Wake Forest say radio analyst was a mole for other teams

Tommy Elrod apparently did not appreciate it when he was not retained as an assistant coach in 2014 when Wake Forest hired Dave Clawson as the new head football coach.

Wake Forest announced on Tuesday that an investigation revealed Elrod – a former Demon Deacons player who has been working as a radio analyst for the university – had been sharing proprietary information to Wake Forest’s opponents since 2014.

The Winston-Salem-based university in North Carolina said Elrod has been fired and banned from Wake Forest facilities.

“I am extremely disappointed that our confidential and proprietary game preparation was compromised,” Clawson said in a statement released by the school.

“It’s incomprehensible that a former Wake Forest student-athlete, graduate-assistant, full-time football coach, and current radio analyst for the school, would betray his alma mater.

“We allowed him to have full access to our players, team functions, film room, and practices. He violated our trust which negatively impacted our entire program. I am glad we have taken steps to ensure it will not happen in the future.”

Wake Forest began an investigation following a 44-12 loss to Louisville on November 12 and found emails, text messages and phone records revealing that Elrod had provided, or attempted to provide, game information to opponents beginning in 2014. 

The university said no other members of the Wake Forest athletic department, football staff or players were involved in any way.

Elrod played for the Demon Deacons from 1993-97 before joining Jim Grobe’s staff in 2001 as a graduate assistant.

He held multiple coaching positions over the course of 11 seasons under Grobe until Clawson chose not to keep him on staff. That snub led to Elrod joining the school’s broadcast team.

“I have known Tommy Elrod since his days as a player on our football team,” Wake Forest athletic director Ron Wellman said in a release.

“I’m deeply disappointed that he would act against Wake Forest, our football team and our fans in such a harmful manner by compromising confidential game preparation information.

“It is a relief that the team can move forward without his actions further undermining the positive strides Dave Clawson, his staff and the team have made. All of us are now preparing for final exams and the Military Bowl and continuing to build an outstanding football program.”

The Demon Deacons (6-6) will face Temple (10-3) in the Military Bowl on December 27.