Wyoming’s DT Coach Oscar Giles Accepts Job at Houston

LARAMIE -- Oscar Giles wore many hats during his brief two-year stint at Wyoming.

Aside from being the associate head coach, the veteran also led the defensive tackles, the incoming freshmen and even had special teams duties.

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Former Wyoming head coach Craig Bohl partially credited Giles with setting up the field-goal block by DeVonne Harris that led to that 62-yard scoop and score from Jakorey Hawkins late in the fourth quarter of that improbable 22-19 victory over Appalachian State.

Giles was also the team's run-game coordinator.

He had an unofficial title, too: Texas recruiter.

Now, he's off to the University of Houston, a place he has already coached at on two separate occasions (2003-04 and 2015-16). Giles will join Willie Fritz' new-look staff in the Bayou City.

Wyoming's rookie head coach Jay Sawvel said he moved quickly to replace the popular Giles, hiring Jeff Phelps, a man he is very familiar with. The two were on the same staff at Minnesota (2011-15) and Northern Illinois (2008-10).

Phelps was most recently at North Dakota State where he served as the defensive tackles coach last fall. Before his one-year stay in Fargo, he spent the previous six seasons as a defensive line coach at Washington State and Mississippi State under Wyoming native, the late Mike Leach.

Phelps will join fellow NDSU hire Jason Petrino, who last month was hired as the Cowboys new safeties coach.

Wyoming's tight ends coach Shannon Moore and defensive ends coach Brian Hendricks have been recruiting in the Lone Star State this offseason.

Wyoming will open its first of 15 spring practices on Tuesday, March 26 in Laramie.

Giles' Coaching Experience
2023                Wyoming                      Associate Head Coach/Defensive Run-Game Coordinator/Defensive Tackles/Head Freshman Coach
2022                 Wyoming                      Defensive Run-Game Coordinator/DT's
2017-20            Texas                            Defensive Line
2015-16            Houston                        Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Line
2014                 Louisiana Tech              Defensive Line/Special  Teams
2005-13            Texas                            Defensive Ends/Special Teams
2003-04            Houston                        Defensive Line/Special Teams
2000-02            SMU                              Defensive Line/Special Teams
1999                 Texas                             Graduate Assistant Coach
1998                 Southwest Texas State  Defensive Line/Strength Coach