Twitter: @the_BBoyd
Benny Boyd will coach the Wyoming cornerbacks and serve as co-special teams coordinator for the sixth season in 2025. He originally joined the Wyoming Football coaching staff in February of 2020. Boyd came to Wyoming from Eastern Illinois University. He will be entering his 25th season as a college coach in 2025.
Wyoming led the nation in third-down defense this season holding opponents to 26 percent. The Cowboys closed the season holding two of the nation's top offenses in Boise State and Washington State to a combined 31 points. The Cowboys ranked No. 14 in the nation in kickoff return yards, a number that also led the Mountain West Conference.
In 2023, the Pokes would win nine games, as it was Wyoming's first nine-win season since 1996 when UW posted a 10-2 season. The Cowboy defense ranked No. 26 in the nation in turnovers gained, which ranked third in the MW. The Cowboys rank seventh in the nation with 11 fumble recoveries. The Wyoming defense ranks No. 24 in the nation in fewest yards allowed per pass attempts. Sawvel's 2023 defense ranks No. 2 in the Mountain West Conference in scoring defense (allowing only 22.3 points per game) and ranks No. 3 in the MW in total defense (allowing opponents only 357.8 yards per game).
Wyoming’s 2022 defense ranked No. 2 in the Mountain West and No. 21 in the nation in sacks, averaging 2.85 per game. UW’s defense also ranked No. 2 in the MW and No. 33 in the FBS in defensive touchdowns scored, with two. Boyd’s special teams blocked two kicks in the ‘22 season to rank No. 3 in the conference and No. 36 in the nation. In ‘22, Boyd coached cornerback Cam Stone, who earned First Team All-Mountain West honors from Phil Steele, Second Team from Pro Football Focus (PFF) and Honorable Mention honors from Mountain West head coaches and media.
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 Cowboy defense in 2021 was one of the top pass defenses in the nation. Wyoming allowed opponents only 189.8 passing yards per game to rank No. 1 in the Mountain West and No. 12 in the nation. The Cowboy defense was also No. 13 in the nation in defensive touchdowns scored, with three. One of those interception returns for a TD was a 50-yard return by one of Boyd’s defensive backs, nickel back Keyon Blankenbaker. Wyoming held opponents to 23.7 points per game in the 2021 season to rank No. 5 in the MW and No. 43 in the country out of 130 FBS programs. The Cowboys posted a 7-6 record and won their third consecutive bowl game, with a convincing 52-38 win over Kent State in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl.
Among Wyoming’s six defenders who earned All-Mountain West Conference honors in 2021 were both of the Cowboys’ starting cornerbacks. C.J. Coldon was named Second Team All-MW by conference coaches and media, and Azizi Hearn was a Second Team All-MW selection by Pro Football Focus.
The 2021 kickoff return team for the Cowboys ranked No. 3 in the Mountain West and No. 39 in the FBS, averaging 23.0 yards per return. Leading that unit was another Cowboy cornerback, Cam Stone, who averaged 40.0 yards per kickoff return and returned a kickoff 99 yards for a touchdown in Wyoming’s 44-17 road win over eventual MW champion Utah State. Stone was named an Honorable Mention All-MW honoree by Pro Football Focus.
The 2020 Wyoming defense was among the best in the nation, ranking No. 16 in the country among all Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) teams in total defense, allowing opponents only 328.0 yards per game. UW’s defense also ranked No. 21 in rushing defense (125.3 yards per game), No. 24 in scoring defense (21.0 points per game) and No. 29 in pass defense (202.7 yards per game). Among the Cowboys who Boyd coached in his first season at Wyoming in 2020 was cornerback Coldon. Coldon earned Fourth Team All-Mountain West honors from Phil Steele in 2020.
Boyd coached the cornerbacks and coordinated special teams at Eastern Illinois in 2019. The Panthers’ defense ranked No. 30 in the nation in total defense out of 124 Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) teams, allowing opponents only 350.6 yards per game. EIU’s defense also ranked: No. 29 in the FCS in fewest first downs allowed to opponents (215), No. 29 in most fumbles recovered (10), No. 29 in tackles for loss (7.2 per game), No. 40 in pass defense (204.1 passing yards allowed per game), No. 40 in turnovers gained (21) and No. 44 in rushing defense (146.5 rushing yards allowed per game).
From 2015-18, Boyd coached corners and special teams at Central Washington. He was part of back-to-back Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC) Championships in 2017 & 2018 at CWU. Boyd coached First Team All-America cornerback Tyler Hasty, who ranked second in the NCAA in passes defended in 2018. Boyd’s special teams ranked second in NCAA Division II in blocked kicks in 2018. He also coached Chade DeMoor, the 2018 NCAA individual leader in blocked kicks.
In 2017, the Central Washington defense ranked second nationally in interceptions and fourth in the NCAA Division II in total defense. Boyd coached several All-Conference selections on defense and special teams while at CWU.
In 2014, Boyd served as defensive coordinator and special teams coordinator at his alma mater Aurora (Ill.) University.
He was the special teams coordinator and defensive backs coach at North Dakota for the 2011-13 seasons. UND led all FCS teams in blocked kicks all three seasons he coordinated the special teams, and he coached an All-America kick returner in 2012 and All-America kicker in 2013.
Prior to North Dakota, Boyd was the associate head coach and defensive coordinator at Luther College in Iowa from 2002-10. In 2010, he was a finalist for the AFCA Division III Assistant Coach of the Year. He coached four Division III All-Americans and three Aztec Bowl participants (Division III All-Star Game) while at Luther College. A total of 19 of his players earned All-Conference honors during his time at Luther College.
Boyd played football at Aurora (Ill.) University from 1996-99. He was a two-time All-Conference selection and held the school single-season record for passes defended. Boyd earned his bachelor’s degree in social work from Aurora University in 2000 and added a master’s degree in social work, also from Aurora University, in 2002. He has completed Bill Walsh Fellowships with four NFL teams during his career (Houston, Seattle, Oakland and Pittsburgh). Boyd is a native of Dixon, Illinois.
He and his wife, Andrea, were married in July of 2023.
Boyd recruits Illinois and the St. Louis area for the Cowboys.
Coaching Experience
2020- Wyoming, Co-Special Teams Coordinator/Cornerbacks
2019 Eastern Illinois, Cornerbacks/Special Teams
2015-18 Central Washington, Cornerbacks/Special Teams
2014 Aurora (Ill.) University, Defensive Coordinator/Special Teams Coordinator
2011-13 North Dakota, Secondary/Special Teams Coordinator
2002-10 Luther College (Iowa), Associate Head Coach / Defensive Coordinator