Golden Eagles brings in new head coach Bob Wilder after the retirement of Dewayne Alexander. Wilder will be the first coach inside of the newly renovated Tucker Stadium.
Callie Smith
Sports Editor
The Tech community welcomes new head football coach Bobby Wilder for the 2024 season. Following previous head coach Dewayne Alexander’s retirement.
Things are about to get “wilder” for Tech football and just in time for a newly renovated Tucker Stadium. Coach Wilder brings the campaign of “Aim High” to Cookeville and his Golden Eagles team. The coach pushes his staff, players and recruits to be the best they can be.
“Aim high! That’s what we’re gonna be all about as a football team. It’ll be right on the front of our football helmet,” Wilder said.
Wilder comes from 11-years of head coaching experience at Old Dominion University and will be the 13th coach to lead the Golden Eagles in program history. Coach Wilder’s winning record of 77-56 carries much needed weight at Tech.
Over the past decade, Golden Eagle football has sat at a losing record of 35-73. The last winning season for Tech football dates back to 2011, with a record of 7-4. This is also the last time the purple and gold claimed the title of OVC regular champions. Rebuilding is nothing new for Wilder, and building Tech football back to being a winning program is personal for him.
“I can tell the love and passion for Tennessee Tech is there. It’s my job to create a winning program that matches that passion,” Wilder said.
Bobby Wilder brings with him assistant coaches Frank Wilson, Ben Blessing, Eric Acciani, John Allen, Adam Braithwaite, Sam Williamson, and Brandon Blackmon. Wilder plans on keeping the majority of the defensive staff from the 2023 season.
“The majority of the defensive staff will be back, because we had a championship-level defense last year,” Wilder added. “They are already back in the office working.”
The 2024 football season for the Golden Eagles will take flight facing in-state rival, Middle Tennessee State University, on Aug. 31. The first game in Tucker stadium will be facing another in-state rival, TSU, on Sept. 21. The new coach is calling out to the Cookeville and Tech communities for support and is working hard to make them proud.
“I need the community… I want people fighting for a seat. I want it to be standing room only. That’s where we want to be as a program,” Wilder said.
A sneak peak may be found at a purple and gold scrimmage coming this spring. Date and time to be determined.
