Craig Bohl

Last updated
Craig Bohl
Bohl.jpg
Bohl holding one of his FCS National Championship trophies in 2013
Biographical details
Born (1958-07-27) July 27, 1958 (age 65)
Lincoln, Nebraska, U.S.
Playing career
1977–1979 Nebraska
Position(s) Defensive back
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1981–1983 Nebraska (GA)
1984 North Dakota State (DB)
1985–1986 Tulsa (LB)
1987–1988 Wisconsin (LB)
1989–1993 Rice (DC)
1994 Duke (DC/LB)
1995–1999Nebraska (LB)
2000–2002Nebraska (DC/LB)
2003–2013North Dakota State
2014–2023 Wyoming
Head coaching record
Overall165–92
Bowls4-2
Tournaments13–1 (NCAA D-I playoffs)
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
3 NCAA Division I (2011–2013)
1 Great West (2006)
3 MVFC (2011–2013)
1 MW Mountain Division (2016)
Awards
2× Eddie Robinson Award (2012–2013)
2× AFCA Coach of the Year (2012–2013)
Great West Coach of the Year (2006)
3× MVFC Coach of the Year (2011–2013)
MW Coach of the Year (2016)

Craig Philip Bohl (born July 27, 1958) is a retired American college football coach and former player. Prior to announcing his retirement from coaching at the conclusion of the 2023 football season, he was the head football coach at the University of Wyoming for 10 seasons. Before being hired in Laramie, he was the head coach at North Dakota State University in Fargo from 2003 to 2013, where he led the Bison to three consecutive NCAA Division I Football Championships in his final three seasons.

Contents

Early years

Born in Lincoln, Nebraska, Bohl was a reserve defensive back for the Nebraska Cornhuskers from 1977 to 1979. He earned a bachelor's degree in business from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in 1982.

Coaching career

Bohl at 2016 Mountain West Media Days MountainWestMD-2016-0726-CraigBohl.png
Bohl at 2016 Mountain West Media Days

Assistant coaching

Bohl was an assistant coach for many different programs for 19 years, including at his alma mater Nebraska for eight seasons, the last three as defensive coordinator. He was a coach for two national championship teams at Nebraska, in 1995 and 1997. [1]

North Dakota State

Bohl was hired as head coach at NDSU in 2003. As its 29th head football coach, he guided the storied program as it transitioned from Division II, where they had won eight national championships, to Division I. Four years after completing the move, he led the Bison to their first ever FCS Championship title in 2011, beating Sam Houston State 17-6 in the final. On January 1, 2013, North Dakota State gave Bohl an eight-year contract extension through the 2020 season, and four days later, he rewarded them by leading the Bison to their second consecutive FCS Championship, defeating Sam Houston State again, 39-13. [2]

In the 2013 season opener on August 30, NDSU upset defending Big 12 champion Kansas State 24‑21. Bohl won more games than any other NDSU head football coach; he surpassed Rocky Hager on September 21 with his 92nd win.

On Saturday, January 4, 2014, he led the Bison to their third straight FCS football championship, downing Towson 35-7. The Bison were the second team in FCS history to three straight national championships, after Appalachian State (2005–2007).

Wyoming

Bohl was hired at Wyoming of the Mountain West Conference in December 2013 and took over in January, after leading North Dakota State to the 2013 FCS title. [3] [4]

Following two difficult seasons with a combined record of 6–18 (4–12 in conference play), Bohl's Cowboys went 8–4 (6–2 in conference play) to win the Mountain Division in 2016. On November 29, 2016, Bohl was selected as the Mountain West Conference Coach of the Year. [5] On the eve of Wyoming's first conference championship game in twenty years, Wyoming gave Bohl a contract extension through 2023. [6] Wyoming was invited to their first bowl game in five seasons at the end of the 2016 season, the 2016 Poinsettia Bowl, losing to BYU, 24–21.

In 2017, Wyoming again finished with a winning record, and were invited to the 2017 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, defeating Central Michigan 37–14. This marked the first time since the 1987-86 seasons that Wyoming had played in bowl games in consecutive years. [1] Wyoming reached bowl eligibility in 2018 and 2019, and were invited to the 2019 Arizona Bowl, defeating Georgia State 38–17.

In 2020, Bohl again received a contract extension, this time through the 2024 season. [7]

On December 6, 2023, Bohl announced his retirement from the Wyoming program, effective after the Cowboys' Arizona Bowl appearance on December 30. [8]

Head coaching record

YearTeamOverallConferenceStandingBowl/playoffs Media#Coaches°
North Dakota State Bison (North Central Conference)(2003)
2003 North Dakota State 8–35–2T–2nd1022
North Dakota State Bison (Great West Conference)(2004–2007)
2004 North Dakota State 8–32–33rdIneligible2323
2005 North Dakota State 7–43–23rdIneligible
2006 North Dakota State 10–14–01stIneligible55
2007 North Dakota State 10–13–12ndIneligible99
North Dakota State Bison (Missouri Valley Football Conference)(2008–2013)
2008 North Dakota State 6–54–4T–4th
2009 North Dakota State 3–82–67th
2010 North Dakota State 9–54–4T–3rdL NCAA Division I Quarterfinal 99
2011 North Dakota State 14–17–1T–1stW NCAA Division I Championship 11
2012 North Dakota State 14–17–11stW NCAA Division I Championship 11
2013 North Dakota State 15–08–01stW NCAA Division I Championship 11
North Dakota State:104–3249–24
Wyoming Cowboys (Mountain West Conference)(2014–present)
2014 Wyoming 4–82–6T–5th (Mountain)
2015 Wyoming 2–102–66th (Mountain)
2016 Wyoming 8–66–2T–1st(Mountain)L Poinsettia
2017 Wyoming 8–55–3T–2nd (Mountain)W Famous Idaho Potato
2018 Wyoming 6–64–43rd (Mountain)
2019 Wyoming 8–54–44th (Mountain)W Arizona
2020 Wyoming 2–42–48th
2021 Wyoming 7–62–6T–4th (Mountain)W Famous Idaho Potato
2022 Wyoming 7–65–3T–2nd (Mountain)L Arizona
2023 Wyoming 9–45–3T–4thW Arizona
Wyoming:61–6037–41
Total:165–92
      National championship        Conference title        Conference division title or championship game berth
  • #Rankings from the final Dopke poll for North Dakota State (2003), final Sports Network poll for North Dakota State (2004–2013), and AP Poll for Wyoming from 2014 to present..
  • °Rankings from the AFCA Poll for North Dakota State (2003), FCS Coaches' Poll for North Dakota State (2004–2013) and USA Today Coaches' Poll for Wyoming (2014–present)..

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References

  1. 1 2 "Craig Bohl - Football Coach - University of Wyoming Athletics". GoWyo.com. University of Wyoming. Retrieved October 30, 2020.
  2. ↑ Bison Repeat as FCS National Champions With 39-13 Win Over Sam Houston State
  3. ↑ "Bohl to be Named Head Coach at Wyoming, Will Coach NDSU Through Playoffs" (Press release). North Dakota State University Athletics. December 8, 2013. Retrieved December 9, 2013.
  4. ↑ "Craig Bohl Hired as Wyoming Head Football Coach". Archived from the original on December 12, 2013. Retrieved December 9, 2013.
  5. ↑ "Coach of the Year". Archived from the original on December 1, 2016. Retrieved November 30, 2016.
  6. ↑ Foster, Brandon (December 2, 2016). "Wyoming extends head football coach Craig Bohl through 2023 season". Casper Star Tribune. Retrieved October 30, 2020.
  7. ↑ Potter, Davis (October 29, 2020). "Wyoming extends Craig Bohl's contract through 2024 season". Casper Star Tribune. Retrieved October 30, 2020.
  8. ↑ Seeman, Nick (December 6, 2023). "Craig Bohl Announces His Retirement as Head Coach of Wyoming Football". Wyoming Cowboys Athletics. Retrieved December 6, 2023.
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