Wake Forest coach, AD take coronavirus pay cuts

Football coach Dave Clawson and athletic director John Currie are among the Wake Forest officials that have agreed to 10% paycuts to help offset revenue losses caused by the coronavirus crisis

Jeremy Brevard—USA Today Sports
Wake Forest coach Dave Clawson addresses the media during the ACC's Football Kickoff event in Charlotte last summer

Football coach Dave Clawson and athletic director John Currie are among the Wake Forest officials that have voluntarily agreed to take a 10% pay cut to help their school deal with a loss of revenue during the coronavirus crisis.  

Also agreeing to the temporary paycuts are university president Nathan Hatch and all his cabinet members.

Clawson, who signed an eight-year contract extension with the Deacons last spring, makes approximately $2 million annually according a coaches’ salary database compiled by USA Today.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has had a major impact on Wake Forest University and our athletics depart,” Clawson said in a statement released by the school on Tuesday. ”(My wife) Catherine and I are more than happy to do our part to help during these challenging times.”

Clawson has been the coach at Wake since 2013.

Although his overall record with the Deacons with a record 36-40. After going 3-9 in his first two seasons on the job, he has built the program into a consistent winner — leading it to four straight bowl appearances fore the first time in school history.

Along the way, his teams have set more than 300 records over the past three seasons, including points scored, total offensive yardage and passing yards. 

Currie, meanwhile, is finishing up his first year on the job after succeeeding the retiring Ron Wellman last June.

“I appreciate Coach Clawson’s leadership in immediately volunteering to join President Hatch, my fellow Cabinet members and our Academic Deans in taking a 10% pay cut to help protect the experience of all Wake Forest students amid the COVID-19 crises,” Currie said.