Wake Forest football coach Jake Dickert has guided the Demon Deacons to an 8-1 start as they approach the final stretch of his second season.
Wake Forest sits at 5-1 in ACC play ahead of Saturday’s road matchup vs. SMU. The Demon Deacons are coming off a 77-0 victory over Merrimack and remain in contention for the conference championship.
Dickert has already matched the eight regular-season victories his team recorded in 2025, when he set a program record for wins by a first-year head coach.
ESPN’s Pete Thamel shared an update Thursday on X, formerly Twitter, reporting a new contract for Dickert that includes an extension, increased program resources and additional staff investment.
Sources: Wake Forest head coach Jake Dickert has agreed to a new contract, which includes an extension. It includes an uptick in resources and staff investment. pic.twitter.com/xd25geBwyf
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) November 12, 2026
His report did not specify the contract’s length, salary or the financial details of those accompanying commitments.
The agreement follows the long-term contract Wake Forest announced last December, giving Dickert another commitment during his second campaign in Winston-Salem.
Wake Forest hired Dickert on December 18, 2024, following Dave Clawson’s departure. He arrived from Washington State, where he compiled a 23-20 record.
Article Continues BelowHis first Demon Deacons team finished 9-4, capped by a 43-29 victory over Mississippi State in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl. That result secured the fourth nine-win season in program history.
Dickert holds a 17-5 record at Wake Forest through 22 games. His second team has reached eight victories with three regular-season games remaining, putting another nine-win campaign within reach.
The Demon Deacons face SMU on Saturday in Dallas. The Mustangs enter at 7-2 overall and 5-2 in ACC play, with kickoff scheduled for noon ET/9 a.m. PT on ESPN at Gerald J. Ford Stadium.
Wake Forest enters that matchup with Dickert’s reported extension reinforcing the program’s commitment to him. The agreement’s duration and the amounts allocated to program resources and staff investment remain undisclosed as of Thursday.

