Tormey Named UW Defensive Coordinator

Veteran coach Chris Tormey was officially named the  University of Wyoming football defensive coordinator and secondary coach on Wednesday.

Tormey will be entering his 33rd season as a college coach in 2012.  Included in his previous 32 seasons of coaching experience are nine seasons of head-coaching experience at the NCAA Division I level at the University of Idaho and University of Nevada.  While at Idaho, he led the Vandals to their first-ever bowl appearance in 1998, earning conference Coach-of-the-Year honors that season.

As an assistant coach at the University of Washington in 1991, he helped guide the Huskies to the 1991 National Championship.  He comes to Wyoming from Washington State University where he was the linebackers’ coach in 2011.

“We feel very fortunate to be able to add a coach of Chris’ (Tormey’s) experience to our staff,” UW head coach Dave Christensen said in a release.  “He has been both a head coach and a defensive coordinator during his career, and is recognized as a talented recruiter.  We look forward to him joining our staff in January.”

“I couldn’t be more  excited about this opportunity to join the Wyoming Cowboys,” said Tormey. “The program is clearly  on the rise under the leadership of Coach Christensen . I’m looking forward to the challenges ahead as we work together to take the next step towards a Mountain West Conference Championship.”

Prior to this past season at Washington State, Tormey coached the safeties and special teams at the University of Hawai’i for two seasons in 2009 and 2010.

Tormey served as the linebackers coach and recruiting coordinator at the University of Washington from 2004-08, his second stint on the Husky staff.

Before returning to the University of Washington, Tormey served as the head coach at the University of Nevada for four seasons from 2000-03.  He compiled a 16-31 (.340) record in his four seasons as the Wolf Pack moved into the Western Athletic Conference from the Big West.

Tormey earned his first head-coaching position at his alma mater, the University of Idaho, in 1995.  He would lead the Vandals to four winning seasons in five years and compile a 33-23 (.589) record.

The Cowboy defensive coaching staff entering 2012 will include: Marty English, linebackers coach; Matt Rahl, defensive line coach and Danilo Robinson, defensive line coach.