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Bobby Wilder

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Bobby Wilder
Wilder at 2017 C-USA Media Days
Current position
TitleHead coach
TeamTennessee Tech
ConferenceOVC
Record7–5
Biographical details
Born (1964-08-01) August 1, 1964 (age 60)
Playing career
1983–1986Maine
Position(s)Quarterback
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1988–1989Boston College (GA)
1990Maine (RB)
1991Maine (assistant DL)
1992Maine (DL)
1993Maine (WR/TE)
1994–1999Maine (QB)
2000–2006Maine (AHC/OC/QB)
2009–2019Old Dominion
2024–presentTennessee Tech
Head coaching record
Overall84–61
Bowls1–0
Tournaments2–2 (NCAA D-I playoffs)
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
1 C-USA East Division (2016)
1 Big South–OVC (2024)
Awards
American Football Monthly Coach of the Year (2012)
Division I Independent Coach of the Year (2013)

Robert S. Wilder (born August 1, 1964) is an American football coach who serves as the head coach for Tennessee Tech University. Before that, served as the head coach of the Old Dominion Monarchs football team. He was only the second coach all-time in the program's history and the first since football's rebirth at the school in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) in 2009.

Old Dominion played football for eleven seasons when the university was a two-year institution known as the Norfolk Division of the College of William and Mary. Between 1930 and 1940, the team compiled a record of 42-36-4. The program was then discontinued due to a rule banning freshman players and a US$10,000 debt.[1]

Hired in 2007, Wilder spent the first two years recruiting and starting up the program. In 2009, in his first competitive season as head coach, the Monarchs finished 9–2. That was the best winning record ever for a first-year program in college football's modern era.[2] The Monarchs were outscored by a total of only eight points in their two losses.

Wilder's inaugural team finished the year ranked in the top ten in five FCS statistical categories, including second in sacks allowed, third in scoring offense, turnover margin and net punting. The 2009 Monarchs were ninth in rushing offense.[2]

ODU was fifth in FCS attendance in 2009, selling out all of their home games in the 19,782-seat Foreman Field.[3]

In his first three years, Wilder led Old Dominion to a 26–7 record. In 2011, in the Monarchs first season in the Colonial Athletic Association, they earned a berth in the 2011 FCS playoffs, hosting crosstown rival Norfolk State. Also in 2011, after playing 27 games in its "modern era", ODU received its first Top 25 ranking on October 3, coming in at No. 21 in The Sports Network poll. The Monarchs were ranked among the Top Ten after competing in 33 games. [4]

In December 2023 Wilder was announced as the 13th head football coach of Tennessee Tech University.[5]

Biography

[edit]

Wilder grew up in Madison, Maine and attended Madison Area Memorial High School, where he graduated in 1982. A highly recruited quarterback, Wilder opted to play his college ball close to home. Upon graduation from the University of Maine in 1987 with a degree in physical education, Wilder served as a graduate assistant coach for two seasons under Jack Bicknell at Boston College, where he earned his master's degree in educational administration in 1990. He then returned to Maine, where he was an assistant coach, assistant head coach and finally associate head coach from 1990 to 2006.[2]

He has two sons, Derek and Drew.[2]

Head coaching record

[edit]
Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl/playoffs TSN# Coaches'°
Old Dominion Monarchs (NCAA Division I FCS independent) (2009–2010)
2009 Old Dominion 9–2
2010 Old Dominion 8–3
Old Dominion Monarchs (Colonial Athletic Association) (2011–2012)
2011 Old Dominion 10–3 6–2 T–2nd L NCAA Division I Second Round 10 10
2012 Old Dominion 11–2 7–1 1st[n 1] L NCAA Division I Quarterfinal 6 6
Old Dominion Monarchs (NCAA Division I FCS independent) (2013)
2013 Old Dominion 8–4
Old Dominion Monarchs (Conference USA) (2014–2019)
2014 Old Dominion 6–6 4–4 T–3rd (East)
2015 Old Dominion 5–7 3–5 T–4th (East)
2016 Old Dominion 10–3 7–1 T–1st (East) W Bahamas
2017 Old Dominion 5–7 3–5 6th (East)
2018 Old Dominion 4–8 2–6 T–6th (East)
2019 Old Dominion 1–11 0–8 7th (East)
Old Dominion: 77–56 32–32
Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles (Ohio Valley Conference) (2024–present)
2024 Tennessee Tech 7–5 6–2 T–1st
Tennessee Tech: 7–5 6–2
Total: 84–61
      National championship         Conference title         Conference division title or championship game berth
  • #Rankings from final TSN Poll.
  • °Rankings from final Coaches' Poll.

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ Old Dominion voted ineligible for Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) championship by league due to Old Dominion's decision to leave for Conference USA. Old Dominion finished first in the league and the university recognizes the 2012 team as unofficial champions of the CAA.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Great Moments; ODU Alumni Magazine - Fall 2005". Archived from the original on July 17, 2012. Retrieved October 8, 2010.
  2. ^ a b c d "Bobby Wilder Profile, odusports.com". Archived from the original on January 4, 2011. Retrieved January 16, 2010.
  3. ^ Radford, Rich; "College Football 2010 | ODU game-by-game preview"; hamptonroads.com
  4. ^ ""Football Monarchs to Host Norfolk State in First Round of FCS Playoffs", odusports.com, November 20, 2011". Archived from the original on June 1, 2012. Retrieved November 24, 2011.
  5. ^ "Let's get Wilder: Bobby Wilder names new Tennessee Tech head football coach". ttusports.com. December 3, 2023. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
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