UW's Jay Sawvel named head coach following Bohl's retirement

Dec. 6—LARAMIE — University of Wyoming defensive coordinator Jay Sawvel will be the team's new head coach after Craig Bohl announced his retirement Wednesday morning.

Sawvel will be the 33rd coach in UW history and has served as the team's defensive coordinator and safeties coach since 2020. Bohl will coach the Cowboys in the Arizona Bowl on Dec. 30 before Sawvel takes over the program full-time.

"Didn't see this coming two weeks ago, for sure," Sawvel said during Wednesday afternoon's news conference. "I'm excited. This is a great day for me, personally. This is a day that I probably wouldn't have guessed would have happened three or four years ago and that I would have had this chance."

Over his career, Sawvel has been part of 21 teams that advanced to postseason play, including 14 bowl appearances. His career includes stints at Wake Forest, Minnesota and Northern Illinois.

"I've had my successes in life, and I've had my failures in life," Sawvel said. "From all that, the message that we gave to the players today is the same thing: We're all in this together. My job is to serve them in the best way possible, but also to lead them to a place where they don't think that they can go.

"I will tell you that I am blessed to be taking over as the head football coach of the University of Wyoming, because of what Craig Bohl has done before me."

Bohl spent the past 10 seasons coaching the Cowboys and is retiring with one year left on his contract. Sawvel was emotional at the podium when showing his gratitude for Bohl hiring him three years ago.

"When I had a chance to come work for coach Bohl a few years ago, I didn't realize that I would work for someone who probably made a bigger impact in my life (than anybody). So, I thank you," Sawvel said while fighting back tears. "... I'm blessed to have him as one of the greatest mentors that I could ever have. I'm fortunate that way."

Bohl told his staff following the regular-season finale at Nevada last month that the bowl game would be his final game, Sawvel said. Athletics director Tom Burman met with Sawvel shortly after to discuss him potentially taking over the program following Bohl's retirement.

"We just have to find a way to move the needle slightly higher and get back into that Mountain West Conference championship game," Burman said. "After thinking about it and visiting with coach Sawvel and kind of working my way through this, it was clear to me that the fastest way to do that was right here internally, because we had the best coach we could hire with Jay.

"To me, it was a relatively easy decision, but one I spent weeks pondering over. I'm excited with where we are, and I'm excited to win a bowl game and go from there."

Sawvel's defense ranked No. 17 in the country in turnovers and was No. 6 in FBS in fumble recoveries with 11. His defense last year ranked second in the MW in sacks at 2.85 per game.

"As I looked through and processed this decision, one of the things that was important for me was to make sure that we leave in the program in better hands and in better shape than when I first was entrusted in that," Bohl said. "... I also think, to be able to move the program forward, coach Sawvel is going to do a great job.

"I know he and Tom have had some great discussions. It means the world to me."

Sawvel and Burman's goal is clear: winning UW's first MW title since joining the conference in 1999. But Sawvel also wants to maintain Bohl's legacy of graduating players with meaningful degrees.

"There's two goals: You're going to get your degree, and we're going to win a Mountain West championship," Sawvel said. "If it doesn't work toward those two goals, we're not doing it. That's the goal. That's the bottom line to it."

Sawvel inherits a program that finished the regular season 8-4 overall and 5-3 in MW play. The Arizona Bowl will be the Cowboys' sixth bowl appearance in the past eight seasons.

"It's like a (4x400) relay. (Bohl) ran the first three laps of it, and he's handing me a baton with a couple hundred meters to go," Sawvel said. "Everything's in place for us to take steps and have great success and continue to build on what's here. Now, we've got to do that.

"That's the challenge I have and the goal I have. That's why I'm so excited to be here doing this. I couldn't be more thankful for this opportunity."

Sawvel wouldn't get into specifics about a favorite memory of Bohl over the past three seasons, but he did mention one thing that stood about about the longtime head coach.

"Coach Bohl can make a great Manhattan," Sawvel said with a laugh. "Not just a good one. He can make a great Manhattan."

Alex Taylor is the assistant editor for WyoSports and covers University of Wyoming athletics. He can be reached at ataylor@wyosports.net. Follow him on X at @alex_m_taylor22.