Wake Forest head football coach Dave Clawson has announced that Ari Confesor has been added to his coaching staff as the Demon Deacons wide receivers coach.
"We are committed to putting our players in the best position to be successful and adding someone with Ari Confesor's energy, experience and coaching ability is great for Wake Forest and our program," head coach Dave Clawson said. "Ari has a great ability to connect with his players and I am excited to see him work with those young men and impact their lives on and off the field. Our entire offensive staff is looking forward to working with Ari as he joins our Wake Forest and Winston-Salem community."
"My family and I are thrilled to be headed to Winston-Salem and join Coach Clawson, his staff, and the Wake Forest family," Confesor said. "I know how talented and tough this league is to compete in and I am excited to get to know our players and get to work on the field and in recruiting. Go Deacs!"
Confesor finished his fourth season (2019-22) as the wide receivers coach last fall at Air Force. Over the course of his tenure at the academy in Colorado, he helped the Falcons to a 34-11 overall record and they won three bowl championships, defeating Power-5 programs in each game.
Air Force recorded an 11-win season in 2019 and a pair of 10-win seasons each of the last two seasons. Additionally in 2021, the Falcons tied for the Mountain Division title with a 6-2 record in the Mountain West Conference.
Confesor helped Brandon Lewis, who signed with the Tennessee Titans on a free agent deal prior to the 2022 season, earn Honorable Mention All-MWC honors following the aforementioned 2021 campaign. Lewis finished the season with team bests of 20 catches for 600 yards while setting a school record with a 30.0 yards per catch average.
Confesor had a remarkable debut season with the Falcons in 2019, helping to mentor one of the best wide receiver combos in program history in seniors Geraud Sanders and Ben Waters. The pair combined for 52 catches for 1,404 yards and 14 touchdowns.
Prior to his arrival at Air Force, he coached at his alma mater, Holy Cross during the 2018 season as he served as the wide receivers coach and passing game coordinator. He tutored a pair of All-Patriot League performers that fall.
Confesor coached wide receivers from 2014-17 and was the co-special teams coordinator at Rhode Island in 2017, where he coached two players who earned All-Colonial Athletic Association honors in 2017 (Marven Beauvais and Aaron Parker). His return units produced third-team All-CAA kick returner Harold Cooper and Matt Pires, who earned third-team All-CAA honors at punt returner.
He also helped the Rams rank 27th in the nation in yards per completion in 2016. He was previously Rhode Island's linebackers coach in 2013 while working in the scouting department of the Kansas City Chiefs in 2012. He was also a member of the Rhode Island coaching staff from 2009-2011, coaching wide receivers (2010-11) and assisting with the secondary (2009).
Confesor is a 2004 Holy Cross graduate with a bachelor's degree in political science. He was a two-time All-America selection as a wide receiver and return specialist, and served as team captain during his senior year. Confesor is Holy Cross' all time leader with 2,352 career receiving yards, 2,267 career kickoff return yards and 5,370 career all-purpose yards. He is also a member of the 2019 Holy Cross Athletics Hall of Fame Class.
Confesor was selected to participate in the 2015 NFL-NCAA Coaches Academy. The NFL and NCAA host the Coaches Academy for former NFL players who are current coaches. The highly competitive and intensive program trains selected participants in a variety of areas that encourage effective coaching and improve student-athlete well-being at both the intercollegiate and professional levels. Confesor was one of 30 coaches nationally to participate in the training.
Confesor and his wife, Katie, have two daughters, Nora and Madalina, and a son, Camden.
