A proven winner, Bobby Wilder plans to shake things up for the Tennessee Tech football program. His coaching philosophy leans toward an aggressive offense and a stingy defense and, during his time at Old Dominion, it delivered results.
Wilder was selected Sunday as the 13th head coach in Tennessee Tech football history and things are going to look a bit ‘Wilder’ ahead for the Golden Eagles.
“I am fired up to be the head football coach at Tennessee Tech University,” Wilder said. “After spending this past weekend on campus and meeting so many Golden Eagles, I could feel the pride and the passion.
“Our program philosophy will be to ‘Aim High’ in everything we do. Our staff will recruit and develop the best people, students and athletes we can find.”
Tech Director of Athletics Mark Wilson is confident the program will win championships with the new hire.
“Bobby has built a program from the ground up and won big while doing it. He checks every box that we put forward when we started this search. He boasts a pedigree of winning, has led his team to championships, his teams play an exciting, aggressive, offensive style of football with relentless defense and he is a natural leader,” he said.
“I am convinced Coach Wilder brings all the expertise, leadership, discipline and passion to lead Tennessee Tech Football to the top of the league and to the NCAA playoffs.”
With so many projects on the table to enrich the Golden Eagle football program, the future is bright. Nevertheless, the goal is set.
“With the football stadium project starting now and football operations center on the horizon, President [Phil] Oldham and Mark have made a commitment to excellence,” Wilder said.
“It is time for our team to deliver a championship to Tennessee Tech University, our alumni and our great fan base. Wings Up!”
University President Dr. Phil Oldham sees the hire as a monumental step for the program:.
“I am very excited about this next era of Tennessee Tech football. Coach Wilder brings to campus his experience of building winning FCS programs. I am impressed with his knowledge and analysis of the game and the excitement he already has for the University and Tech football,” he said.
Wilder’s coaching record, especially on the Division I Football Championship Subdivision is spectacular, accumulating a 46-14 mark as an independent and two seasons in the Colonial Athletic Association, one of the top conferences in FCS football.
He was hired at Old Dominion in 2007 to restart a program that lay dormant for nearly 70 years, and, in the Monarchs’ first season in 2009, the team finished 9-2 – the best record ever for a first-year NCAA program in college football’s modern era.
That first team ranked in the top 10 in five statistical categories nationally – second in sacks allowed, third in scoring offense, turnover margin and net punting and ninth in rushing offense.
The results paid dividends quickly as Old Dominion ranked fifth nationally in the FCS in attendance, selling out all of its home games in the 19,782-seat Foreman Field.