Wyoming in the Market For New Offensive Coordinator

LARAMIE -- Wyoming is in search of a new play-caller.

Wyoming head coach Jay Sawvel said Wednesday he has already begun the search for a new offensive coordinator and Friday is flying to meet a potential candidate to fill the role. Another will visit campus sometime next week.

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Jovon Bouknight, who led the offense over the final five games of the regular season, will remain on the staff as the wide receivers coach. The Hall of Fame wideout replaced Jay Johnson, who was demoted to an analyst role after a Week-7 loss at Air Force.

Johnson was hired prior to the 2024 season. He left the program after the setback at San Diego State two weeks later, Sawvel added.

Wyoming averaged 16 points per game, which is ranked 129th out of 134 eligible FBS teams. That unit drops one spot when it comes to red-zone success. In just 25 trips inside the opponents' 20-yard line, 17 resulted in a score, including only 13 touchdowns.

Out of 332 qualifying quarterbacks, Kaden Anderson capped his sophomore season at No. 325 in the country, according to Pro Football Focus, finishing with an overall grade of 49.4 out of 100. The Cowboys averaged only 183 yards per game through the air.

"There are layers and pieces to it that are production oriented right now within the program," he said. "There are layers and or pieces to it that would be coaching within the program right now and there are layers and pieces to it that are residual from past recruiting, in a sense. There's truth in that."

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The immediate offseason priority was inking the 2026 recruiting class. Sawvel and Co. did just that Wednesday, signing 19 high school players -- nine on offense, 10 on defense -- to the roster.

Retention is also an ongoing effort.

Though the team's leading receiver, Chris Durr Jr., and reserve running back, Terron Kellman, earlier this week entered the NCAA Transfer portal, Sawvel remains confident a majority of the defense and "key" offensive players will be back in the fold.

One of those is Samuel Harris.

The dynamic running back they call "Tote" is undergoing a "small" knee procedure on Friday, but is expected to be ready for spring camp.

"I talked to Sam earlier today," Sawvel said, referring to the Texas product who rushed for team-best 558 yards during his rookie season. "He's in very good spirits and he's very upbeat. He told me when he would be back as far as, like, to do rehab and those things. So, he's in a good spot."

Harris' return could be the top selling point.

"It needs to be somebody who has a strong versatility in the run game," Sawvel said. "We have to help our offensive line. We have to be able to utilize angles and motions and formations and to be able to try to create advantages for us, numerically, at times."

Sawvel said he wants to get back to averaging more than 200 yards per game on the ground, something this program hasn't accomplished since 2022, pointing out the offense this season had just eight drives in 12 games that took more than five minutes off the clock.

"That's insane, right? Like, that's not a recipe to win any football game," he continued.

College football's version of free agency is set to open Jan. 2. Sawvel said his offensive wish list includes a dual-threat quarterback, running back, tight end, two-to-three receivers and a pair of offensive linemen.

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