Wake Forest gives Grobe 10-year deal

WINSTON SALEM, N.C., Jan. 25 (UPI) -- Jim Grobe, who had a pair of winning seasons and a bowl victory in his first two years as coach at Wake Forest, was given a new 10-year contract Friday.

The Demon Deacons finished a 7-6 season with a 38-17 victory over Oregon in the Seattle Bowl. The team went 6-5 in 2001, meaning Grobe matched the win total by a coach in his first two years at the program.

Only four other coaches have taken Wake Forest to a bowl game - D.C. "Peahead" Walker in 1946 and 1949, John Mackovic in 1979, Bill Dooley in 1992 and Jim Caldwell in 1999.

The Demon Deacons are expected to return 12 starters, including seven on defense, in 2003. They have not posted three consecutive winning seasons since 1950-52.