ODU Athletics

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. Year two proved to be just as successful. The Old Dominion football team finished its second season of football at 8-3 in 2010 and over the last two seasons has combined for a 17-5 mark as the winningest FCS start-up program in the books. The Monarchs, who upgraded their schedule in year two in preparation for joining the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA), added a pair of ranked opponents in #12/13 William & Mary and #14/16 Cal Poly and continued to play in front of capacity crowds of 19,782 in all seven of its home games. Statistically speaking, the Monarchs finished their second season of gridiron action fourth in kickoff returns, ranked eighth in scoring offense, eighth in sacks allowed, and 15th in passing offense. Under Wilder's tutelage, punter Jonathan Plisco ranked second nationally in punting, quarterback Thomas DeMarco continued to rank among the top 10 in total offense, newcomer Colby Goodwyn ran this way to third nationally in punt returns, and Ronnie Cameron pushed his way into eighth overall among FCS defenders in tackles for loss. 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, his coaching staff, and the football Monarchs now gear up for the biggest challenge yet in 2011. The squad joins the CAA in 2011, the toughest FCS conference in the nation that featured four teams in this past season's playoffs including runner-up Delaware, as well as 2009 FCS champion Villanova, along with William & Mary and New Hampshire. 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 over 300 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. "What an incredible honor it is to be the Head Coach at Old Dominion University! The excitement level around our program is inspiring to all of our players and coaches. Our goal as a program is to compete for and win the CAA championship and the Automatic Bid to the National Championship Tournament. We want to develop a program that competes for championships every year! I know with the tremendous support from our administration, students, and 12th Monarchs, we can achieve that goal."

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