LARAMIE – Craig Bohl walked off into the Tucson sunset after Wyoming's victory in the Arizona Bowl.
Three months later, Aaron Bohl stepped back onto the practice field with a familiar gait as he followed in his father's footsteps.
"How he walks for sure. His walk is very similar," linebacker Connor Shay said when asked if anything about the younger Bohl's style reminds him of the program's former head coach. "That's probably the only thing I've noticed."
Aaron Bohl has already made a name for himself with the Cowboys after helping develop all-Mountain West linebackers Logan Wilson, Chad Muma and Easton Gibbs.
First-year head coach Jay Sawvel, who served as the defensive coordinator under Craig Bohl the past four seasons, didn't stress much about who would fill defensive coordinator the position.
"He's fine. I don't have to worry about him," Sawvel said when asked how Aaron Bohl was handling his new responsibilities during spring practice. "He'll be really good in the role that he's in. He's ready for it and he'll still do a great job with the linebackers.
"I'm comfortable with him calling everything defensively. We're fortunate with that."
Bohl's defense returns eight starters from the unit that was 37th in the FBS in points allowed (22.3 ppg) and 49th in yards allowed (357.8 ypg) during last season's 9-4 finish, which culminated with a 16-15 win over Toledo in the Arizona Bowl to send his dad into retirement on the right note.
"It does feel different," Bohl said of being elevated to defensive coordinator. "On the practice field it's pretty similar – you're just out there coaching the guys and getting us all better. You just feel a little more responsibility, and I'm grateful for Coach Sawvel to bless me with that and I'm excited about the challenge."
Craig Bohl was the defensive coordinator at Nebraska, his alma mater, before winning three FCS national titles as the head coach at North Dakota State and then stabilizing the Cowboys for a decade.
Aaron Bohl joined the Wyoming staff as a graduate transfer in 2017 and has been the linebackers coach since 2020. He has worked under three defensive coordinators – Scottie Hazleton, Jake Dickert and Sawvel – during his time in Laramie.
"I've been lucky that I've seen it a lot at a high level and in a lot of different ways," Bohl said. "I think that has hopefully helped me. We'll find out August 31. I have seen a lot of guys do it, my dad included. From him to Scottie Hazleton to Jake Dickert to Jay Sawvel and a lot of other guys that have been very successful."
Dickert is currently the head coach at Washington State. The Pokes, who open the 2024 season Aug. 31 at Arizona State, finish the regular season slate Nov. 30 against Dickert's Cougars in Pullman.
Sawvel hired two experienced assistants, safeties coach Jason Petrino and defensive tackles coach Jeff Phelps, to join defensive ends coach Brian Hendricks and cornerbacks coach Benny Boyd on Bohl's defensive staff.
"It's very comforting," Bohl said of working under his predecessor, Sawvel, and alongside Petrino, who has also been a defensive coordinator. "Because one thing is the work you do during the week is all collaborative. When you get to the game on Saturday, they're all group decisions that have been made. It's good to have extra insight, extra thoughts to bounce ideas off.
"I really don't think I could walk into a better situation than the one I'm in right now."
Shae Suiaunoa, who will be taking over the middle linebacker spot after starting next to Gibbs the past two seasons, said he decided to return for his super senior season because Sawvel was promoted to head coach and Bohl to defensive coordinator.
"Honestly, I think it's great. The defense isn't going to change dramatically or anything, but Aaron being the DC, he knows the defense in and out," Suiaunoa said. "I think it's perfect for him. I like him as a coach, he's a really good coach. He's not somebody that's going to let you slack off, he's going to get on your butt. I think it's wonderful to have him as our linebackers coach and DC. I'm happy for him."
The Pokes put the pads on for the first time during Saturday's third spring practice.
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