Feb. 3, 2003

By Sam Walker

Standing in the same spot he stood just a little more than two years ago when it was announced he would become the 31st head football coach in Wake Forest history, Jim Grobe answered questions about the long-term future of a Wake Forest football program he will lead. Athletics Director Ron Wellman announced Jan. 24 that Wake Forest secured a new 10-year contract with Grobe that will run through the 2012 season. Wellman made his announcement at Bridger Field House in front of about 200, which included the pep band, cheerleaders, boosters, fans and the media.

The 10-year contract was agreed to verbally while Wellman and Grobe were on a 10-hour flight to Seattle on Dec. 17 for an event associated with the Seattle Bowl. The Deacons defeated Oregon 38-17 in the 2002 Seattle Bowl, capping back-to-back winning seasons for Grobe. The 10-year deal quelled what many Wake Forest fans knew would be the challenge: keeping Grobe at Wake Forest.

"I think the confidence that's been shown to us by Ron (Wellman), Dr. (Thomas) Hearn and Wake Forest will give us an opportunity to lay a solid foundation for the future and to give us a chance to build the type program at Wake Forest we will all be proud of," Grobe said. "This is my school. I love the support we're starting to get in football. I love Skip Prosser. I still love the basketball program, and we're trying to drag the football program up what we've been in basketball for a long, long time. That was a goal for our coaching staff when we got here. We're excited to be at Wake Forest."

Wellman said that it was not necessary to create a new contract with Grobe at this time because he still had several years left on his initial contract with the university, but that he and Grobe both saw an opportunity to secure the future of the Wake Forest football program by creating stability at the coaching level. Grobe's name surfaced several times in late 2002 when universities around the country were looking fill their coaching vacancies. Baylor University expressed a keen interest, but a deal to lure Grobe away from Wake Forest never materialized.

Wellman cited Grobe's 13 wins in two seasons, the Seattle Bowl victory, and Wake's ability to lead the ACC in rushing the past two years, among other statistical accomplishments in supporting the need to sign Grobe to a long-term contract. "Jim's teams have become know for what he would say is playing with your hair on fire and blowing snot bubbles all the time," Wellman said. He also said that discussions about a new contract began in November when the team had consecutive open weeks.

In making his announcement Wellman said he told Grobe he felt he was the right man at the right time at the right institution and could accomplish things under his leadership that had not been in Wake Forest football in many, many years. Grobe laughingly said that any rumors about him leaving Wake Forest anytime soon could be ignored.

"It's flattering to have people interested in you, but I don't think any of us felt that it would be fair for us to work with these kids for only a couple of years and then be gone," Grobe said. "What you're looking for in a football coach is security. We have an idea where we want to be in the next four or five years and if you're not sure you're going to be here at that time it makes you want to take shortcuts. Our plan is to be here for a long time and build a good solid football program that bounces back every year."

"I think schools are always going to call, but I think the message is loud and clear that Jim Grobe is committed to Wake Forest University and Wake Forest University is committed to Jim Grobe," Wellman said. "They may call, but they'll quickly understand that Jim Grobe is going to be at Wake Forest for a long time. We are very secure about our ability to keep him." Neither Wellman nor Grobe would go into any contract specifics. Although public institutions announce contractual contents, Wake Forest, as a private university, chooses not to divulge contract specifics. Wellman said the long-term agreement probably will not prevent other schools from contacting Grobe, but that the buyout on both ends is "quite generous." "His past track record suggests everything we want to happen to this program, so we've extended ourselves in recognition of that, and we do the same thing with good assistants. There aren't many football coaches at our level with 10-year contracts, but I'm very confident in his ability in where he is going to take our program."

Wellman confirmed that the assistant football coaches will also be receiving new contracts as part of the agreement with Grobe, and improvements to the on-campus practice, locker room, players' lounge, and coaching office facilities as well as Groves Stadium facilities will be taking place throughout the next decade. The football wing of the athletics center is currently being renovated, which Grobe said was part of the plan of polishing Wake Forest's football image in order to stay competitive with comparable programs. An outside consultant will be hired to look at the overall football facility in hopes of improving the overall player, coach and fan experience, according to Wellman.

Grobe's holds a 13-11 record overall at Wake Forest and will return 40 letterwinners and 12 starters off the Seattle Bowl championship team. The Deacons open the 2003 season at Boston College on Aug 30.