By Luke Fletcher | Ft. Collins, CO

Wyoming football took a meaningful step toward reshaping its offensive identity with the hiring of Christian Taylor as the program’s new offensive coordinator. It’s a move that signals more than just a change on the coaching staff — it reflects a clear intention to modernize, diversify, and energize the Cowboys’ offense with a coach who has consistently produced results everywhere he’s been.

Taylor arrives in Laramie with a resume built on development, creativity, and production. His coaching journey has taken him from the Division III ranks to the FCS level, and no matter the stop, his offenses have found ways to move the ball, score points, and put players in position to succeed.

After spending two seasons as the offensive coordinator and recruiting coordinator at Illinois Wesleyan from 2014–15, Taylor returned to the University of San Diego in 2016 to coach wide receivers and coordinate the passing game. That season proved to be historic. USD finished 11–2 and became the first non-scholarship FCS program to win a playoff game, defeating Cal Poly 35–21. It was an early sign of Taylor’s ability to build efficient, confident offenses regardless of scholarship limitations.

Taylor’s influence at USD only continued to grow. From 2016–17, he coached the Toreros’ wide receivers before stepping into the co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach role in 2018. That year marked one of the most prolific offensive seasons in program history. USD broke multiple national, conference, and individual records, ranking first in the country in passing efficiency and passing touchdowns, second in passing offense, and top 10 nationally in scoring offense, completion percentage, and protection metrics such as sacks and tackles for loss allowed.

In 2019, Taylor took over as the sole offensive coordinator and promptly developed first-year starting quarterback Reid Sinnett into one of the premier players in the FCS. Sinnett became a Payton Award finalist while ranking among the nation’s top five in passing efficiency, passing touchdowns, completion percentage, and passing yards per game. That same offense helped propel wide receiver Michael Bandy and tight end Dalton Kincaid to All-America honors, finishing sixth nationally in total offense while winning a sixth straight conference championship.

Taylor’s most recent success came at William & Mary, where he elevated the Tribe into one of the most productive and creative offenses in the country. In 2021, William & Mary led the Colonial Athletic Association with 205 rushing yards per game, ranking 12th nationally, and paced the league at 5.0 yards per carry. It was a clear example of Taylor’s ability to build a physical run game without sacrificing efficiency.

That identity evolved even further in 2022. Taylor leaned into innovation, incorporating packages that featured two quarterbacks on the field at the same time along with expanded triple-option concepts. The results were eye-opening. William & Mary averaged 266 rushing yards per game — third-best in the nation — while improving to 6.0 yards per carry. The offense also averaged 7.1 yards per play overall, ranking fourth nationally, as the Tribe matched a school record with 11 wins, captured a share of the CAA title, and advanced to the NCAA quarterfinals.

That innovation is rooted in a clear, adaptable philosophy. Taylor often sums it up simply: “You gotta do something most teams aren’t doing.” His system is built around the personnel he has, not a rigid playbook. Earlier in his career, Taylor leaned heavily on tight-zone concepts and power football, but as those schemes became more common across college football, he knew he needed to evolve. During his final season at USD, he began shifting toward more wide-zone principles, a transition that continued to expand at William & Mary.

By his final season with the Tribe, William & Mary ran more wide-zone than anyone in football. Still, Taylor wasn’t content to stop there. Heading into the 2022 season, he identified another problem defenses were solving too easily — the backside pursuit. His answer was to slow defenses down with misdirection, option looks, and unconventional personnel groupings, including the now-notable two-quarterback sets. The result was an offense that forced defenders to hesitate, think, and guess — often just long enough for big plays to break free.

That reputation has followed Taylor throughout the FCS ranks. He is widely regarded as one of the top offensive coordinators at the FCS level, known for building creative, efficient, and explosive offenses at both William & Mary and San Diego. Along the way, he has developed elite quarterbacks, earned the GRAPHITE Award for outstanding play-calling, and was recognized as an FCS Assistant Coach of the Year. Those accomplishments ultimately opened the door to the NFL, where Taylor made the jump to the Buffalo Bills before now returning to the college game with Wyoming.

With a multiple, well-rounded offensive approach, Taylor has consistently paired a punishing run game with an explosive and efficient passing attack. He helped develop William & Mary quarterback Darius Wilson into an elite signal-caller who ranked first in the CAA and among the top 10 nationally in passing efficiency, explosive passes, and yards per completion, while coordinating a backfield loaded with All-America-caliber talent.

For Wyoming, Taylor’s hiring represents a clear commitment to adaptability and forward-thinking offense. His history suggests the Cowboys will feature a system built around creativity, versatility, and player development rather than predictability. If his past success is any indication, Wyoming fans can expect an offense that is not only more dynamic, but also far more difficult to defend.

Simply put, the Cowboys didn’t just add an offensive coordinator — they added a proven offensive architect. And in Laramie, that mindset could change everything.