Don't have the #38 assigned so here's the background on our head coach, Bobby Wilder
When he was hired on February 13, 2007, Bobby Wilder's goal was to "AIM HIGH" in everything he did in resurrecting the Old Dominion football team from a 69-year absence. After two years of orchestrating every piece of the puzzle, Wilder's vision has become reality as he has built a program that has not only been the buzz of the Hampton Roads community, but has become the most successful start-up FCS program in history.
Wilder and his staff's inaugural season of play at the Football Championship Subdivision level went well beyond expectations. From the celebrated kickoff versus Chowan, to the heart pounding first FCS victory against Jacksonville, to ensuring a winning season at Savannah State, to extending the win-streak to six in the season finale at VMI, history was made every step of the way. The Monarchs concluded the 2009 season at 9-2 overall writing their way into history.
The Monarchs finished the year ranked in the top ten in five statistical categories as a team including second in sacks allowed, third in scoring offense, turnover margin, and net punting, and ninth in rushing offense. Individually, ODU had its first football All-Americans named in punter Jonathan Plisco and long snapper Dustin Phillips with Plisco leading the nation in punt yardage averaging 44.84 yards per contest. Quarterback Thomas DeMarco was also ranked in the top ten in scoring and was the second leading FCS signal caller in rushing. Wilder meanwhile received the Tom Fergusson Memorial Award at the 65th Norfolk Sports Club Jamboree named as the Metropolitan Person of the Year in Sports.
Since arriving in Norfolk, Wilder has hit the ground running and has not stopped in his quest to make Old Dominion one of the top programs in the country. Both on and off the field, the Monarch head coach is always making sure that the Old Dominion football program is visible throughout the campus, the community and the state. He has honored hundreds of speaking engagements to a variety of organizations, but his most important talks have come with high schools coaches throughout the state. Wilder and his staff have made it a point to build a fence around the Hampton Roads community and the state of Virginia, with plans of building a first rate program with players a stones throw from the ODU campus.
In addition to his recruiting efforts, Wilder has also been an essential part in the planning and development of what are among the top football facilities in the country. The state-of-the-art $17 million Powhatan Sports Complex that houses the ODU football offices, athletic and strength training areas, locker rooms and two practice fields with artificial surface and the $24.8 million Foreman Field Football Complex, which includes the Ainslie Game Day Building, Astoturf GameDay Grass 3D field surface, scoreboard, sound system, field enclosure and a contiguous parking garage, are among the best the FCS has to offer.
Wilder has also been instrumental in getting his team active in the Hampton Roads Community. In what has become an annual event, the ODU Football Monarchs host a bone marrow registry drive and to date has helped register over 450 members of the ODU student body, faculty/staff, and the Hampton Roads community to the registry in an attempt to help save lives from life-threatening diseases nationwide. The Monarchs have also been active volunteering with Special Olympics, hosting youth clinics, and participating at reading and career days at many of the area's elementary and middle schools.
Prior to his arrival at ODU, Wilder served on the Maine staff for the past 17 years and was promoted to assistant head coach and offensive coordinator in 2000 before moving to associate head coach in 2001.
As coordinator, Wilder has orchestrated a balanced attack. The Black Bears averaged 29.1 points per game in 2004, and scored 29 or more in seven of 11 games. Wilder helped tutor running back Marcus Williams, who rushed for 1,077 yards during his senior season, which moved him into first place in school history for career rushing yards. Maine also threw the ball a lot during the campaign as eight different receivers each had double-digit receptions. Ron Whitcomb was at the head of the passing attack as his completions (213) and attempts (350) were the fourth most in a single season since 1950. His 22 touchdown tosses were tied for third most since 1950. Overall, the offense averaged an impressive 5.2 yards per play.
Wilder was named the Assistant Coach of the Year by the Gridiron Club of Greater Boston in 2004, which is presented annually to the top assistant coach in New England.
In 2003, the Black Bears had over 2,000 yards rushing and passing with 4,142 total yards. The ground game was anchored by Williams and the passing game was in the hands of then-freshman Ron Whitcomb, who was named the Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Year as he posted 2,428 yards - the fifth most in a season at Maine.
The 2002 Black Bears finished the season with 4,702 yards in total offense, the most since a school-record 4,861 yards in 1989. In 2001, for the first time in school history, the offense boasted a 2,000-yard passer in Jake Eaton, a 1,000-yard rusher in Royston English, and a 1,000-yard receiver in Stefan Gomes.
Prior to moving to the coordinator post, Wilder served as quarterbacks coach during one of the most explosive eras in Maine history for Black Bear quarterbacks.
Wilder guided four-year starter Mickey Fein to 17 University marks, including the two highest season totals for touchdown passes. Fein ended his career as Maine's second all-time leading passer.
In 2000, Wilder's first full season as offensive coordinator, the Black Bears ranked third in the Atlantic 10 with 29.0 points per game. The rushing game increased its output by 41 yards per game from the previous season and Eaton garnered All-New England honors. Two wide receivers from that team, Dwayne Wilmot and Phil McGeoghan, signed pro contracts and were in NFL camps in 2001. In 2002, Maine tight end Chad Hayes signed with the Kansas City Chiefs and then played briefly with the Cincinnati Bengals.
A 1987 graduate of Maine with a degree in physical education, Wilder captained the Black Bears to the Yankee Conference Championship his senior year. An All-New England quarterback in 1985, he left Maine as the school's all-time leading passer with 4,493 yards, and is currently sixth behind Mike Buck, Emilio Colon, Fein, Eaton and Whitcomb on the career passing list. Wilder coached four of those former players and played with the fifth.
A 1982 graduate of Madison High School in Madison, Maine, Wilder was a highly recruited quarterback his senior year. He opted to attend Maine and in his sophomore year and led the Black Bears to their first of five consecutive winning seasons.
Upon graduation, Wilder served as a graduate assistant coach for two seasons under Jack Bicknell at Boston College, where he earned his master's degree in educational administration in 1990.
Wilder and his wife, Pam, live in Norfolk with their sons, Derek (13) and Drew (9).
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING ABOUT BOBBY WILDER
"I have known Bobby since we played against one another in college. Following that, we competed from opposing sidelines - when he was at Boston College and I was at Syracuse. We have remained close throughout our professional careers and I consider him a close friend. Bobby is a tremendous coach and an even better person. He is smart, hardworking, loyal and dependable. If I had a son, I would want him to play for Bobby, because I know he would be a successful athlete and a leave his program a better man."
Scott Pioli
General Manager
Kansas City Chiefs
"Bob Wilder to me embodies great leader. He a great motivator, recruiter and extremely driven. His teams will be a reflection of his competitive spirit. Bob also surrounds himself with good people. So I know ODU will become a contender in a short period of time."
Ben Sirmans
Running Backs Coach
Boston College
"Old Dominion hired not just a very good football coach, but a very good person. Bobby has been one of the most innovative offensive coaches in our conference at Maine and is an extremely hard-working recruiter."
Dave Clawson
Current Head Coach-Bowling Green
(Former Richmond Head Coach)
"Coach Wilder was the primary reason that I chose to go to school at Maine. He is a great coach and teacher and was always there for me, even away from the football field. He is a hard working individual with a great work ethic and he'll surround himself with coaches that are great character people. ODU couldn't have found a better person to help rejuvenate the football program."
Mickey Fein
Offensive Coordinator
Quarterback/Wide Receivers Coach
Lafayette College
"Bobby Wilder is a class act. I enjoyed my time with him while he visited and we continue to text and talk on various occasions. He's a sponge that never stops trying to learn. What a great choice ODU has made, he's a great family man. Adding Bruce Stewart to the mix as an Associate Athletic Director for football was a great move as well!"
Dave Bennett
Head Coach
Coastal Carolina University
"I've known Bobby Wilder for 25 years. In all my experience at the professional and collegiate level, I've never been around a more dedicated, loyal person. What I've admired so much about Bobby are his people skills, humility and unbelievable work ethic. Old Dominion could not have chosen a better person, teacher or leader to set the foundation for a successful program."
Jim Boylen
Head Basketball Coach
University of Utah
"ODU hired Coach Wilder because they know that he's the right man for the job. He was the first person to instill confidence in me that I could play at the next level, and he did his part to help me get there. He's a positive person to be around, a great motivator and the most intelligent football mind that I've ever been around."
Kendrick Ballantyne
Former Maine Tight End
Current Tight End
Baltimore Ravens
