December 10, 2021
RENO, Nev. – Ken Wilson, with over two decades experience on the Nevada coaching staff and in administration, has been named Nevada Football’s 27th head coach, Nevada Director of Athletics Doug Knuth announced Friday.
Nevada Athletics will hold a press conference for members of the media and invited guests introducing Wilson Friday at 3 p.m. at Basin Street Club in Mackay Stadium. Support your Wolf Pack and place a deposit for new 2022 season tickets here. Season ticket renewal information for existing season ticket holders will be available next week. To make a gift to support Nevada football click here.
“I couldn’t be happier about becoming the 27th head coach in Nevada football history,” Wilson said. “It’s a dream come true and a job that I have always hoped and worked toward becoming a reality like this is fantastic.”
“Thank you to President Sandoval and Athletics Director Doug Knuth for believing in me and giving me this opportunity. Also, thank you to Chris Ault for giving me my start here and being a great leader and mentor to me.”
“My family and I couldn’t be more excited about the future of Wolf Pack football.”Wilson possesses over three decades of coaching experience, including 19 years on the Nevada staff (1989-98, 2004-12), which included five seasons as associate head coach (2008-12) and four as defensive coordinator (1996-98, 2007).
“We are thrilled to welcome Ken and his family back to Nevada,” said Nevada Director of Athletics Doug Knuth. “The Wilsons have very deep ties to this University, Wolf Pack Athletics, and to the Reno community, and have been part of some of the most successful teams in program history. We look forward to this new era of Wolf Pack Football under Ken’s proven leadership.”
Wilson also coached the defensive line, linebackers, and safeties, during his time at Nevada. During his coaching tenures, the Wolf Pack reached a bowl game 11 times, including each of his last eight seasons, and captured two Western Athletic Conference titles (2005, 2010), five Big West Conference championships (1992, 1994-97), and two Big Sky Conference titles (1990-91) with Wilson on staff.
“Ken Wilson, and the Wilson family, have a deep connection to our University, and we proudly welcome them back to the Wolf Pack Family,” said University President Brian Sandoval. “He embodies The Wolf Pack Way, and will continue to lead and mentor our student-athletes to success on the field of competition and in the classroom, as well as representing our University and our community to the highest standards.”
Wilson spent six seasons working with Ault from 1989-92 and 1994-95. He was also an assistant coach for Jeff Horton in 1993 and Jeff Tisdel from 1996-98, spending those final three seasons as defensive coordinator. As the nation’s youngest Division I (now FBS) defensive coordinator, he directed Nevada’s 1996 defense to the top of the conference in every defensive category and was part of the Las Vegas Bowl victory over Ball State.
He spent four years (1999-2003) in the Nevada administration, serving as Assistant Athletics Director, Sports Services, under then-athletic director Chris Ault. He oversaw football, men’s basketball, baseball, track and tennis while coordinating grant-in-aid for all student-athletes in Nevada’s 19-sport athletic program.
Wilson returned to the Mackay Stadium sidelines in 2004 when Ault returned to the football program’s helm.
In 2009, Wilson coached the Wolf Pack linebackers and oversaw the development of a youthful group that included second-team All-WAC selection James-Michael Johnson, who went on to be taken by the Cleveland Browns in the fourth round of the 2012 NFL Draft. In 2008, he coached a pair of future NFL linebackers in Jushua Mauga (New York Jets & Kansas City Chiefs) and Jerome Johnson (St. Louis Rams).
In his final season at Nevada in 2012, Wilson helped senior Albert Rosette successfully move back to middle linebacker after playing defensive end the year prior. Rosette went on to lead the Mountain West Conference – Nevada’s first year in the league – with 135 tackles, good for the third-most in program single-season history and earned first-team All-Mountain West Conference recognition.
The Wilson family’s ties to Nevada run deep. Wilson and his wife, Heather, have a son, Tyler, who was a long snapper for the Wolf Pack from 2012-14, a daughter-in-law, Makenzie, and a daughter, Baylie.
Most recently, Wilson served as co-defensive coordinator and inside linebackers coach from 2019-21 at Oregon. Over his coaching career, Wilson has been a part of 18 teams that have advanced to a bowl game, including 15 of the last 16 years.
Oregon’s Pac-12 championship in 2020, its second in a row, was the 11th conference title Wilson has been a part of during his coaching career.
Wilson added co-defensive coordinator to his duties after helping Oregon to back-to-back Pac-12 Conference titles in his first two years on staff.
In 2020, Wilson helped the Ducks to a conference title with the defensive putting together a dominant performance in the Pac-12 Championship game, holding No. 13 USC to just 38 rushing yards on 28 carries (1.4 yards per carry) in a 31-24 win. Wilson’s linebackers – Mase Funa, Noah Sewell, and Isaac Slade-Matautia – played a huge part in the win combining 17 tackles and a tackle for loss.
Sewell’s performance in the Pac-12 Championship game capped a season that included a number of honors. The Ducks’ inside linebacker lived up to the hype of a consensus five-star recruit, earning freshman All-America honors from 247Sports, ESPN, the FWAA, Rivals, and The Athletic.
He claimed Pac-12 Freshman Defensive Player of the Year accolades in a vote of the league’s coaches, while also being named honorable mention All-Pac-12 Conference. Slade-Matautia joined Sewell earning honorable mention honors.
In Wilson’s first season at Oregon, the Ducks’ defense led Oregon to a Pac-12 Conference title, a win in the Rose Bowl, and a 12-2 overall record while ranking among the nation’s elite units.
Oregon finished ninth in the country in scoring defense (16.5 PPG), 13th in rushing defense (108.93 YPG) and 22nd in total defense (329.1 YPG). The Ducks also ranked second in interceptions and 13th in sacks. In the Pac-12, Oregon ranked either first or second in every major defensive statistical category.
Two of Wilson’s linebackers finished the 2019 season in the top five on the team in tackles, with senior Troy Dye posting a team-high 84 tackles including 9.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks. The Ducks’ four-year starter, who earned Associated Press first-team All-Pac-12 Conference honors, was picked in the fourth round of the 2020 NFL Draft by the Minnesota Vikings. Sophomore Isaac Slade-Matautia led the Ducks in pass breakups with 11 while finishing fifth on the team in tackles.
Wilson made a major impact on the recruiting trail in his first two seasons in Eugene. In the 247Sports recruiter rankings, Wilson ranked third in the Pac-12 Conference as well as 29th in the nation in the 2020 cycle. He helped Oregon finish with the nation’s No. 12 class that included a pair of linebackers who ranked among the nation’s top 13 players overall.
In the 2021 cycle, Wilson continued to help Oregon accrue talent ranking in the top 10 (No. 8) among Pac-12 coaches for the second straight season. The Ducks finished with the sixth-ranked class in the country while finishing with the Pac-12 Conference’s top class for the second consecutive year with Wilson on staff.
Wilson spent six seasons (2013-18) coaching linebackers at Washington State, prior to joining the Oregon staff.
THE WILSON FILE
CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIPS (12)
2020 Pac-12 Conference – Oregon (Linebackers)
2019 Pac-12 Conference – Oregon (Linebackers)
2019 Pac-12 North – Oregon (Linebackers)
2010 Western Athletic Conference* — Nevada (Associate Head Coach/Defensive Ends)
2005 Western Athletic Conference* Nevada (Assistant Head Coach/Linebackers)
1997 Big West Conference* — Nevada (Defensive Coordinator)
1996 Big West Conference* — Nevada (Defensive Coordinator)
1995 Big West Conference – Nevada (Assistant Coach)
1994 Big West Conference – Nevada (Assistant Coach)
1992 Big West Conference – Nevada (Assistant Coach)
1991 Big Sky Conference – Nevada (Assistant Coach)
1990 Big Sky Conference – Nevada (Assistant Coach)
* Co-champions
BOWL GAMES (18)
2021 Fiesta Bowl – Oregon (Linebackers)
2020 Rose Bowl – Oregon (Linebackers)
2018 Alamo Bowl – Washington State (Linebackers)
2017 Holiday Bowl – Washington State (Linebackers)
2016 Holiday Bowl – Washington State (Linebackers)
2015 Sun Bowl – Washington State (Linebackers)
2013 New Mexico Bowl – Washington State (Linebackers)
2012 New Mexico Bowl – Nevada (Associate Head Coach/Linebackers)
2011 Hawaii Bowl – Nevada (Associate Head Coach/Defensive Ends)
2010 Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl – Nevada (Associate Head Coach/Defensive Ends)
2009 Hawaii Bowl – Nevada (Associate Head Coach/Linebackers)
2008 Humanitarian Bowl – Nevada (Associate Head Coach/Linebackers)
2007 New Mexico Bowl – Nevada (Defensive Coordinator/Safeties)
2006 MPC Computers Bowl – Nevada (Assistant Head Coach/Linebackers)
2005 Hawaii Bowl – Nevada (Assistant Head Coach/Linebackers)
1996 Las Vegas Bowl – Nevada (Defensive Coordinator)
1995 Las Vegas Bowl – Nevada (Inside Linebackers)
1992 Las Vegas Bowl – Nevada (Inside Linebackers)
1-AA PLAYOFFS
1991 Quarterfinals – Nevada (Inside Linebackers)
1990 Championship {runner-up} – Nevada (Outside Linebackers/Defensive Ends)
NFL DRAFT PICKS COACHED & RECRUITED (7)
2020 (RD 4) LB Troy Dye – Oregon – Minnesota Vikings
2012 (RD 4) LB James-Michael Johnson – Nevada – Cleveland Browns
2012 (RD 5) LB Brandon Marshall – Nevada – Jacksonville Jaguars
2011 (RD 3) OLB Dontay Moch – Nevada – Cincinnati Bengals
1998 (RD 4) LB Deshone Myles – Nevada – Seattle Seahawks
1998 (RD 6) DT James Cannida – Nevada – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
1997 (RD 6) LB Mike Crawford – Nevada – Miami Dolphins
UNDRAFTED NFL PLAYERS COACHED & RECRUITED (10)
S Jon Amaya – Nevada – New Orleans Saints
LB Steve Bryant – Nevada – Seattle Seahawks
DE Kaelin Burnett – Nevada – Oakland Raiders
DL Joe Caspers – Nevada – Oakland Raiders
LB Ryan Coulson – Nevada – New England Patriots
OLB Jeremiah Green – Nevada – Jacksonville Jaguars
OLB Kenneth Jackson – Nevada – Baltimore Ravens/Green Bay Packers/Carolina Panthers
LB Jerome Johnson – Nevada – New York Giants/Arizona Cardinals
LB Frankie Luvu – Washington State – New York Jets
LB Josua Mauga – Nevada – New York Jets/Kansas City Chiefs
ALL-AMERICANS COACHED
2010 DE Dontay Moch – Nevada (Sports Illustrated)
FRESHMAN ALL-AMERICANS COACHED
2020 LB Noah Sewell – Oregon (247Sports, ESPN, FWAA, Rivals, The Athletic)
CONFERENCE PLAYERS OF THE YEAR COACHED
2009 DE Dontay Moch – Nevada (WAC Defensive Player of the Year)
1996 OLB Deshone Myles – Nevada (Big West Defensive Player of the Year)
CONFERENCE PLAYERS OF THE YEAR COACHED
2020 LB Noah Sewell – Oregon – Pac-12 (Freshman Defensive Player of the Year)
ALL-CONFERENCE SELECTIONS COACHED (35)
2020 LB Noah Sewell – Oregon – Pac-12 (Coaches – HM)
2020 LB Isaac Slade-Matautia – Pac-12 (Coaches – HM)
2019 LB Troy Dye – Oregon – Pac-12 (AP – 1st, Coaches – 2nd)
2018 LB Peyton Pelluer – Washington State – Pac-12 (Coaches – HM)
2018 LB Jahad Woods – Washington State – Pac-12 (Coaches – HM)
2017 LB Frankie Luvu – Washington State – Pac-12 (Coaches – HM)
2016 LB Peyton Pelluer – Washington State – Pac-12 (Coaches – HM)
2015 LB Peyton Pelluer – Washington State – Pac-12 (Coaches – HM)
2014 LB Jeremiah Allison – Washington State – Pac-12 (Coaches – HM)
2012 LB Albert Rosette – Nevada – Mountain West (Coaches/Media – 1st)
2010 DE Dontay Moch – Nevada – WAC (Coaches – 1st)
2009 LB James-Michael Jackson – WAC (Coaches – 2nd)
2007 LB Ezra Butler – Nevada – WAC (Coaches – 2nd)
2006 LB Ezra Butler – Nevada – WAC (Coaches – 1st)
2005 LB Roosevelt Cooks – Nevada – WAC (Coaches – 2nd)
2004 LB Jeremy Engstrom – Nevada – WAC (Coaches – 2nd)
1998 OLB Jason Burk – Nevada – Big West (Coaches – 1st)
1998 CB Don Morgan – Nevada – Big West (Coaches – 1st)
1998 S Maxzell Williams – Nevada – Big West (Coaches – 1st)
1998 DL Rick Cross – Nevada – Big West (Coaches – 2nd)
1998 ILB Ken Sapolu – Nevada – Big West (Coaches – 2nd)
1998 S Reggie Mitchell – Nevada – Big West (Coaches – 2nd)
1997 DL James Cannida – Nevada – Big West (Coaches – 1st)
1997 CB Dan Morgan – Nevada – Big West (Coaches – 1st)
1997 ILB Ken Sapolu – Nevada – Big West (Coaches – HM)
1996 DL James Cannida – Nevada – Big West (Coaches – 1st)
1996 ILB Mike Crawford – Nevada – Big West (Coaches – 1st)
1996 OLB Deshone Myles – Nevada – Big West (Coaches – 1st)
1996 CB Darnell Hasson – Nevada – Big West (Coaches – 1st)
1996 S Molech Blythe – Nevada – Big West (Coaches – 1st)
1996 CB Don Morgan – Nevada – Big West (Coaches – 2nd)
1996 S Garnett Overby – Nevada – Big West (Coaches – 2nd)
1995 ILB Mike Crawford – Nevada – Big West (Coaches – 2nd)
1993 ILB Steve Bryant – Nevada – Big West (Coaches – 2nd)
1991 ILB Matt Clafton – Nevada – Big Sky (Coaches – 1st)
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