Coach Jake Dickert takes ‘built in the dark’ approach in first season with Wake Forest
It’s been 217 days since Jake Dickert was named Wake Forest’s new head football coach, and he’s spent most of his time dedicated to a process he calls “built in the dark.”
“Built in the dark is a belief that true greatness is forged in the unseen moments,” Dickert said at the ACC Kickoff Wednesday in Charlotte. “The dark is a place where no one’s watching. There’s no crowd. There’s no cameras. There’s just commitment.”
After going 4-8 each of the past two seasons, Dickert has focused on building the foundation of a team that’s been upended. Former head coach Dave Clawson, who coached the Demon Deacons for 11 years, retired. There are 43 new players.
Dickert said Wake Forest doesn’t have the flash that other colleges offer. So, he had to hit the ground running, leading to the moniker the entire program has committed to.
“The dark is a scary place for most and is unfamiliar and uncomfortable,” Dickert said. “And at Wake Forest, we embrace those moments.”
Dickert discussed his goals during his first season at Wake Forest. The head coach has 17 seasons of football experience,, with coaching stints at North Dakota State, South Dakota, Southeast Missouri State, Augustana (S.D.), Minnesota State, South Dakota State, Wyoming and Washington State. During his four seasons at WSU, Dickert posted a 23-20 record, pushing his teams to top-20 finishes in 2023 and 2024. Dickert’s defenses have recorded 166 turnovers since 2017, the 10th most in FBS.
Here’s a breakdown of the key things Dickert said during ACC Kickoff.
Establishing program standards
When Dickert became head coach, he immediately challenged his players. He remembers the first official team meeting well.
“It’s a really nervous atmosphere, and everyone was sitting there not knowing what to expect,” Dickert said.
But he told them not to feel blindsided. Instead, his players needed to become the best version of themselves to help craft the best version of the team. He was met with immediate belief. It’s all a part of his “built in the dark” motto.
“We want players that love doing hard things,” Dickert said. “Guys that want to embrace the daily grind, the process and love to grow through life’s challenges and adversities.”
Dickert said he sees opportunity in Wake Forest. He doesn’t want players to focus on obstacles. Instead, he wants them to look at what they have.
He sees this upcoming season as an opportunity, which starts with believing in the process. Dickert thinks that’s what produces a good team.
“You got to know why you wake up in today’s world,” Dickert said. “I think we got a bunch of guys that are really driven to do something together. A connected team is a dangerous team.”
Quarterback position is up for grabs
Along with a new coach, Wake Forest is also facing a wide-open quarterback battle. The three candidates include graduate transfer Robby Ashford, sophomore transfer Deshawn Purdie and true freshman Steele Pizzella.
Dickert looks at it as an opportunity to push his squad forward.
“I think it brings out the best in the team,” Dickert said. “The team sees the quarterback position being ultra competitive. They got to be there and deliver every single day. It’s just a trust thing. It’s not just the trust of getting the offense to believe in you. It’s getting the team to believe in you.”
The head coach described Ashford’s journey as interesting. The 6-foot-2 quarterback has the most experience; he’s previously played at South Carolina, Auburn and Oregon. He’s rushed for over 900 yards in the SEC.
“He’s a tremendous athletes, an elite competitor,” Dickert said. “And we’re just anxious to utilize his strengths.”
Dickert also said that Purdie, a transfer from the Charlotte 49ers, has grown a lot during the offseason.
“He’s one of the best throwers of the football that I’ve seen in a long time, and I think that’s a big-time statement,” Dickert said.
The head coach said Purdie has worked “tremendously hard,” and that the young player believes in himself. He’s learned from his failures and wants to continue to grow from those mistakes.
But after 15 spring games without many offensive linemen, Wake Forest still needs time to decide who earns the start in August.
“The people that we trust the most will be taking the field on the offense, and I think that’s what’s needed to still be found out a little bit as we go through fall camp,” Dickert said.
Depending on Demond Claiborne
With the quarterback position up in the air, Dickert has found comfort in senior running back Demond Claiborne. He believes Claiborne is a cornerstone of the team.
“He’s one of the first players to say, ‘I believe in this new era of Wake Forest football,” Dickert said. “Demond is one of the most explosive players in the country.”
Within an hour after his introductory press conference, Dickert met with Claiborne. Instead of offering the running back money or anything materialistic, Dickert asked him how he can help the young player on the personal side of life. That’s all the running back needed to hear.
Since them, Dickert has depended on the 5-10, 195-pound running back, even joking that Claiborne might have 40 carries a game. Claiborne met the statement with a smile.
“He’s up for the challenge,” Dickert said. “And I just think it’s a statement about just utilizing your best asset in a lot of different ways.”
This story was originally published July 23, 2025 at 6:29 PM.
