By Tracy Ringolsby, WelcomeTo7220.com
Laramie — Wyoming football coach Craig Bohl didn’t waste any time.
When former Cowboys offensive coordinator/assistant head coach Brent Vigen was approached about the head coach vacancy at Montana State more than two weeks ago, Bohl, in addition to providing guidance for Vigen, began the search for Vigen’s replacement.
And on Wednesday, two days after Vigen was officially announced as the new head Montana State head coach, Bohl announced the hiring of Tim Polasek, who he mentored at North Dakota State, as the new Cowboys’ offensive coordinator and quarterback coach.
Bohl is still looking for an offensive line coach. The Cowboys thought they filled that void last month when A.J. Blazek was announced as the new offensive line coach, but a few weeks later, Blazek resigned to accept a similar position at Vanderbilt. The irony is Blazek’s name has surfaced among possible replacements for Polasek at Iowa.
Polasek has been the offensive line coach at the University of Iowa the past four seasons (2017-20). Prior to Iowa, Polasek (pronounced PAWL-uh-seck) was the offensive coordinator and running backs coach at North Dakota State for three years from 2014-16, assuming the role when Vigan accompanied Bohl to Wyoming.
Polasek had been the North Dakota State running bavks coach (2006-12) with the added duties of special teams coordinator (2010-12) when Bohl was the head coach and Vigen the offensive coordinator.
In his playing days, Polasek was a quarterback at Concordia University in Wisconsin, where he set single-game and career records that still stand.
“We’re excited about welcoming Tim Polasek to the Cowboy family,” said Bohl. “His experience coaching on the offensive side of the football is going to add great value as we continue to re-engineer and improve our offense going into the 2021 season.”
Polasek gives Bohl credit for his success at the college level.
“To reunite with Coach Bohl, a true mentor of mine, is very special,” he said. “A long time ago Coach Bohl took a chance on me and helped me learn how to be a teacher and a leader. He laid the foundation of what is my coaching philosophy and teaching style. I will do everything I can to help him continue his success with Cowboy Football.”
Most recently, Polasek, who had previous experience coaching receivers, running backs and quarterbacks at the college level, was the offensive line coach at Iowa, which he feels helped fill out his resume on the offensive side of the ball.
“A huge thank you to Kirk Ferentz for taking a shot on an offensive coach who had never coached the O-line,” he said. “I’ve learned so much in my four years at Iowa, and I will forever be grateful. He taught me what is really important in this business and what is just noise. In my time at Iowa, I can honestly say that I learned something from him every day. Coach Ferentz and his staff exemplify what it is to be true professionals. I wish them all the best moving forward.”
Polasek was part of four FCS national championships, five Missouri Valley Football Conference titles and one Great West Football Conference title at North Dakota State.
At Iowa in 2020, the Hawkeyes won six straight games, all in Big Ten play, to conclude the regular season. The Hawkeyes scored at least 26 points in each of those six wins. The winning streak included road wins at Minnesota, Penn State and Illinois, and trophy game victories over Minnesota, Nebraska and Wisconsin. The Hawkeyes were ranked No. 15 in the nation in the final College Football Playoff (CFP) rankings and the final Coaches Poll rankings, while ranking No. 16 in the final Associated Press media poll.
Iowa has won three straight postseason games and 12 straight non-conference games. The Hawkeyes were selected to compete in the 2020 Music City Bowl, but that event was canceled. Iowa’s current streak of eight straight bowl invitations matches the longest in school history. The Hawkeyes have won 27 games the past three seasons.
Polasek is the all-time leading passer at Concordia University in Wisconsin. He set single-game, single-season and career records in TD passes, passing yards, completions and completion percentage. Polasek was the 2000 Badger-Illini Conference Player of the Year. He was a two-time First Team All-Conference selection in 2000-01 and Second Team in 1999. He graduated from Concordia in 2002 with a bachelor’s degree in physical education. He earned his master’s degree from Wisconsin-Stevens Point in 2005.
