The Wake Forest Demon Deacons men's basketball team represents Wake Forest University in NCAA Division I college basketball and competes in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). Through the years, the program has produced many NBA players, among them are Hall of Famer Tim Duncan, 12× All-Star Chris Paul, 1× All-Star Jeff Teague, Sixth Man of the Year Rodney Rogers, and 1× All-Star Josh Howard. The Demon Deacons have won the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament four times, in 1961, 1962, 1995, and 1996. Wake Forest has appeared in 23 NCAA tournaments, most recently appearing in 2017. The current coach is Steve Forbes, who was hired on April 30, 2020.

History

Dave Odom era (1989–2001) In 1989, Wake Forest would name Dave Odom as its new head coach. During his 12 seasons, Odom led the Demon Deacons to back-to-back ACC men's basketball tournament championship's in 1995 where the team defeated North Carolina and 1996 by defeating Georgia Tech. Tim Duncan would also win back to back-to-back ACC Player of the Year awards in 1996 and 1997.

Skip Prosser era (2001–2007)

Prosser began his career at Wake Forest in 2001 and led the Demon Deacons to the NCAA tournament in each of his first four years there. Prosser is credited for sparking participation in the Wake Forest student Screamin' Demons and increasing attendance with game-time antics, like having the Demon Deacon mascot enter Lawrence Joel on a Harley Davidson and filling the coliseum with Zombie Nation's "Kernkraft 400" at tip-off and when the Deacons would go on a run. During Prosser's tenure as head coach, home season tickets sold out for the first time ever in 2004. During the 2004–05 season, the team was ranked #1 by the Associated Press for the first time in the school's history and won a school-record 27 games. At Wake Forest, Prosser won 100 games faster than all but two ACC coaches. In 2003, his Demon Deacons squad became the first from the ACC to ever lead the nation in rebounding. In the summer of 2007, Prosser had organized what was said to be a top-five recruiting class for the upcoming year.

Every senior whom Prosser coached earned his degree in four years.

Danny Manning era (2014–2020)

On April 8, 2014, Wake Forest announced the hiring of Danny Manning. Despite high expectations entering his first season, the Demon Deacons only finished with a 13–19 overall record and 5–13 record in the ACC. They would lose to Virginia Tech in the first round of the ACC tournament.

In Manning's second season, Wake Forest's 2015 recruiting class added the commitments of John Collins, Bryant Crawford, and Doral Moore. However, Wake Forest would have another disappointing season finishing the year 11–20 on the regular season and a 2–16 overall record in ACC play.

During Manning's third year at helm, despite losing seniors Codi Miller-McIntyre and Devin Thomas, Wake Forest started the 2016–17 season off very strong. Wake Forest entered the 2017 ACC tournament as the 10th seed and defeated Boston College in the first round of the ACC Tournament. On March 8, 2017, Wake Forest lost to Virginia Tech in the second round of the ACC Tournament. The team also earned a bid in the NCAA Tournament. Wake Forest finished 19–14 on the season and 9–9 in ACC play finishing 10th in the standings. Following the 2019–20 season, after six seasons with the team, Manning was relieved of his duties as head coach.

Steve Forbes era (2020–present) On April 30, 2020, Steve Forbes was named as the new head coach for Wake Forest.

Coaches

Current coaching staff Head Coach – Steve Forbes Asst. Coach – Jason Shay Asst. Coach – BJ McKie Asst. Coach – Demetris Nichols Director of Basketball Operations - Frank Davis

Former head coaches J. R. Crozier (1906–17) E. T. MacDonnell (1917–18) Irving Carlyle (1918–19) Bill Holding (1919–20, 1921–22) James L. White Jr. (1920–21) Phil Utley (1922–23) Hank Garrity (1923–25, simultaneously football coach) R. S. Hayes (1925–26, 1930–31) James A. Baldwin (1926–28) Pat Miller (1928–30) Fred Emmerson (1931–33) Murray Greason (1933–43, 1945–57; no team in 1944) Bones McKinney (1957–65) Jack Murdock (1965–66) Jack McCloskey (1966–72) Carl Tacy (1972–85) Bob Staak (1985–89) Dave Odom (1989–2001) Skip Prosser (2001–07) Dino Gaudio (2007–10) Jeff Bzdelik (2010–14) Danny Manning (2014–2020)

Facilities

Game day

Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum The Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum (also known as The Joel) is a 14,407-seat multi-purpose arena in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. It was named after Lawrence Joel, an Army medic from Winston-Salem who was awarded the Medal of Honor in 1967 for action in Vietnam on November 8, 1965. The memorial was designed by James Ford in New York, and includes the poem "The Fallen" engraved on an interior wall. It is home to Wake Forest's men's and women's basketball teams, and is adjacent to the Dixie Classic Fairgrounds. The arena replaced the old Winston-Salem War Memorial Coliseum, which was torn down for the LJVM Coliseum's construction.

Banners hang in the rafters commemorating past players' retired numbers (including Chris Paul, Tim Duncan, and Randolph Childress) and the late Skip Prosser. There are also banners recognizing the Demon Deacons' past NCAA and ACC successes. The arena is home to the Screamin' Demon student section. Wake Forest's black and gold tie-dyed apparel and "Zombie Nation" were both implemented upon Prosser's arrival at Wake Forest.

Practice

Miller Center The Miller Center is the basketball team's on-campus home. It houses the players' locker rooms, team meeting rooms, coaches' offices, and the Dave Budd Practice Gym. The players utilize the Miller Center for practice, meetings, academic work, and relaxing with their teammates.

The Dave Budd Practice Gym has a full-length court, six stand alone baskets, bleacher seating and banners honoring some of the best players to ever don the black and gold. The locker room includes a separate player lounge which features multiple large flat screen TVs, multiple entertainment systems (Blu-ray, streaming software, and gaming systems) plus the latest video software, as well as dedicated equipment and training rooms. On August 7, 2018, Chris Paul donated $2.5 million to the Wake Forest basketball program.

Sutton Sports Performance Center/Shah Basketball Complex The grand opening for the Sutton Sports Performance Center and the Shah Basketball Complex occurred in September, 2019 and provides Wake Forest with a state-of-the-art center for strength and conditioning and nutrition as well as providing space for coaches offices, team meeting rooms, and heritage areas that celebrate the success of Wake Forest's sports programs.

Ben Sutton ('80, JD '83) donated $15 million for the construction of the Sutton Sports Performance Center. The four-level, 87,000 square foot facility provides strength and conditioning facilities for all of Wake Forest's student-athletes. Preliminary site work began in October 2017 and was completed in September, 2019. The facility connects to McCreary Field House and the Miller Center. The Sutton Sports Performance Center provides more than 10,000 square feet of dedicated strength and conditioning equipment for football. There is also space for strength and conditioning equipment for men's and women's Olympic sports.

The third floor of the Sutton Sports Performance Center includes 17,000 square feet of meeting rooms, coaches offices and a heritage area for the men's and women's basketball program. The fourth floor has over 18,000 square feet for football coaches offices, team meeting rooms and a heritage area. Over 1,500 square feet comprises a customized nutrition center. The Shah Basketball Complex, named in honor of Mit Shah ('91) whose $5 million lead gift made the facility possible, includes 24,400 square feet that allows both the men's and women's basketball programs to have dedicated practice areas. The $12 million project features the addition a regulation court that allows both programs to have interconnected practice areas featuring two practice courts and a total of 13 baskets. The Shah Complex features 6,000 square feet of strength and conditioning equipment for both the men's and women's basketball teams.

Postseason

NCAA tournament results The Demon Deacons have appeared in the NCAA tournament 23 times. Their combined record is 28–23.

1939 Elite Eight Ohio State L 52–64 1953 Sweet SixteenRegional 3rd Place Holy CrossLebanon Valley L 71–79W 91–71 1961 First RoundSweet SixteenElite Eight St. John'sSt. BonaventureSaint Joseph's W 97–74W 78–73L 86–96 1962 First RoundSweet SixteenElite EightFinal FourNational 3rd Place YaleSaint Joseph'sVillanovaOhio StateUCLA W 92–82OTW 96–85OTW 79–69L 68–84W 82–80 1977 First RoundSweet SixteenElite Eight ArkansasSouthern IllinoisMarquette W 86–80W 86–81L 68–82 1981 #4 Second Round #5 Boston College L 64–67 1982 #7 First RoundSecond Round #10 Old Dominion#2 Memphis State W 74–57L 55–56 1984 #4 Second RoundSweet SixteenElite Eight #5 Kansas#1 DePaul#2 Houston W 69–59W 73–71OTL 63–68 1991 #5 First RoundSecond Round #12 Louisiana Tech#4 Alabama W 71–65L 88–96 1992 #9 First Round #8 Louisville L 58–81 1993 #5 First RoundSecond RoundSweet Sixteen #12 Chattanooga#4 Iowa#1 Kentucky W 81–58W 84–78L 69–103 1994 #5 First RoundSecond Round #12 College of Charleston#4 Kansas W 68–58L 58–69 1995 #1 First RoundSecond RoundSweet Sixteen #16 North Carolina A&T#9 Saint Louis#4 Oklahoma State W 79–47W 64–59L 66–71 1996 #2 First RoundSecond RoundSweet SixteenElite Eight #15 Northeast Louisiana#10 Texas#6 Louisville#1 Kentucky W 64–50W 65–62W 60–59L 63–83 1997 #3 First RoundSecond Round #14 Saint Mary's#6 Stanford W 68–46L 66–72 2001 #7 First Round #10 Butler L 63–79 2002 #7 First RoundSecond Round #10 Pepperdine#2 Oregon W 83–74L 87–92 2003 #2 First RoundSecond Round #15 East Tennessee State#10 Auburn W 76–73L 62–68 2004 #4 First RoundSecond RoundSweet Sixteen #13 VCU#12 Manhattan#1 Saint Joseph's W 79–78W 84–80L 80–84 2005 #2 First RoundSecond Round #15 Chattanooga#7 West Virginia W 70–54L 105–1112OT 2009 #4 First Round #13 Cleveland State L 69–84 2010 #9 First RoundSecond Round #8 Texas#1 Kentucky W 81–80OTL 60–90 2017 #11 First Four #11 Kansas State L 88–95

NIT results The Demon Deacons have appeared in the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) nine times. Their combined record is 14–8. They were NIT champions in 2000.

1983 First RoundSecond RoundQuarterfinalsSemifinals Murray StateVanderbiltSouth CarolinaFresno State W 87–70W 75–68W 78–61L 62–86 1985 First Round South Florida L 66–77 1998 First RoundSecond Round UNC WilmingtonVanderbilt W 56–52L 72–68 1999 First RoundSecond Round AlabamaXavier W 73–57L 87–76 2000 First RoundSecond RoundQuarterfinalsSemifinalsFinal VanderbiltNew MexicoCaliforniaNC StateNotre Dame W 83–68W 72–65W 76–59W 62–59W 71–61 2006 First Round Minnesota L 58–73 2022 First RoundSecond RoundQuarterfinals TowsonVCUTexas A&M W 74–64W 80–74 L 52–67 2024 First RoundSecond Round Appalachian StateGeorgia W 87–76 L 66–72 2026 First RoundSecond Round NavyIllinois State W 82–72L 75–78

Awards and honors

Retired numbers

Wake Forest Demon Deacons retired numbers No.PlayerPos.TenureRef. Chris Paul PG 2003–2005 Best Deacons to wear each number by Edward Forest, 12 Feb 2019 Josh Howard SF 1999–2003 Charlie Davis PG 1968–1971 Muggsy Bogues PG 1983–1987 Skip Brown PG 1973–1977 Tim Duncan PF 1993–1997 Randolph Childress PG 1991–1995 Dickie Hemric PF 1951–1955 Rod Griffin PF 1974–1978 Len Chappell PF 1959–1962 Rodney Rogers PF 1990–1993

Coaches honored Head coaches that have been honored with their names hanging on the Coliseum rafters: Skip Prosser 2001–2007 2018 Skip Prosser honored by Wake Forest on The Times Leader, 2 Dec 2018 Dave Odom 1989–2001 2020

Awards National Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame: Billy Packer – 2008 Tim Duncan – 2017

John R. Wooden Award: Tim Duncan – 1997