When Wake Forest hired Steve Forbes as their men’s basketball coach, they were coming off a 13-18 season and a stretch in which they’d only have two winning years in a decade. Following a rough initial season, Forbes turned the Demon Deacons into a legit ACC contender, finishing the regular season 23-8 and entering the ACC Tournament as a five-seed. The team is a solid bet to make their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2017 and Forbes was named ACC Coach of the Year on Monday.
All of which is why the school and Forbes have agreed to a long-term extension, according to Jeff Borzello.
Steve Forbes and Wake Forest have agreed to a long-term contract extension, sources told me and @PeteThamel. Forbes was named ACC Coach of the Year this morning. https://t.co/Ekk79H4bG3
— Jeff Borzello (@jeffborzello) March 7, 2022
While no details on the extension were released, the school did announce the move on their website.
“My family and I are incredibly proud and extremely grateful to call Wake Forest and Winston-Salem our home,” Forbes said in a news release about the extension. “We place a high value on the incredible commitment and unwavering support that we have received from John Currie, President Susan R. Wente, and the entire Wake Forest community since our arrival. I believe in John Currie, and he believes in me. We both share a common vision regarding the future success of Wake Forest basketball, on and off the court. Every conversation that he and I have ever had always ends with him asking me the following question, ‘What more can I do to help you and your program be successful?’ This extension is a result of President Wente, John Currie, and Wake Forest University’s steadfast belief in me, my staff, my players, and the future of our program.”
According to the press release, Wake Forest is on pace to set an NCAA Division I record for the most-improved team from one season to the next, having won 17 more games than last year as they enter the ACC Tournament.
Forbes came to Wake Forest following a strong five-year stint at East Tennessee State in which he took the Buccaneers to the postseason three times (it would have been four but the NCAA Tournament was canceled during a year in which ETSU went 30-4).
Given the success he’s had in such a short time in Winston-Salem, the reactions to the news about Forbes’ extension were overwhelmingly positive.
Former Shocker assistant killing it at Wake Forest, named the ACC Coach of the Year and earning a contract extension as a result. https://t.co/kNBzwmu0AL
— Taylor Eldridge (@tayloreldridge) March 7, 2022
Congrats to Steve Forbes. One of the best guys in coaching … https://t.co/dtoK4DSF8w
— Jason King (@JasonKingBR) March 7, 2022
YESSSSS https://t.co/RT3QyYC3vW
— Riley Johnston (@MSD_RaJohnston) March 7, 2022
Timely news. Contract extension for Forbes: https://t.co/WZKI0yToJ7
— Lauren Walsh (@lauwalsh10) March 7, 2022
Much deserved. And big for Wake too https://t.co/jcldfOPbRw
— Chris McClain (@macwfnz) March 7, 2022
