The 2023 Barstool Sports Arizona Bowl will be the final game for Wyoming coach Craig Bohl, who announced Wednesday that he’s retiring after 10 years at the school.
Bohl, 65, is arguably the most successful coach in Wyoming football history. He has led the Cowboys to more bowl appearances (six) and victories (three) than any coach in school annals.
The Dec. 30 Arizona Bowl against Toledo at Arizona Stadium will mark Wyoming’s third appearance in Tucson’s bowl game. The Cowboys have a 1-1 record.
"Being the head football coach of the Wyoming Cowboys has been a privilege," Bohl said in a news release. "I felt like now was the time for me (to) step away and entrust the program to new leadership. I want to thank all the young men who have worn the Brown and Gold over the past 10 years for their dedication and for their passion in representing this football program, this university and this state. Many thanks to all the assistant coaches and staff who have helped build Wyoming football into a consistently winning program over this past decade.
Wyoming coach Craig Bohl poses with, from left to right, senior kicker Cooper Rothe, senior linebacker Logan Wilson and senior wide receiver Austin Conway before the 2019 Arizona Bowl against Georgia State.
"We couldn't have had the success we've had at Wyoming without the support of Athletics Director Tom Burman. I can't thank Tom enough for giving me the opportunity to serve as head coach of a Cowboy Football program that I have been proud to lead and that will always have a special place in my heart. Tom has been a great friend and a great partner in developing Cowboy Football into the program we have today.
"To the Wyoming fans, I know I speak for our players and our coaches in saying you've made War Memorial Stadium a special place on game days. Thank you for all your support through the years.
"Personally, I also want to thank Gene Taylor (former North Dakota State athletics director) for giving me my first opportunity to be a head coach 21 years ago. Also, thanks to all the coaches who I've worked with throughout the years. And finally, to the man whose mentorship has meant so much to me in my career — first as a player and then as an assistant coach and as a head coach — my former head coach at Nebraska, Tom Osborne.
"There's one more ballgame before I ride off as an old Cowboy. Let's ‘Ride for the Brand’ one more time and get a win in Tucson. Go Pokes!"
Wyoming head coach Craig Bohl, right, hugs his offensive players after calling a timeout in the final minutes of their 38-17 win against Georgia State in the Arizona Bowl at Arizona Stadium on Dec. 31, 2019.
Bohl has a 60-60 record as Wyoming’s head coach. The Cowboys went 6-18 in his first two seasons but haven’t had a full season under .500 since. (Wyoming went 2-4 during the pandemic-shortened 2020 campaign.)
Wyoming has had six winning seasons since 2016 and enters this year’s Arizona Bowl with an 8-4 record. With a win, the Cowboys would post their best record under Bohl.
Despite the inherent challenges of recruiting at Wyoming, Bohl has developed eight NFL Draft picks. They include Buffalo Bills franchise quarterback Josh Allen and Cincinnati Bengals star linebacker Logan Wilson, who played in the 2019 Arizona Bowl.
"Coach Bohl has been an outstanding ambassador for UW Athletics and has been a great mentor to our student-athletes," Burman said. "When I hired Craig as head coach, we both said our goal was to return Cowboy football to a place of relevance in the Mountain West Conference and to be a consistently winning program. With Coach's leadership, our football program has accomplished that.
"Craig has reflected the character of the state of Wyoming, and the football program he's built is representative of the blue-collar nature of the people of Wyoming. I am very thankful for all that Coach Bohl has accomplished and represented during his time as our head coach. I wish him, his wife Leia and his family all the best in the next chapter of their lives."
Wolverines also the favorite to win national championship, followed by Alabama, Texas, Washington.
