Ex-Nebraska football defensive coordinator announces retirement
By James Pruch
Ex-Nebraska football DC Craig Bohl announced his retirement and will coach Wyoming in the Arizona Bowl for his final game. Then he moves to a rather lucrative position.
Bohl announced his retirement earlier this week. He’s been the head coach at the University of Wyoming for the past ten years.
He’ll finish out the season and coach Wyoming when they face off against Toledo in the Arizona Bowl on December 30.
Craig Bohl was the defensive coordinator for Nebraska football from 2000 to 2002. He was fired by former Nebraska head coach Frank Solich after a difficult 2002 season in which the Huskers finished 7-7.
Craig Bohl announces his retirement as Head Coach of Wyoming Football.
— Wyoming Cowboy Football (@wyo_football) December 6, 2023
Will lead the Cowboys at the 2023 Arizona Bowl >> https://t.co/eDvRXo5880
Before being named the DC in 2000, Bohl was the linebackers coach at Nebraska from 1995-1999, helping the Huskers to two national titles.
But it was Bohl’s second chapter as a coach that will forever define his career.
Former Nebraska football coach found new life
After being let go by Nebraska in 2002, Bohl accepted the head coaching role at North Dakota State University. At the time, the Bison were a Division II powerhouse. They had won eight D2 national championships.
Their next challenge? Moving up a level to the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS).
Eight years after taking the job and four years after completing the move to FCS, Bohl led NDSU to their first FCS national championship in 2011.
He followed that up with another title FCS title in 2012.
In the first game of 2013, Bohl led North Dakota State to a victory over Kansas State. That season ended with NDSU’s third straight FCS national championship under Bohl.
After a three-peat, the former Nebraska football DC was offered and accepted the job of becoming Wyoming’s head coach. His assistant, Chris Klieman (now head coach at Kansas State), took over at NDSU. Klieman led the Bison to national titles in the next two seasons, giving the program an unprecedented five straight FCS championships.
Craig Bohl is the winningest coach in NDSU football history with a record of 104–32.
At Wyoming, Bohl has a record of 60-60. He has the most wins in Wyoming football history.
While things didn’t go great for Bohl in Lincoln, Nebraska, football fans have long considered him one of their own. At least after the hurt of one particular Colorado game faded from memory.