Nevada fires football coach Ken Wilson

The University of Nevada fired football coach Ken Wilson on Friday morning, according to a news release from Nevada Athletics.

The news was first reported by Nevada Sports Net.

In two seasons, Wilson’s teams compiled a 4-20 record, including two losses to in-state rival UNLV.

Wilson was hired two years ago to succeed Jay Norvell, who left to be head coach at Colorado State University.

“After an extensive review of the Nevada football program, I have decided to make a leadership change,” Nevada Director of Athletics Stephanie Rempe said in the release. “I would like to thank Ken for his dedication and service to Nevada Athletics and to our student athletes. This is not a decision I take lightly, as I know the ripple effect on so many people with a decision like this. For more than two decades Ken and his family have been and will continue to be an integral part of this community and the Wolf Pack.”

A national search for a new football head coach will begin immediately, the release said.

During Wilson's 21 years on the Nevada staff as head coach (2022-23) and an assistant (1989-98, 2004-12), which included five seasons as associate head coach (2008-12) and four as defensive coordinator (1996-98, 2007), the Wolf Pack compiled a record of 162-105 – 102-51 in conference play.

During those seasons, the Wolf Pack reached a bowl game 11 times 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). Nevada also qualified for the NCAA Division I-AA (now FCS) playoffs twice, reaching the national championship game in 1990.

Eleven Nevada alumni coached by Wilson went on to play in the National Football League, including six draft picks.

Between his two stints as an assistant football coach, Wilson 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.