CSU Pueblo football coach John Wristen retires from coaching, steps into new role

Colorado State University Pueblo head football coach John Wristen is retiring from coaching and stepping into a new role at the university, he announced Tuesday.

While Wristen will no longer be wearing the headset and rallying his players on the CSU Pueblo sidelines on Saturday afternoons, he will remain involved with the Pack as the university's new athletics development and external relations officer.

"The reality of being a head football coach is that I don't think you ever know when it's time to get out," Wristen said Tuesday at a press conference announcing his retirement.

"I don't think you ever know when it's time to go retire ... bottom line is, I'm grateful. I'm humbled. I just met with the kids, our players, and I'm thankful for every one of them having the chance to come here and go get their degree."

A former all-conference quarterback at CSU Pueblo from 1980-83, Wristen began his coaching career with CSU Pueblo in 1984 as a student assistant coach.

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In July 2007, after coaching the previous 17 years in the NCAA Division I ranks at the University of Colorado, Northwestern University and UCLA, Wristen returned to CSU Pueblo after being hired to coach its newly resurrected football program. The team finished with a 4-6 record in Wristen's first season but soon grew into an NCAA Division II football powerhouse.

"I still remember September 30, 2008, playing (Oklahoma) Panhandle State right there," Wristen said, pointing to the ThunderBowl where CSU Pueblo plays its home games.

"Ten thousand people, you talk about pressure, talk about trying to go win that game with a bunch of guys that just wanted to have a chance to go to school and play college football ... that started something really special."

In 2014, Wristen coached the Pack to its first and only Division II National Championship and was named Division II Coach of the Year by the American Football Coaches Association.

He finishes his coaching career with the second-highest winning percentage among active Division II football coaches.

Wristen won five consecutive Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Coach of the Year awards between 2011 and 2015 and had the honor bestowed upon him once more in 2017.

Some of his other notable achievements include eight NCAA Division II tournament appearances and seven RMAC championships.

As impressive as his 123-32 win-loss record is, Wristen's love for others is what made him a truly great coach, CSU Pueblo Athletic Director Paul Plinske said Tuesday.

"I think it's pretty clear that John loves people," Plinske said. "He loves impacting the lives of people. His legacy is more than wins and losses ... the fact that he has endeared himself for so many years on this campus, it just leaves a legacy more than we can ever state accurately."

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As athletics development and external relations officer, Wristen will oversee relationships with existing and prospective donors to CSU Pueblo athletics.

"John has an extensive network of alums and professional colleagues throughout the United States, and I would say the world, who are poised to support what John referred to as 'the blueprint' that he has created at CSU Pueblo as our head football coach," CSU Pueblo President Timothy Mottet said.

Wristen also will be in "close collaboration" with Plinske and an administrative team in the search for a new head football coach at CSU Pueblo.

Like Wristen, the prospective coach must be a "proven winner," be able to recruit high-caliber athletes throughout the southwestern United States, maintain a healthy team culture and be a person of strong moral character, Plinske said.

Pueblo Chieftain reporter James Bartolo can be reached by email at JBartolo@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on The Pueblo Chieftain: CSU Pueblo football coach John Wristen announces retirement