Craig Bohl will enter his 10th season leading the University of Wyoming Football program in 2023 and with his 10th season will become the longest tenured head football coach in school history. He was previously tied with former Cowboy head coaches John Corbett (1915-23) and Lloyd Eaton (1962-70), who each served nine seasons as head coach of the Cowboys. The 2023 season will be Bohl’s 21st as a head coach at the collegiate level. During the past nine seasons under the direction of Bohl, Wyoming Football has enjoyed a level of excellence that has never been reached in the rich history of Cowboy Football.
Bohl and his coaching staff became the first Wyoming Football staff to lead UW to three straight bowl victories -- the 2017 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, the 2019 NOVA Home Loans Arizona Bowl and the 2021 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl.
He and his staff are the only football staff in Wyoming history to lead five different teams to bowl appearances. Wyoming’s 2022 appearance in the Barstool Sports Arizona Bowl marked the fifth time in seven seasons (2016, ‘17, ‘19, ‘21 and ‘22) that Bohl has guided the Cowboys to a bowl bid, which is a first in school history. The Cowboys earned bowl eligibility a sixth time in the 2018 season.
In terms of success, the Cowboys have become regular contenders in the race for the Mountain West Conference title. The Pokes concluded the 2022 season in second place in the Mountain Division. UW also finished second in its division in 2017. In 2016, Wyoming won the Mountain Division and hosted the 2016 Mountain West Championship Game by virtue of being the highest ranked team in the conference at the time of the championship game. UW has enjoyed five winning seasons in the seven seasons since 2016, winning eight games in 2016, ‘17 and ‘19 and recording seven wins in 2021 and ‘22.
Bohl served as President of the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) for the 2022 college football season, having been elected as President at the 2022 AFCA Convention. He also served on the AFCA Board of Trustees. Bohl was appointed to the 13-member NCAA Division I Football Competition Committee in January of 2017 and has served on the NCAA Division I Football Oversight Committee.
During Bohl’s tenure, Wyoming has had more former Cowboys on NFL rosters than at any other period in Wyoming history. There were a total of 16 former Cowboys on NFL rosters as of Jan. 1, 2022 -- some on active rosters and others on developmental squads.
In terms of NFL Draft picks, UW’s most recent was linebacker Chad Muma, who was selected as the 6th pick in the 3rd round of the 2022 NFL Draft by the Jacksonville Jaguars. Muma became the eighth Wyoming Cowboy to be selected in the NFL Draft during the first eight seasons Bohl was the head coach at Wyoming. The previous NFL Draft picks during the Bohl era include: 2015 Mark Nzeocha, LB (Dallas Cowboys, 7th Round, 19th Pick); 2017 Brian Hill, RB (Atlanta Falcons, 5th Round 12th Pick); 2017 Chase Roullier, C (Washington Commanders, 6th Round 15th Pick); 2018 Josh Allen, QB (Buffalo Bills, 1st Round, 7th Pick); 2019 Marcus Epps, S (Minnesota Vikings, 6th Round, 18th Pick); 2020 Logan Wilson, LB (Cincinnati Bengals, 3rd Round, 1st Pick); and 2020 Cassh Maluia, LB (New England Patriots, 6th Round, 25th Pick).
Wyoming has had at least one player selected in six of the last eight NFL Drafts (2015, ‘17, ‘18, ‘19, ‘20 and ‘22) and twice had two players taken in the same draft (2017 and 2020). Three of Bohl’s Cowboys have been part of Super Bowl Teams (Epps, Philadelphia Eagles’ Super Bowl LVII team; Wilson, Cincinnati Bengals’ Super Bowl LVI team; Tyler Hall, CB, L.A. Rams’ Super Bowl LVI Champions).
The success that Cowboy Football has enjoyed and the excitement generated around the program under Bohl’s direction is just what UW Athletics Director Tom Burman had hoped for when he hired Bohl on Dec. 8, 2013.
When Bohl was hired as head football coach at Wyoming, he was open in saying that he wanted to bring Cowboy Football back to a place of national prominence.
The excitement surrounding Wyoming Football included the extensive coverage of former Cowboy quarterback Josh Allen, who was selected as the No. 7 overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft by the Buffalo Bills. That marked the highest selection by a Wyoming Cowboy in the history of the program and was the second highest selection by a Mountain West player since Utah’s Alex Smith was selected No. 1 in 2005 by the San Francisco 49ers. Leading up to Allen being drafted, Wyoming’s Pro Day was covered live by both ESPN and the NFL Network. Beginning with the 2017 football season through the 2018 NFL Draft, media coverage of Wyoming Football for that time period was estimated by Joyce Julius & Associates at over $159 million.
Cowboy linebackers Wilson (in 2019) and Muma (in 2021) were each one of only six national finalists for the 2019 and 2021 Butkus Awards, respectively. The Butkus Award honors the nation’s top collegiate linebacker. Wilson earned multiple All-America honors, including being named a First Team All-American by Pro Football Focus, Second Team by USA Today and Third Team by the Associated Press. Muma was named a Second Team All-American by both the Walter Camp Football Foundation and Pro Football Focus, while earning Third Team All-America honors from the Associated Press.
In 2018, Wyoming had two finalists for national awards for the first time in program history. Place-kicker Cooper Rothe was one of three national finalists for the Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award, that honors the nation’s top collegiate place-kicker each year. Free safety Marcus Epps was one of only three national finalists for the Burlsworth Trophy, which is awarded to the most outstanding football player in America who began his career as a walk-on. Epps went on to be drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the sixth round of the 2019 NFL Draft.
A total of four Cowboys have earned All-America honors during Bohl’s tenure. Two Cowboys earned All-America honors in 2016 in running back Brian Hill (Third Team by College Sports Madness), and center Chase Roullier (Second Team by USA Today). They joined linebackers Wilson in 2019 and Muma in 2021 in being selected as All-Americans..
During Bohl’s tenure as Wyoming’s head coach, he has had a freshman earn Freshman All-America honors from the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) five times. The most recent Cowboy freshman to receive the honor was place-kicker John Hoyland in 2020. The other four Pokes coached by Bohl to be named Freshman All-Americans by the FWAA were: safety Andrew Wingard (2015), linebacker Logan Wilson (2016), center Keegan Cryder (2018) and defensive end Solomon Byrd (2019). College Football News (CFN) named offensive guard Emmanuel Pregnon a Second Team Freshman All-American in 2022 and defensive end Braden Siders joined him as a CFN Honorable Mention selection.
The Wyoming Cowboys entered the 2022 college football season as the fourth youngest team in the country. But given that, the Cowboys went on to record a 7-6 record, finish second in the Mountain West Conference Mountain Division and earn a spot in the Barstool Sports Arizona Bowl. Along the way the ‘22 Pokes defeated rivals Air Force, Colorado State, Hawai’i, Utah State and American Athletic Conference member Tulsa. Wyoming’s 7-6 record gave them their fifth winning season in the past seven seasons.
The 2021 season saw the Cowboys score its most points ever in a bowl game in a dominant 52-38 win over Kent State. The Cowboy rushing attack once again ranked among the best in the nation at No. 20, and the Wyoming pass defense ranked No. 12 in the country in fewest passing yards allowed. Wyoming was again one of the most disciplined teams in the country, ranking No. 26 in fewest penalties committed. Linebacker Chad Muma earned All-America honors. The Pokes concluded the season with a 7-6 record.
In the COVID-shortened season of 2020, Wyoming’s defense ranked among the Top 30 teams in the nation in 10 defensive categories, including ranking: No. 16 in total defense, No. 21 in rushing defense, No. 24 in scoring defense and No. 29 in pass defense. Wyoming’s 2020 offense ranked No. 7 in the NCAA in passing yards per completion, No. 14 in rushing offense and No. 24 in fewest turnovers committed.
The Cowboy defense ranked No. 11 in the nation in scoring defense and No. 11 in rushing defense in 2019. Wyoming’s defense also was No. 6 in the country in red-zone defense and scored three defensive touchdowns to rank No. 12 in the FBS. The UW offense ranked No. 10 in the nation in passing yards per completion, was No. 23 in the country in rushing offense and No. 32 in third-down conversions. Senior linebacker Logan Wilson was named an All-American by multiple media outlets. That combination of offensive and defensive balance led to an 8-5 record and a victory in the NOVA Home Loans Arizona Bowl.
Wyoming was also one of the best defensive teams in the nation in 2018. The Cowboys ranked No. 19 in the nation in total defense, No. 25 in rushing defense, No. 28 in scoring defense and No. 32 in pass defense on way to a 6-6 record to earn bowl eligibility for the third straight season.
The 2017 season saw the Cowboys post an 8-5 record and finish second in the MW Mountain Division. The Pokes were led by their defense in 2017, ranking No. 1 in the nation in forcing turnovers (38) and leading the Mountain West and ranking No. 9 in the nation in scoring defense, allowing opponents only 17.5 points per game. Wyoming’s defense also ranked No. 1 in fumbles recovered (18), No. 2 in interceptions (20), No. 8 in defensive touchdowns scored, 13th in the NCAA in pass defense, and 23rd in total defense. UW captured the 2017 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl in a convincing 37-14 win over Central Michigan.
In 2016, Bohl’s team defeated two Top 25 ranked opponents, was named the National Team of the Week by the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) for one of those wins and received votes itself in the national polls. Wyoming also captured the Mountain Division title of the Mountain West Conference, earned the right to host the 2016 MW Football Championship Game as the highest ranked team in the conference and was invited to the San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl. His Cowboys ended the year with an 8-6 record and featured one of the NCAA’s top scoring offenses, averaging 35.9 points per game to rank No. 25 in the nation. Bohl was recognized for his turnaround of Cowboy Football by being named the 2016 Mountain West Conference Coach of the Year in voting by conference head coaches and media.
Two Cowboys earned All-America honors in 2016 in running back Brian Hill and center Chase Roullier. Linebacker Logan Wilson earned Freshman All-America honors in 2016, joining Andrew Wingard, who earned Freshman All-America honors a year earlier.
Bohl, who was part of building National Championship teams at North Dakota State and Nebraska, was introduced by University of Wyoming Athletics Director Tom Burman as the new head football coach of the Wyoming Cowboys on Sunday, Dec. 8, 2013. Bohl became the 32nd head football coach in University of Wyoming history.
He came to Wyoming after building a national power at North Dakota State as a head coach for 11 seasons from 2003-13. His teams won three consecutive National Championships at the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) level in 2011, ‘12 and ‘13. NDSU became only the second FCS school in NCAA history to win three consecutive national football titles, tied the FCS record for consecutive wins (24 from 2011-13) and became the first undefeated FCS National Champion since 1996.
“Rarely do you get an opportunity to hire a head coach who has won multiple National Championships and has a reputation as a program builder,” said Burman.
“I am absolutely confident we hired one of the best football coaches in the country. All you have to do is look at Craig’s record.”
“I understand the awesome responsibility to lead this football team,” said Bohl. “I also understand how important football is in the fabric of this institution and not only this institution but around the state. Whether you’re in Sheridan, Casper or Thermopolis, this is the state team, and I embrace that.
“I’m looking forward to getting to know the people of our great state of Wyoming. It will be an exciting time for us. We understand that the bar is high. I also appreciate the vision that Tom (Burman) has, and I want to thank him for having faith in me to lead this football program. He was able to articulate to me where our football program needs to go and the resources that are going to be provided to allow us to experience success.
“I can’t tell you how excited I am to embrace the Cowboy tradition.”
Not only did Bohl win three national titles at the FCS level, but he was the linebackers coach at his alma mater, Nebraska, when the Huskers won the 1995 and 1997 National Championships.
Bohl has served on the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Board of Trustees, having been elected by a vote of the membership at the 2012 AFCA national convention. Bohl served as President of the AFCA in 2022. He was also appointed to the 13-member NCAA Division I Football Competition Committee in January of 2017 and also served on the NCAA Division I Football Oversight Committee.
Bohl concluded his career as head coach of the NDSU Bison, with a 104-32 (.765) record. He guided the Bison to the FCS Playoffs each of his final four seasons, posting a 14-1 record in the FCS Playoffs. His last three teams posted records of 14-1 (2011), 14-1 (2012) and 15-0 (2013) for a combined record of 43-2 (.956) on way to their three consecutive FCS national titles.
By winning the 2013 FCS National Championship, North Dakota State extended its winning streak to 24 consecutive games, which tied both the NDSU and FCS records for consecutive victories. The Bison teams from 1964-66 originally set the school record with 24 straight victories. The University of Pennsylvania set the FCS record of 24 consecutive wins from 1992-95. That record was later tied by Montana from 2001-02.
The 2013 NDSU team also set a North Dakota State single-season record for wins, posting a perfect 15-0 record. The Bison became the first undefeated FCS National Champion since Marshall went 15-0 to win the 1996 FCS title.
The Bison had great success against FBS teams to go with their elite status at the FCS level. In each of his last four seasons at NDSU, Bohl’s Bison defeated all four of the FBS teams they faced, and captured all of those wins on the road. NDSU won at Kansas in 2010 (by a score of 6-3), at Minnesota in 2011 (37-24), at Colorado State in 2012 (22-7), and at Kansas State in 2013 (24-21). Overall during his 11 years at North Dakota State, Bohl’s teams built a 7-3 record against FBS teams.
Bohl’s North Dakota State teams were ranked in The Sports Network or FCS Coaches Top 25 polls for 107 weeks since beginning FCS play in 2004, and earned the No. 1 ranking in both the final 2011, 2012 and 2013 polls, including being named a unanimous No. 1 following the 2013 campaign. The Bison’s record versus FCS Top 25 ranked teams under Bohl’s direction was 30-8.
In 2012 and ‘13, Bohl received both The Sports Network Eddie Robinson FCS National Coach of the Year Award and the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) FCS National Coach of the Year Award. He became the first coach in the first 27 years of the Eddie Robinson Award to win it in consecutive seasons. In 2013, he also received the Liberty Mutual FCS Coach of the Year Award, which is presented in partnership with the National Football Foundation and College Football Hall of Fame. His other National Coach of the Year honor came in 2006, when he was recognized by the Football Gazette as the FCS National Coach of the Year and the Northwest Region Coach of the Year.
He was a finalist for The Sports Network Eddie Robinson Award in 2011, 2007 and 2006, and was the 2011 and 2013 AFCA Region 4 FCS Coach of the Year.
In addition to his 18 years of experience as a head coach, Bohl has 19 years of experience as a full-time assistant coach at the collegiate level and three seasons as a graduate assistant. His last eight years as an assistant coach were spent at Nebraska. He was the linebackers coach under head coach Tom Osborne for five of those seasons and was part of the 1995 and ‘97 Nebraska National Championship teams. Bohl’s final three seasons (2000-02) at Nebraska, he served as the Cornhuskers’ defensive coordinator under head coach Frank Solich, before accepting the head-coaching job at North Dakota State in 2003. Bohl was part of 11 bowl-game appearances while at Nebraska -- eight as an assistant coach from 1995 to 2002 and three as a graduate assistant coach for the Huskers from 1981-83.
During his time in Fargo, N.D., Bohl coached 10 Academic All-Americans and 37 All-Americans, while six student-athletes in the last 10 years were named to the Allstate/AFCA Good Works team. He added a seventh Allstate/AFCA Good Works team member in 2014 at Wyoming, when senior wide receiver Dominic Rufran earned that honor.
Bohl grew up in Lincoln, Neb., and went on to attend the University of Nebraska where he was a reserve defensive back from 1977 to 1979 under head coach Tom Osborne. Bohl was part of Nebraska’s 1979 Orange Bowl and 1980 Cotton Bowl teams.
He began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at his alma mater in 1981, assisting with the Nebraska linebackers and defensive backs for three seasons from 1981-83. His first full-time coaching position came at North Dakota State in 1984, coaching the defensive backs. He moved on to coach the linebackers at the University of Tulsa for the 1985 and ‘86 seasons. In 1987 and ‘88, Bohl was the linebackers coach at the University of Wisconsin. He earned his first defensive coordinator position in 1989 at Rice, where he served as the defensive coordinator for five seasons from 1989-93. In 1994, Bohl accepted the defensive coordinator position at Duke. The following season in 1995, he had the opportunity to return to Nebraska as the linebackers coach, and in his first season back in Lincoln the Huskers won the National Championship. Two seasons later, they captured their second National Championship during Bohl’s time as an assistant coach.
Born July 27, 1958, Bohl will be 65 years old when the 2023 season kicks off. He earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration from Nebraska in 1982. Bohl’s family includes wife Leia, and children Mallory and Morgan, Aaron and Elijah.
Craig Bohl’s Career Coaching Honors
2022 President of the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) and member of the Board of Trustees
2021 First Vice President of the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) and member of the Board of Trustees
Member of the NCAA Division I Football Oversight Committee
2017 Appointed to the NCAA Division I Football Competition Committee
2016 Mountain West Conference Coach of the Year
2013 The Sports Network Eddie Robinson FCS National Coach of the Year
American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) FCS National Coach of the Year
Liberty Mutual, National Football Foundation and College Football Hall of Fame FCS National Coach of the Year
AFCA Region 4 Division I FCS Coach of the Year
Missouri Valley Football Conference Bruce Craddock Coach of the Year
2012 The Sports Network Eddie Robinson FCS National Coach of the Year
The American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) FCS National Coach of the Year
Elected to the AFCA Board of Trustees
Missouri Valley Football Conference Bruce Craddock Coach of the Year
2011 Finalist for The Sports Network Eddie Robinson FCS National Coach of the Year
AFCA Region 4 Division I FCS Coach of the Year
Missouri Valley Football Conference Bruce Craddock Coach of the Year
2007 Finalist for The Sports Network Eddie Robinson FCS National Coach of the Year
2006 Football Gazette FCS National Coach of the Year
Football Gazette FCS Northwest Region Coach of the Year
Finalist for The Sports Network Eddie Robinson FCS National Coach of the Year
Great West Football Conference Coach of the Year