the Demon Deacons poised for a possible eight-win season for the

first time since 2008. The Deacons took some major strides this season with part of the script still to be written. The Aggies will enter the Belk Bowl with an identical record to Wake’s and under the direction of an interim head coach. Head Coach Kevin Sumlin was let go at the end of the regular season and in recent days replaced by Florida State’s Jimbo Fisher. So there’s that. But this game won’t be about who is or who isn’t coaching the Aggies. At least if you look at it through your Old Gold and Black glasses. It’ll be about the chance to play in Charlotte and the opportunity for sure-to-be thousands of Demon Deacon fans to be able to be there and see it. And beating somebody from Texas for just the second time. Ever. Say what? While sitting in my den and waiting for the bowl invitation to come there was speculation that the Deacs and Aggies would be paired together. So I started looking and was surprised at what I found. My history lesson... First, not all that surprising, was the fact that Wake Forest and Texas A&M had never met. OK. So I started looking at the major schools in the Longhorn State and found that the Deacs have struggled against the Texas Big Boys. I started with the Longhorns themselves. Wake traveled west in 1973 and came away empty, 41-0. 0-1 against Texas. Next I visited Fort Worth, like the Deacs

Proud to be a Demon Deacon! 20

GOLD RUSH MAGAZINE

Belk Bowl:

At a glance WAKE FOREST VS. TEXAS A&M Friday, Dec. 29, 1 p.m., Charlotte, Bank of America Stadium RECORDS: Wake Forest, 7-5 overall, 4-4 in the ACC; Texas A&M, 7-5 overall, 4-4 in the SEC TV: ESPN Deacons in bowl games: Last year, Wake Forest defeated Temple 34-26 in the Military Bowl in Annapolis, Md. The Deacons played in the Belk Bowl in 2007 and defeated UConn 24-10. A&M in bowl games: Last year, Texas A&M lost to Kansas State 33-28 in the Texas Bowl. This makes the ninth straight year that the Aggies have been in a bowl game.

did in 1952. No dice, 27-9 Frogs. 0-1 against TCU.. On to Lubbock in 1941 to start a home-and-home series with the Red Raiders. Those games didn’t go as planned either. 0-2 against Texas Tech. Hmmm. How about Houston? Nope, 0-2. Dallas? Huh uh, 0-3 against Southern Methodist. Waco? Well, I even remember a win against Baylor. I called that one myself in Waco in 2008 when the Bears had RG-III. But the alltime record against Baylor is still just 1-5. But here’s the best part – none of the past has anything to do with the Belk Bowl. Or with this 2017 team which has the program trending upward, big time. The past is numbers on a page. And nearly all of the past with the Texas Boys is distant. What’s ahead is Texas A&M. For the first time. Time to make some history. GO DEACS!

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DECEMBER 2017

INSIDE THE DEACON CLUB

The Power of Small Group Conversations

BA R RY FA I R C L O T H SENIOR A S S O C I AT E AT H L E T I C DIRECTOR, DEVELOPMENT

Over the past few years, small group events have become a growing trend within the Deacon Club and our membership population. Primarily member-hosted, we have seen events held in members’ homes, offices, country clubs and favorite restaurants, just to name a few. Proven to be multifaceted in the benefits they provide, it has been amazing to see firsthand the effects these types of gatherings can have. Not only do they provide the chance for us to meet new individuals who are passionate about Wake Forest Athletics, but these get-togethers also allow current and prospective Deacon Club members to connect with one another and form bonds over their common interests and ideas. Last year alone, 63 Deacon Club events were held, many of which were small group based. With that said, we are already well on track to surpass that number in the current year. As we look ahead, especially for those who may be considering hosting an event, I’d like to share a new University initiative with you — Call to Conversation. The Call to Conversation movement was introduced by the University and launched earlier this fall within select groups. The concept involves a trained moderator leading a small group through a thoughtful conversation on a predetermined topic. The face-to-face interaction, which typically occurs over dinner or another meal, promotes diverse, eloquent and energizing

A Call to Conversation event hosted this fall in Dallas, Texas by Deacon Club Board of Directors member Brian Miller (P ’14, P ’15) and his wife, Vicki (P ’14, P ’15).

GOLD RUSH MAGAZINE

conversation that helps create relationships and build community. While this program is still in its infancy, witnessing the overwhelmingly positive response from those who want to get involved, in addition to the meaningful feedback provided by those who have participated in one of the initial gatherings, has truly been incredible. From a personal standpoint, I have been lucky enough to attend a few Call to Conversation events, serving as both a moderator and participant. While each perspective offered a different experience, I’m grateful for what I took away from each opportunity. I’ve found that one of the most unique things about Call to Conversation is that, no matter who is sitting around the table with you — whether it’s someone you’ve known for years or someone you just met that day — you are guaranteed to learn something about them you wouldn’t have known otherwise, which allows you to connect on a deeper level. It’s difficult to put into words what it’s like to participate in a Call to Conversation, while capturing its true essence, but I can assure you that it is a special experience. If you are interested in learning more, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us. I would also encourage you to visit the Call to Conversation webpage at c2c.wfu. edu to learn more and see what others are saying about this new initiative.

INSIDE THE DEACON CLUB

RENEW YOUR MEMBERSHIP AND TAKE ADVANTAGE OF YEAR-END TAX BENEFITS Now is the perfect time to make your gift count by renewing your Deacon Club membership. You will not only be supporting Wake Forest student-athletes, but you can take advantage of the potential tax benefits associated with your year-end charitable giving. Make a gift by Dec. 31 in order to be eligible for deductions on your 2017 taxes. Gifts can be made online at DeaconClub.com/ Donate or by calling (336) 758-5626.

Keep up with the Deacon Club on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram! For the latest news and information from the Deacon Club and to connect with other members, be sure to find us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram! @WFUDeaconClub Facebook.com/DeaconClub @WFUDeaconClub | @DeacOnTheRun | @BarryFaircloth

AUTO-RENEWAL IS WAKE FOREST ATHLETICS PROGRAM FOR FOOTBALL IN YOUR WILL? SEASON TICKETS Planned giving ties your legacy Wake Forest Athletics has launched a program which will allow you to auto-renew your football season tickets. The Demon Deacons will host seven home games in 2018, including Clemson and Notre Dame. To learn more or to enroll in the program, call (336) 758-3322 ext. 1.

with the future of Wake Forest Athletics. To learn more about the many ways you can support Wake Forest Athletics through planned giving, please contact Paul Kennedy at (336) 758-3875 or kennedpj@wfu.edu.

DECEMBER 2017

DONOR PROFILE

// R I C K W R I G H T

Through his daughter, Rick Wright becomes big supporter of Wake Forest

“O

ne of the greatest days of my life was when that acceptance letter arrived from Wake Forest,” he reminisces. It isn’t his own acceptance that Rick Wright (P ’18) is referring to, however. Rather, it is his oldest daughter, Jessica’s (’18). For someone who never got the opportunity to attend a school like Wake Forest, Rick cherishes that moment, which was monumental for the entire family. While it has been over four years since the day that letter arrived at their home in northern New Jersey, the Wrights’ relationship with Wake Forest has grown exponentially, evolving into something truly special. Jessica was first introduced to the University through a high school friend

GOLD RUSH MAGAZINE

who was two years older and went on to attend Wake Forest. After falling in love with the campus and everything it had to offer, Jessica had zero doubts that this was the school for her. Rick was ecstatic to see his daughter choose such a well-respected and academically focused institution, especially since he and his wife, Judy (P ’18), invested a lot to ensure their children received a quality education growing up. Although he was excited to see all that his daughter would accomplish during her time as a Wake Forest student, at that point, Rick was completely unaware of the impact the University and its community would have on him, as well. Once Jessica officially received that letter, the family began attending events

for fellow accepted students and Rick began to realize how special the Wake Forest community truly is. “From the first events we attended in New York City to today, everyone that I’ve ever come across from Wake Forest just makes you feel like you’re home,” Rick states. “I can’t say enough about all the people I’ve met.” Two individuals he connected with early on were Mike Piscetelli and Anthony Tang, who helped welcome Rick and his family into the Wake Forest community. As an avid sports fan, Rick was eager to learn how he could get involved with the Deacon Club. Appreciating how hard our studentathletes work — both on the field and in the classroom — Rick didn’t hesitate

in supporting Wake Forest Athletics. “I love the fact that we have true studentathletes,” he adds. “Wake Forest isn’t just looking for great athletes, they’re looking for great students and great people, as well.” Rick and Judy, who were high school sweethearts, both grew up in lowermiddle-class families. Based on their own experiences, the couple has worked tirelessly over the years, determined to provide their children with opportunities they never got to experience. Beyond their own family, they’ve also been grateful for the ability to help make a positive impact on the lives of others through their support of the Deacon Club. “It’s an incredible feeling to know that we are helping contribute to scholarships and resources to support deserving student-athletes who may not otherwise have the chance to attend Wake Forest,” Rick affirms. Though it’s not just the financial commitment that he enjoys providing. Rick also values supporting our student-

athletes from the stands. Whether it is football, field hockey, soccer or basketball, he makes a point of cheering on as many Wake Forest teams as possible whenever he is in town. As his schedule permits, he also makes an effort to travel to a couple away games each year to show his support for the Deacs. Just this fall, Rick and Judy traveled to South Bend to watch the football team take on Notre Dame. While there, they hosted a small group event for fellow Deacon Club members and fans at a home they rented near the campus. “I knew there would be a bunch of Wake supporters out there and it was a perfect opportunity to get a group together to enjoy each other’s company and talk Wake Forest sports,” Rick shares. He looks forward to the possibility of hosting similar events in the future, citing meeting and interacting with new people as one of the biggest benefits. It’s events like this that allow people who wouldn’t necessarily meet elsewhere to come together, and oftentimes, establish

lifelong friendships. For Rick, the relationships he’s created since his involvement with Wake Forest began have made an incredible impact. Depicting the power of the Wake Forest community, he states, “I’ve just met so many great people at Wake and I feel like an alumnus myself.” In fact, Rick’s daughter, Jessica, was studying abroad in Florence last fall, but he still came down to Winston-Salem for a couple football games to meet up with a group of friends he met through his affiliation with the Deacon Club and the University. Looking to the future, Rick feels that Wake Forest Athletics has all the right tools in place to continue seeing great results. Most importantly, however, he is overflowing with pride for all that Jessica has achieved as a student at Wake Forest, and he can’t wait to see her walk across the stage this May at graduation. Rick sums up his experience thus far, stating, “Wake Forest has given a lot to our family and I feel so blessed that our paths have crossed.”

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!

2 1 Parker and Bo (left to right), daughter and son of Deacon Club members Matt (’04, MD ’09) and Meghan (’04) Cline, get ready to cheer on the Deacs.

2 Don Bradsher (’75, JD ’78), Madeleine Bradsher Rowley and Jay Rowley (left to right) enjoy some family time at the Wake Forest versus NC State football game.

3 Aubrey Gerlaugh (’71), J.P. Matson (’70), Larry Chamberlain (’71), Wayne Brumbaugh (’71), Art Getz (’72), Dupuy Sears (’71), and Russ Mayer (’71) (left to right) — a group of Sigma Chi brothers — meet up in South Bend to show their support for Wake Forest. The group gathers for a reunion each year, which has been a tradition of theirs since 1972. DECEMBER 2017

WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

MEREDITH LESTER KLEMMER

n each issue, Where Are They Now showcases a former Wake Forest student-athlete. Meredith Lester Klemmer (’98) was a member of the Wake Forest women’s soccer team from 1995-97. Klemmer, after being forced to redshirt her freshman season due to a torn ACL, had a solid career that resulted in starting all 64 games played. As a midfielder, she recorded five goals, including a game-winner in an NCAA tournament game against No. 10 Clemson as a sophomore. She also recorded six assists to finish her career with 16 points. Off the field, Klemmer was named to the ACC Academic Honor Roll her sophomore season.

Meredith Lester Klemmer When did you graduate from Wake Forest? 1998 What was your major and/or minor? Communication What does being a Demon Deacon mean to you? So much! There is this special bond amongst Demon Deacons that is really hard to define. It is about being part of something that is much larger than yourself, and is filled with smart, hardworking people with mutual respect. Why are you still involved in Wake Forest Athletics? Playing soccer at Wake was, and still is, a huge part of my life. It provided a strong foundation and helped shape me into the person I am today. During my four years as a student-athlete at Wake, I had so much fun! I learned hard work and discipline, while creating friendships and memories that will last a lifetime. Wake provided me with something that I can never repay. I am truly grateful for the opportunity I was given at Wake Forest and try to do my part to help others have a similar experience. Why do you feel it is important to give back to the University? Wake Forest provided so much to me — an outstanding education, a wonderful college experience, lifelong friendships and the opportunity to play soccer in the ACC. I feel it is important to give back as a way to express my gratitude, help attract diverse students and hopefully enable someone to have a similar experience as me. I would not be the person I am today, nor would I have had so many amazing opportunities and experiences, without Wake Forest. What is your current occupation? Business Development, Deloitte Advisory, Cyber Risk Services

GOLD RUSH MAGAZINE

What is your favorite memory of your time at Wake Forest? I don’t even know where to start; I have so many. I met my closest, lifelong friends and husband at Wake! I had so much fun with my teammates from the games to practice, travel, study hall — you name it. I laughed more in those four years than most do in a lifetime. The love and respect I have for my teammates is so strong and I could not have asked for a better group or experience. I largely think that is due to the culture of the University, Athletic Department and the soccer program Tony created. Family for life. What makes you most proud of Wake Forest? Wake Forest has never wavered in its mission of educating and developing well-rounded student-athletes. It has remained a small, tightknit community that always feels like home.

When you come back to Wake Forest, you always… Head to Spry Stadium and sit in the locker room. I also hit the athletic center and check out all of the new facilities, which are amazing! And, of course, I take a walk around the Quad. I was there when… We won back-to-back ACC basketball championships. It was such a fun and exciting time for the school and our basketball program. Who is your favorite coach at Wake Forest, current or past? Tony da Luz! I have deep respect for Tony and the program he has been able to build. It is more than just soccer for him — he has created a family, founded on core disciplines that you will take with you through life. The love he has for the game, the program and the players all come through in his coaching. Jason Lowe is a close second! Couldn’t ask for a better coaching combo.

SUN

MON JAN 01

TUE 02

WED 03

THUR

FRI

SAT

Men’s Basketball vs. Virginia Tech 7:00pm

Women’s Basketball vs. Duke 7:00pm

Women’s Basketball vs. Florida State 7:00pm

Track & Field WF Invitational

Women’s Tennis vs. Furman 10:00am

JANUARY // FEBRUARY 2018

WAKE FOREST ATHLETICS

Men’s Basketball vs. Syracuse 7:00pm

Deacon Club members at or above the Deacon Bench level may present their 2017-18 membership cards for free admission to Olympic Sport events (immediate family only). Olympic Sport single game tickets and season passes are available at WakeForestSports.com or by calling (336) 758-3322. SPORTS MARKETING (336) 758-5011 TICKET OFFICE (336) 758-3322 GROUP TICKETS (Football & Basketball) (336) 758-4030 DEACON CLUB (336) 758-5626 www.DeaconClub.com DeacClub@wfu.edu

Women’s Basketball vs. North Carolina 12:30pm

Women’s Tennis vs. Charleston 2:30pm Track & Field WF Invitational

Men’s Basketball vs. Virginia 6:00pm

Men’s Basketball vs. Duke 9:00pm

Women’s Basketball vs. NC State 7:00pm

Men’s Tennis vs. Old Dominion TBA

Men’s Tennis vs. Vanderbilt/ Portland TBA

Track & Field Camel City Invitational

Men’s Basketball vs. Clemson 2:00pm

FEB 01

Men’s Basketball vs. Florida State 8:00pm

Track & Field Camel City Invitational

Track & Field JDL Team Challenge

Women’s Basketball vs. Syracuse 2:00pm

Men’s Basketball vs. Georgia Tech 9:00pm

Women’s Basketball vs. Virginia Tech 7:00pm

Baseball vs. Georgetown 4:00pm

Baseball vs. Navy 12:00pm

Track & Field UCS Invitational

Men’s Basketball vs. NC State 4:00pm Track & Field UCS Invitational

DEACON CLUB & TICKET OFFICE HOLIDAY HOURS DEACON CLUB OFFICES: Closed Dec. 25-26 Open Dec. 27-28, 11:00am-2:00pm Closed Dec. 29 & Jan. 1 TICKET OFFICE: Closed Dec. 25 - Jan. 1 You can reach the ticket office with bowl-related questions during that time by emailing tix@wfu.edu or calling (336) 758-3322 ext. 1 and leaving a voicemail message, which will be returned by a staff member.

SAVE THE DATE FOR DEACON CLUB APPRECIATION DAY ON FEBRUARY 24 Mark your calendars for our annual Deacon Club Appreciation Day, which will be held on Saturday, February 24. More information will be provided via email in the coming weeks. We hope to see you there!

PA ER DEG AE C OHNESA D IN THE PROS BASEBALL

WOMEN’S SOCCER

Coaches/Scouts Ross Atkins Neil Avent TJ Barra

MLB MLB MLB

Danny Borrell Dave Bush George Greer John Hendricks Michael Holmes

MLB MLB MLB MLB MLB

Kevin Jarvis Bill Masse Matt Price Mike Rikard Eric Schmitt Adam Wogan Tommy Gregg

MLB MLB MLB MLB MLB MLB AAA

Toronto Blue Jays General Manager Oakland A’s Area Scout New York Mets Manager of Baseball Research & Development New York Yankees Rehab Pitching Coordinator Boston Red Sox Pitching Development Analyst St. Louis Cardinals Minor League Offensive Strategist New York Mets National Pitching Crosschecker Oakland A’s Asst. Scouting Director/National Crosschecker Los Angeles Angels Special Assignment Scout Seattle Mariners Area Scout Kansas City Royals Area Scouting Supervisor Boston Red Sox Vice President of Amateur Scouting New York Yankees Director of Minor League Operations Chicago Cubs Area Scout Kansas City Royals Omaha Storm Chasers Hitting Coach

MAJOR LEAGUES Mac Williamson

San Francisco Giants

MINOR LEAGUE RANKS Ben Breazeale Tim Cooney Will Craig Parker Dunshee Stuart Fairchild Aaron Fossas Connor Johnstone Connor Kaden Garrett Kelly Nate Mondou Joe Napolitano Jonathan Pryor Donnie Sellers Gavin Sheets

Baltimore Orioles (A) Cleveland Indians (AAA) Pittsburgh Pirates (High A) Oakland Athletics (A) Cincinnati Reds (Rookie) Cincinnati Reds (A) Atlanta Braves (Rookie) San Francisco Giants (High A) Schaumburg Boomers (Ind.) Oakland Athletics (High A) New York Mets (A) Washington Nationals (A) Toronto Blue Jays (A) Chicago White Sox (A)

WOMEN’S GOLF Laura (Philo) Diaz Nannette Hill Olafia Kristinsdottir Cheyenne Woods Jean Chua Marissa Dodd Allison Emrey Natalie Sheary Sierra Sims

LPGA LPGA LPGA LPGA Symetra Symetra Symetra Symetra Symetra

Played in 6 events in 2017, T-20 at Marathon Classic Played in 3 events in 2017 Played in 18 events in 2017, T-13 at Scottish Open Played in 18 events in 2017 Played in 4 events in 2017 Played in 14 events in 2017 Played in 16 events in 2017, including five top-10s Played in 17 events in 2017 Played in 9 events, including four top-20s

MEN’S SOCCER Corben Bone Brian Carroll Sam Cronin Austin da Luz Chris Duvall Alec Ferrell Sam Fink Akira Fitzgerald Ian Harkes Jack Harrison Jacori Hayes Tolani Ibikunle Andy Lubahn Collin Martin Justin Moose Ben Newnam Ike Opara Sean Okoli Michael Parkhurst Jalen Robinson Jared Watts

FC Cincinnati Philadelphia Union Minnesota United FC North Carolina FC Montreal Impact Minnesota United FC Oklahoma City Energy FC Tampa Bay Rowdies D.C. United New York City FC FC Dallas Ekenas Sport Club (Finland) San Francisco Deltas Minnesota United FC Wilmington Hammerheads San Antonio FC Sporting Kansas City New York City FC Atlanta United FC D.C. United Colorado Rapids

COACHES/MLS FRONT OFFICE James Riley Kurt Schmid Zack Schilawski Ryan Martin

MLS Director of Player Relations Seattle Sounders (Head Scout) North Carolina FC U23s (Assistant Coach) DC United Academy Director

GOLD RUSH MAGAZINE

Aubrey Bledsoe Katie Stengel Sarah Teegarden Annick McBryar Kelsey Zalimeni

Orlando Pride (NWSL) Boston Breakers (NWSL) Kopparbergs Goteborg (Swedish Premier League) Boston Breakers (Reserves) Crystal Palace Ladies FC First Team

MEN’S BASKETBALL Al-Farouq Aminu John Collins James Johnson Chris Paul Ishmael Smith Jeff Teague Coron Williams Austin Arians Justin Gray C.J. Harris Jamaal Levy Travis McKie Nikita Mescheriakov Codi Miller-McIntyre Dinos Mitoglou Aaron Rountree Devin Thomas David Weaver L.D. Williams Eric Williams

NBA NBA NBA NBA NBA NBA NBA G-League Ukraine Romaina UBT Turkey Argentina Lebanon Belarus Russia Greece Greece Spain Turkey Finland Switzerland

Portland Trail Blazers Atlanta Hawks Miami Heat Houston Rockets Detroit Pistons Minnesota Timberwolves Maine Red Claws Khimik Cluj Napoca Sakarya BSB Weber Bahia Louaize Tsmoki-Minsk Parma Panathinaikos Koroivos Bilbao Basket TED Kolejliler ToPo Lugano Tigers

Ass’t Coach

Milwaukee Bucks (8/12/17)

COACHES/STAFF Frank Johnson

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL Dearica Hamby Sandra Garcia Milan Quinn

WNBA Puerto Rico Germany

San Antonio Stars Indias De Mayaguez SV Halle Lions

FOOTBALL Josh Banks Tommy Bohanon K.J. Brent Thomas Brown Michael Campanaro Brandon Chubb Chris Givens Josh Harris Kevin Johnson Marquel Lee Joe Looney Brad Watson Nikita Whitlock Kyle Wilber

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DT FB WR LB WR LB WR RB CB LB OL CB DL LB

New York Giants Jacksonville Indianapolis Colts Free Agent Baltimore Detroit Free Agent Saskatchewan Houston Oakland Dallas Free Agent Hamilton Tiger-Cats Dallas

COACHES/STAFF Ernie Accorsi Jim Caldwell Charlie Dayton Pat Flaherty Joe Kenn John Spanos Brad White Jeff Triplette James MacPherson

NFL NY Giants NFL Detroit NFL Carolina NFL NY Giants NFL Carolina NFL San Diego NFL Indianapolis NFL NFL Chargers

Consultant Head Coach Vice President Offensive Line Coach Strength Coach Executive VP of Football Operations OLB Coach Referee Scout

MEN’S GOLF Bill Haas

PGA Played in 24 events in 2017, with four top-10s, No. 39 in World Golf Rankings Kyle Reifers PGA Played in 32 events in 2017, No. 280 in World Golf Rankings Webb Simpson PGA Played in 26 events in 2017 with one runner-up, No. 41 in World Golf Rankings Billy Andrade Champions Played in 18 events in 2017, 16th in 2017 Charles Schwab Cup Jay Haas Champions Played in 16 events in 2017, 35th in 2017 Charles Schwab Cup Gary Hallberg Champions Played in 8 events in 2017, 78th in 2017 Charles Schwab Cup Scott Hoch Champions Played in 7 events in 2017, 76th in 2017 Charles Schwab Cup Curtis Strange Champions Played in 4 events in 2016 Len Mattiace Web.com Played in 7 events in 2017

MEN’S TENNIS Noah Rubin

ATP

Wake Forest excels in annual NCAA graduation report Wake Forest student-athletes registered a graduation rate of 94 percent, according to the annual Graduation Success Rate (GSR) report released by the NCAA in November.

Since the GSR was first reported in 2004-05, women’s basketball, women’s volleyball, women’s tennis, women’s golf and men’s tennis have posted 100 percent in every release of the rate.

The figure stands seven percentage points ahead of the national average of 87 percent. Last year, Wake Forest registered a 92 percent graduation rate, which was eight percentage points ahead of the national average of 84.

Men’s soccer is the additional program to hit the 100 mark, improving from 86 percent in last year’s report. With cross country and track & field combined as one program, 11 of Wake Forest’s 14 programs checked in above the national average while five programs saw an increase in their graduation rate, led by men’s soccer with a 14 percent increase.

Seven Demon Deacon programs had a 100 percent graduation rate in this year’s release, which included student-athletes from 2007 to 2010. The seven teams that hit the century mark eclipses last year’s total of six. With the latest report, men’s soccer, men’s tennis, women’s basketball, field hockey, women’s golf, women’s tennis and women’s volleyball all hit the 100 percent mark.

Baseball, men’s basketball and men’s golf also improved their rates from last year. Football, which checked in at 93 percent, is one of only three football programs in the ACC to score a 90 or better each year, with Duke (96) and Boston College (90).

Luisa Hernandez of the women’s tennis team received her degree in May. Women’s tennis was one of seven Wake Forest athletic programs that had a 100 percent graduation rate from 2007 to 2010.

The ACC remains the only conference to have multiple teams score a 90 or higher every year since 2005. Wake Forest’s 94 percent GSR is good for fourth in the Atlantic Coast Conference behind Notre Dame (98 percent), Duke (97 percent) and Boston College (95 percent.).

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COMPLIANCE CORNER

// T O D D H A I R S T O N

GIFTS FOR STUDENT-ATHLETES

TODD HAIRSTON A S S O C I AT E AT H L E T I C DIRECTOR, COMPLIANCE

The holiday season is now upon us, and while Christmas is the season of giving, what does that mean from an NCAA standpoint? Many people ask if it is permissible under NCAA rules to provide a student-athlete with Christmas gifts, and in most cases, the answer is no. Providing gifts to a student-athlete at Christmas, or any other time of the year, would be considered an impermissible benefit, unless the individual providing the gift is someone with whom the student-athlete has a pre-existing relationship. So, what exactly constitutes a pre-existing relationship? Unfortunately, there is no clearcut answer to this question. Determining whether a relationship is considered to have been pre-existing oftentimes involves a caseby-case analysis of the specific circumstances. However, the NCAA has provided some general guidelines to help us in that analysis.

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1) W as the relationship with the student-athlete (or their parents) initiated prior to the individual becoming a prospective studentathlete? Under NCAA rules, a prospective studentathlete is anyone who has started classes in the ninth grade. Therefore, even if an individual is not actively participating in sports at that time, they would still be considered a prospective student-athlete for NCAA purposes. 2) D id the relationship with the student-athlete (or their parents) develop as a result of the individual’s participation or notoriety in athletics? To answer this question, we would need to examine how the individual and the athlete came to know each other. For example, if a donor or an alumnus were to initially meet a student-athlete as a result of serving as the student’s youth coach, this would likely still not be considered a legitimate preexisting relationship – even if the individual had not yet started ninth grade – because the origin of the relationship had to do with athletic participation. Further, if a relationship does meet the standard to be considered pre-existing, the pattern of benefits provided to the student must remain consistent throughout the duration of the relationship. So if an individual had regularly provided a $50 Christmas present to a student with whom he/she had a pre-existing relationship since middle school, he/she could not then begin providing $500 Christmas gifts once the student entered college. It would, however, be permissible to continue providing gifts of similar value. While these guidelines are helpful, each situation is unique. Because the penalties associated with providing impermissible benefits to prospective and current studentathletes are severe, please contact me in the Athletics Compliance Office at hairstct@wfu. edu with questions related to this issue.

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