Brent Vigen was elevated to associate head coach in the spring of 2017. He will continue in his roles as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for the sixth consecutive season in 2019, and will be entering his 22nd year as a college coach and his 11th as an offensive coordinator.
Vigen recruited, coached and developed former Wyoming quarterback Josh Allen, who became the highest NFL Draft pick in Wyoming school history when the Buffalo Bills selected him as the No. 7 overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft. Allen was also the second highest selection by any Mountain West Conference player in history behind only Alex Smith of Utah, who was selected No. 1 overall in the 2005 NFL Draft. Vigen also recruited and coached former North Dakota State quarterback Carson Wentz for Wentz’s freshman and sophomore seasons at NDSU in 2012 and ‘13 before Vigen became offensive coordinator at Wyoming in 2014. Wentz went on to become the No. 2 overall pick by the Philadelphia Eagles in the 2016 NFL Draft.
In 2018, Wyoming’s offense saw two young quarterbacks emerge after the graduation of Allen. Redshirt freshman Tyler Vander Waal and true freshman Sean Chambers both were given opportunities during the season and both displayed their talents as Wyoming would win its last four games of the season to earn bowl eligibility at 6-6. Chambers would emerge in 2019 spring practice to be named the starter entering the ‘19 season. In spite of being in transition at quarterback, the Wyoming offense hit its stride during the four-game winning streak to end the 2018 season, averaging 31.0 points and 415.5 yards per game during that stretch. The offense featured First Team All-Mountain West running back Nico Evans, who ranked No. 4 in the nation in rushing offense, and helped the Cowboys rank No. 4 in the Mountain West and No. 39 in the NCAA in rushing as a team. UW’s offense also ranked No. 1 in the MW and No. 4 in the nation in fewest turnovers, committing only 11 total turnovers for the year. Freshman center Keegan Cryder earned First Team Freshman All-America honors from the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA).
Vigen’s 2017 offense was extremely efficient in the red zone, scoring on 33 of 34 red-zone opportunities to rank No. 2 in the nation. The offense also did an excellent job of protecting the ball, committing only 14 turnovers to rank No. 19 in the country. UW’s offense combined with its defense (38 turnovers forced) to rank No. 1 in the nation in turnover margin, with a +24 turnover margin. While Allen would miss the final two and half games of the season to injury, Wyoming would record eight wins for the second straight season, and upon Allen’s return the Pokes posted a convincing 37-14 win in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl over Central Michigan. Allen was named to the Manning, Maxwell, Davey O’Brien and Walter Camp Award Preseason watch lists.
The 2016 Cowboy offense averaged 35.9 points per game to rank No. 2 in the Mountain West and No. 25 in the nation. The passing game, averaged 15.3 yards per completion to rank No. 8 in the NCAA, and in red-zone offense the Pokes converted 90.6 percent of their red-zone opportunities into scores to rank 14th in the country. Wyoming’s offense ranked No. 1 in the MW and No. 22 in the NCAA in first downs (312), was No. 32 in the nation in time of possession (31:34), ranked No. 33 in the country in passing efficiency (143.82 rating) and No. 36 in the nation in rushing offense, averaging 205.4 yards per game. Running back Brian Hill earned Third Team All-America honors from College Sports Madness and center Chase Roullier was named Second Team All-American by USA Today. Tight end Jacob Hollister joined Hill and Roullier as First Team All-Mountain West selections, and quarterback Josh Allen and wide receiver Tanner Gentry earned Second Team All-MW honors. Hill was one of 10 national semifinalists for the Doak Walker Award. Roullier was named to the Outland Trophy and Rotary Lombardi Award Watch Lists, and Gentry was named to the Biletnikoff Award Watch List. Hill was selected in the fifth round of the 2017 NFL Draft by the Atlanta Falcons. Roullier was drafted in the sixth round by the Washington Redskins. Gentry signed a free-agent contract with the Chicago Bears, and Hollister signed as a free agent with the New England Patriots.
In 2015, Vigen’s offense had two individuals earn All-Mountain West honors as sophomore running back Hill and junior offensive lineman Roullier both earned Second Team All-Conference honors. Hill was one of 11 semifinalists for the Doak Walker Award in 2015 and was the only semifinalist from a non-Power Five conference. Junior wide receiver Gentry was also named to the Biletnikoff Award Watch List in 2015. The 2015 Wyoming offense ranked sixth in the Mountain West in passing efficiency, with a rating of 135.0.
Vigen’s 2014 Cowboy offense featured Biletnikoff Award Watch List receiver Dominic Rufran, who was invited to a free-agent camp by the Atlanta Falcons following his senior season. Another Cowboy senior, offensive tackle Connor Rains, signed as a free agent with the Denver Broncos following the 2014 season. Vigen’s Wyoming offense was very effective at protecting the ball in 2014, committing only 18 turnovers to rank No. 4 in the MW and No. 33 in the nation.
Vigen served as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at North Dakota State under current Wyoming head coach Craig Bohl from 2009-13. He began his college coaching career at his alma mater, NDSU, in 1998.
He was the offensive coordinator for each of North Dakota State’s three consecutive FCS National Championships in 2011, ‘12 and ‘13. In 2013, Vigen’s offense at North Dakota State ranked No. 10 in the nation in scoring offense (38.7 points per game), No. 7 in rushing offense (257.3 yards per game), No. 14 in total offense (457.5 yards per game), No. 1 in third-down efficiency (55.4%), No. 3 in passing efficiency (164.9) and No. 6 in red-zone offense (89.2%). The 2013 NDSU offense also was one of only 12 FCS teams to average 200+ yards rushing and 200+ yards passing per game. The 2012 Bison offense ranked No. 7 in the nation in third-down efficiency (50.7%) and No. 16 in red-zone offense (89.2%). Vigen’s 2011 offense ranked No. 5 in the country in red-zone offense (91.1%).
From 2011 through 2013, Vigen helped NDSU to a 43-2 (.956) overall record and a 22-2 (.917) Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC) mark on way to its three consecutive FCS national titles. The 2013 NDSU squad became the first undefeated (15-0) FCS National Champion since Marshall went 15-0 to win the 1996 title. That 15-0 record by the Bison also set a North Dakota State school record. NDSU extended its winning streak to 24 consecutive games with the 2013 FCS Championship. That tied both the FCS and NDSU records for consecutive victories. The University of Pennsylvania set the FCS record of 24 consecutive wins from 1992-95. Montana later tied the record from 2001-02. The NDSU record was originally set from 1964-66.
Vigen coached quarterback Brock Jensen, who earned Third Team All-America honors from the Associated Press in 2013 and went on to sign a free-agent contract with the Miami Dolphins in the Spring of 2014. Jensen was named the Missouri Valley Football Conference Offensive Player of the Year in 2013. He also was named the: 2012 and 2013 NCAA Division I Championship Game MVP; the 2012 and 2013 College Sporting News FCS Playoff MVP; and the 2013 College Sports Journal FCS Playoff MVP. Jensen ranked: No. 4 in the country in points responsible for in 2013 (264 points); No. 5 in the nation in passing efficiency (167.4 rating); No. 5 in passing TDs (34); No. 9 in the nation in completion percentage (66.3 percent); and No. 23 in passing yards (2,793). Jensen set North Dakota State single-season passing records in 2011, throwing for 2,524 yards and broke that record with 2,793 passing yards in 2013. He concluded his career as North Dakota State’s career passing leader, with 8,598 passing yards.
The 2013 Bison offense featured three All-Americans. In addition to Jensen earning Third Team AP All-America honors, offensive tackle Billy Turner was named a Consensus All-American and fullback Andrew Grothmann earned First Team All-America recognition from The Sports Network.
In 2011, ‘12 and ‘13, the NDSU offense featured a pair of 1,000-yard rushers. The 2011 season was the first time in NDSU school history that the Bison offense featured two 1,000-yard rushers and a 1,000-yard receiver in the same season. Sam Ojuri rushed for 1,105 yards, and DJ McNorton tallied 1,020, while receiver Warren Holloway had 1,003 receiving yards. In 2012, Ojuri (1,047 yards) and John Crockett (1,038) each rushed for 1,000 yards. The 2013 season saw Ojuri (1,398) and Crockett (1,277) duplicate their 1,000-yard seasons of the previous year, while Vigen’s 2013 offense also featured 1,000-yard receiver Zach Vraa (1,191 receiving yards).
Vigen began his college coaching career as a graduate assistant for the Bison from 1998-2000. He became a full-time coach in 2001, coaching the NDSU tight ends in 2001 and the quarterbacks in 2002. He remained at his alma mater as the running backs coach in 2003 when Craig Bohl became head coach of the Bison. From 2004-08, Vigen was elevated to passing game coordinator and quarterbacks coach, and in 2009 he was named offensive coordinator and continued to coach the Bison QBs.
He coached two-time All-America tight end Jared Peck in 2000 and 2001. Peck went on to sign a free-agent contract with the Denver Broncos.
Vigen helped to develop two-time Great West Football Conference Player of the Year, quarterback Steve Walker, who earned the honor in 2006 and 2007. North Dakota State was 8th in rushing offense (219.82 ypg) and 19th in total offense (400.09 ypg) in the 2009 NCAA Division I FCS statistics. Running back Pat Paschall led the FCS in rushing yards per game (139.7) in 2009.
As a player, Vigen was a tight end for the Bison from 1993-97. He was part of three NCAA Division II Playoff squads in 1994, ‘95 and ‘97. In 1994, he helped lead NDSU to the North Central Conference (NCC) Championship. The Bison advanced to the NCAA Division II Quarterfinals in 1994 and ‘95 and the First Round of the 1997 Playoffs.
A native of Buxton, N.D., Vigen earned his bachelor’s degree from NDSU in 1998 and completed his master’s degree, also from North Dakota State in 2000. He and his wife, Molly, have three boys, Jake, Grant and Luke. Molly played basketball at NDSU and was a member of the 1996 NCAA Division II National Championship team and three NCC title squads.