Written By Wake Forest Sports Information Dept.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - Wake Forest University head football coach Dave Clawson has announced the addition of two new coaches to his staff. Mike Elko will join the Demon Deacons as defensive coordinator while Warren Ruggiero will serve as the offensive coordinator.
Both Elko and Ruggiero were members of Clawson's coaching staff at Bowling Green State University.
Elko spent five seasons as Bowling Green's defensive coordinator. The Falcon defense led the Mid-American Conference in scoring defense, total defense, rush defense and pass defense in each of the last two seasons. In 2013, four BGSU defensive players were named to the All-MAC first or second team.
Elko's Bowling Green defense excelled at forcing turnovers and stopping opponents on third down. Over his five seasons as defensive coordinator, the Falcons forced 106 turnovers or 1.7 per game. Bowling Green held opponents to just 35.9 percent third down conversions over those five seasons. In both 2012 and 2013, the Falcons ranked in the top 10 in the nation in both total defense and scoring defense.
Prior to Bowling Green, Elko was the defensive coordinator at Hofstra from 2006-08. He also served on Clawson's staffs at Fordham in 2002-03 and at Richmond in 2004-05.
Elko is a 1999 graduate of the University of Pennsylvania with a bachelor's degree in history. As a linebacker, he helped the Quakers to the 1998 Ivy League title.
Ruggiero has served as Clawson's offensive coordinator at Bowling Green for the past five seasons. His 2013 offensive unit led the Mid-American Conference in passing efficiency and finished among the top three teams in the MAC in total offense, scoring offense, rushing offense and passing offense.
An offensive coordinator for 19 seasons, he has developed all-conference and all-America quarterbacks at each of his coaching stops. At Bowling Green, he developed Tyler Sheehan into an all-MAC quarterback and helped Josh Freeman earn honorable mention all-America honors at Kansas State in 2008.
Ruggiero spent the 2006 and 2007 seasons at Elon where he worked with quarterback Scott Riddle, a first team all-American and the Southern Conference's Freshman of the Year in 2007.
Prior to Elon, Ruggiero spent six years at Hofstra including the final four years as offensive coordinator. He mentored Anton Clarkson to all-Colonial Athletic Association honors and Rocky Butler to all-America status. In 1999, Ruggiero coached the tight ends at William & Mary after serving a two-year stint as head coach at Glenville State in West Virginia. At Glenville, he led the Pioneers to their first-ever NCAA Division II playoff appearance and won the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference title in 1997.
Ruggiero also has served as an assistant coach at Clarion and Defiance, serving as the offensive coordinator for all three seasons at Clarion and all five years at Defiance.
Ruggiero is a graduate of the University of Delaware with both a bachelor's and masters degree in physical education.
