BREAKING: Aaron Bohl Named New Defensive Coordinator at Wyoming

LARAMIE -- Jay Sawvel's search for a new defensive coordinator was swift.

He didn't jump on a plane or even have to make a phone call to find his replacement. He walked right down the hallway.

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Wyoming's rookie head man said Wednesday linebackers coach Aaron Bohl will lead the Cowboys' defense this fall, breaking the news right in the middle of his early signing day press conference.

Why Bohl?

"Defensively, we're not changing anything," Sawvel said when asked when he expects to hire a coordinator on both sides of the ball following his own promotion and the recent departure of Tim Polasek, who Monday accepted the head coaching position at North Dakota State. "We've got a bunch of guys back defensively -- starters -- next year. We're not bringing some guy in to all of a sudden become a 3-4 defense or some crap like that. That's not happening. I'm promoting Aaron Bohl as a defensive coordinator. Our defensive staff is completely on board with that."

Bohl, the son of former head coach Craig Bohl, has been on Wyoming's defensive staff since 2017. Starting his career as a graduate assistant, he was named the interim linebackers coach in 2019, replacing Jake Dickert, who is now the head coach at Washington State.

The transition was smooth. The interim tag was brief.

Having Logan Wilson, Cassh Maluia and Chad Muma in the room helped.

Cincinnati made Wilson, an All-American in Laramie, the first selection of the third round of the 2020 NFL Draft. Maluia went to New England in the sixth round. Muma, one of six national finalists for the Butkus Award the following year, became Jacksonville's third-round pick in the '22 draft.

Over the last four seasons, Easton Gibbs has seamlessly slid in for Wilson and Muma in the middle leading the Cowboys in tackles for three straight years, including tallying 106 stops this fall.

Bohl has been a coach at Wyoming for seven seasons after wrapping up his own playing career at Minnesota State University-Moorhead. A former linebacker himself, the Lincoln, Neb., product registered 273 career tackles, eight sacks and 22 tackles for loss during his four-year stint at MSUM. Bohl also broke up eight passes, snagged an interception, recovered two fumbles and forced four more.

When will Sawvel find his new offensive coordinator?

"There won't be a hire announced until sometime in early January," he said, adding that there is a plan and he has spoken with the team about the "fit" between other coaches and the program.

Sawvel said with the upcoming bowl game, including the holidays, that will slow the process. He did add that he will also be in search of a new safeties coach to replace himself. It's not clear if Bohl will still coach the linebackers.

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