Craig Bohl announced he would be retiring as Wyoming’s head coach after a winning season in the Mountain West in 2023. And it took less than an hour for the Cowboys to publicly say who would be the next leader of the program.
Wyoming head coach Jay Sawvel had been the Cowboys’ defensive coordinator for four years. Here’s a look at Sawvel’s coaching history, salary, and accomplishments.
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What’s Wyoming Head Coach Jay Sawvel’s Salary?
Jay Sawvel agreed to a five-year, $5.8 million deal that has incentives, according to the Casper Star-Tribune. He made $1.1 million in 2024, according to USA Today.
Jay Sawvel Coaching History
| Year | Team | Position |
| 2024-Present | Wyoming | HC |
| 2020-23 | Wyoming | DC/Safeties |
| 2017-18 | Wake Forest | DC/CBs |
| 2016 | Minnesota | DC/Secondary |
| 2011-15 | Minnesota | Secondary/ST |
| 2008-10 | Northern Illinois | Secondary/ST |
| 2001-07 | Southern Illinois | Secondary/ST |
| 1999-2000 | Ferris State | Secondary/ST |
| 1996-98 | Notre Dame | GA |
| 1994-95 | Eastern Kentucky | GA |
What’s Wyoming Head Coach Jay Sawvel’s Record?
Jay Sawvel is 3-9 in the FBS as a head coach. He was a defensive coordinator at several other schools before this.
How Old Is Wyoming Head Coach Jay Sawvel?
Jay Sawvel is 54 years old.
Wyoming Head Coach Jay Sawvel’s Background
Sawvel was Wyoming’s defensive coordinator and safeties coach for four seasons.
During three of those four years, the Cowboys ranked in the top five in the Mountain West in scoring defense and total defense. Arguably their best season defensively under Sawvel was last year when they allowed 22.9 points per game, which was the second-fewest in the Mountain West, and 360.3 yards per game, which was the third fewest.
Before going to Wyoming, Sawvel was a defensive coordinator at Wake Forest (2017-18) and at Minnesota (2016). He worked with secondaries at Minnesota (2011-15), Northern Illinois (2008-10), Southern Illinois (2001-07), and Ferris State (1999-2000) before that. He was also an assistant at Notre Dame and Eastern Kentucky previously.
