Maryland football head coach profile: Jake Dickert

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As Jim Smith’s national search for Maryland’s new head coach continues, We continue to scope out potential candidates. We dive into our second coaching profile of Wake Forest head coach Jake Dickert:

Name: Jake Dickert

Age: 43

Record: 38-25, fourth year

Background:

Jake Dickert has rapidly become one of the hottest up and coming coaches over the past 3 seasons. He has worked his way up the ladder as he got his first gig as a general assistant at Wisconsin-Stevens Point in 2007, the same school where he once played wide receiver at. From 2008-2010 Dickert spent time on the staff of FCS powerhouse (have since moved to FBS) North Dakota State. Dickert would work his way through the FCS ranks for the next 6 years until he landed his first job in the FBS as the safeties coach at Wyoming.

In 2020, Jake Dickert would arrive in Pullman, Washington when he joined Washington State’s staff. His break came in 2021 when he was named interim coach for the Cougars, eventually leading to him being named the head coach.

Dickert went 23-20 at Washington State, where he coached future Miami quarterback Cam Ward, who would eventually be selected no. 1 overall in the NFL draft. Dickert also had Oklahoma quarterback John Mateer in that same QB room, backing up Ward.

In 2025 Dickert then took over Wake Forest where he has completely flipped the program from where it was when he took over. The Demon Deacons have been a tough out for anyone that plays them during Jake Dickert’s tenure, despite having one of the lowest roster budgets at the power four level. Dickert and Wake Forest pulled off a statement win after a 30-27 finish at 16th-ranked Louisville in week four, one week after falling to Miami, its lone loss to-date. Dickert has led Wake Forest to two wins against ranked opponents in conference play since the start of the 2025 season.

Profile

Dickert has found success at two different schools as a head coach, one of them being an East Coast school in Wake Forest. Dickert also has familiarity with the DMV with Bishop McNamara WR Xavier Brown one of two DMV commits in Wake Forest's 2027 recruiting class.

What stands out about Dickert the most is his ability to do more with less. Dickert has not used low roster budgets as an excuse at either of his coaching stops. Dickert has been noted saying that being below the average pay scale in your conference is not a reason to come up short of expectations. Wake Forest’s roster is currently estimated at around $13 million, putting them near the end of the conference in that regard. With Maryland’s roster budget being estimated in the $25 million range, the chance for Dickert to maximize the talent in a fruitful recruiting footprint adds intrigue to Maryland's vacancy.

Dickert’s work at Wake Forest has been impressive as in year one he led the Demon Deacons to a 9-4 record, including a bowl win. So far in 2026 he has Wake Forest off to a 6-1 start. Owning a top 20 scoring offense and the 14th-most passing yards, the offensive appeal the 43 year old offers to a Maryland roster that returns multiple impact players with additional years of eligibility looms large. Add in that he's on track for four of his last five seasons ending in winning records, with 2026 the first time since 2021 he could post a winning record in conference play, the reason for Dickert to sit atop virtually every coaching list is apparent. One year after being one of two first-year head coaches named a semifinalist for the George Munger Coach of the Year Award, Dickert was named to the Paul 'Bear' Bryant Coach of the Year watchlist days ago.

Dickert has been listed as a potential candidate for the Maryland job, as he will be with any Power Four job that opens this cycle. Expected to be atop the list of every eventual Power Four vacancy, whether Maryland is the vacancy that pulls Dickert out of the ACC is the bigger question asked than his candidacy, but athletic director Jim Smith and senior deputy AD Diana Sabau at least benefit from being first at this stage with a chance to do their early homework.

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