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ACC Program To Hire Former Nick Saban Assistant as Offensive Coordinator

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By J.C. Shelton | Last updated Dec 28, 2024 3:12 PM ET

Jake Dickert's initial staff is taking shape at Wake Forest, and the expected pick for offensive coordinator comes from the Nick Saban coaching tree.

The Demon Deacons moved on from Dave Clawson after a second consecutive 4-8 season in 2024. The 11th-year head coach departed Winston-Salem, North Carolina, with a 67-69 record at the helm.

Dickert, who spent the previous three seasons at Washington State, reportedly added Texas assistant Scottie Hazelton as defensive coordinator earlier this week.

And the program is expected to hire South Alabama offensive coordinator Rob Ezell to serve in the same role for the Demon Deacons in 2025, according to Matt Zenitz of CBS Sports.

The role was held previously by Warren Ruggiero during Clawson's tenure.

Ezell, 36, played quarterback and wide receiver at Alabama under seven-time national champion head coach Nick Saban from 2007-10. He got his coaching career started as a student assistant with the Crimson Tide in 2011 and spent the next three seasons as a graduate assistant at Colorado State.

Wake Forest is expected to hire South Alabama’s Rob Ezell as its new offensive coordinator, sources tell @chris_hummer and me for @CBSSports/@247Sports.

Ezell, whom @JohnDBrice1 reported was being pursued by Wake, helped South Alabama rank No. 2 in the Sun Belt in scoring this… pic.twitter.com/Cjm5BFr8A0
— Matt Zenitz (@mzenitz) December 28, 2024

Ezell returned to Alabama as a graduate assistant in 2015 and became an offensive assistant in 2017. As a player and coach, Ezell was a part of five Alabama national championships before moving on to South Alabama in 2021.

The Athens, Alabama, native initially coached tight ends for the Jaguars until being promoted to offensive coordinator this season. He helped South Alabama to a 7-6 finish and led an attack that finished second in the Sun Belt in total offense.

Dickert and Ezell face an uphill battle at Wake Forest, which finished 87th in the country in scoring offense in 2024 (25.7 points per game).

The Demon Deacons will open the 2025 season at home against Kennesaw State on Aug. 30.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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