Bob Wagner
Biographical details
Born(1947-05-16)May 16, 1947
Newark, Ohio, U.S.
DiedOctober 3, 2023(2023-10-03) (aged 76)
Hawaii, U.S.
Playing career
1965–1968Wittenberg
Position(s)Offensive tackle
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1969–1970Gallipolis HS (OH) (assistant)
1971Warsaw River View HS (OH)
1972–1974Muskingum (DC)
1975Wooster (assistant)
1976Washington (assistant)
1977–1982Hawaii (assistant)
1983–1986Hawaii (DC)
1987–1995Hawaii
1998–2000Arizona (assistant)
2001UTEP (DC/LB)
Administrative career (AD unless noted)
2002–2012Kea'au (HI) Kamehameha HS
Head coaching record
Overall58–49–3 (college)
Bowls1–1
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
1 WAC (1992)
Awards
2× WAC Coach of the Year (1989, 1992)

Robert C. Wagner (May 16, 1947 – October 3, 2023) was an American college football coach. He was the head football coach at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa from 1988 to 1995, leading the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors to their first top 20 finish in 1992.[1][2]

Wagner graduated from Wittenberg University in 1969.[3] He started as an assistant coach at Gallipolis High School in Ohio in 1969. In 1971, he became head coach at River View High School in Warsaw, Ohio and led the team to its then-best season ever at 8–2. He left River View after one season to become defensive coordinator at Muskingum University.[4] In 1975, Wagner became assistant coach at the College of Wooster, then became an assistant at the University of Washington under Don James in 1976.[5]

Wagner became an assistant coach at Hawaii in 1977 under Larry Price, then was promoted to defensive coordinator under Dick Tomey in 1983.[6] Wagner took over the head coaching position in 1987 when Tomey left to become head coach at Arizona. While head coach at Hawaii, Wagner led the Rainbow Warriors to their first WAC title in 1992. During most of Wagner's tenure at Hawaii, his offensive coordinator was Georgia Tech head coach Paul Johnson.[7] Despite Wagner's overall success, he was let go after a 4–8 season in 1995,[8] and replaced by former Bill Walsh assistant, Fred von Appen.[9]

Wagner was out of coaching for a few years, but after the 1997 season ended, Wagner agreed to take over the defensive coordinator position for TCU under new coach Dennis Franchione.[10] However, his old mentor Dick Tomey called, asking if he wanted to take over an assistant position on his staff. Wagner gladly accepted and ended up coaching inside linebackers for Arizona.[11]

Wagner served as the athletic director for Kamehameha Schools-Hawaii on the Big Island for ten years, from 2002 to 2012.[12][13]

Bob Wagner died at his residence in Hawaii on October 3, 2023, at the age of 76.[14]

Head coaching record

College

Year Team Overall ConferenceStanding Bowl/playoffs Coaches# AP°
Hawaii Rainbow Warriors (Western Athletic Conference) (1987–1995)
1987 Hawaii 5–73–56th
1988 Hawaii 9–35–3T–3rd
1989 Hawaii 9–3–15–2–13rdL Aloha
1990 Hawaii 7–54–45th
1991 Hawaii 4–7–13–55th
1992 Hawaii 11–26–2T–1stW Holiday2020
1993 Hawaii 6–63–58th
1994 Hawaii 3–5–10–810th
1995 Hawaii 4–82–6T–7th
Hawaii: 58–49–331–40–1
Total:58–49–3
      National championship         Conference title         Conference division title or championship game berth

References

  1. ↑ Reardon, Dave (February 28, 2008). "UH interviews Wagner". Star Bulletin. Retrieved November 9, 2014.
  2. ↑ Lewis, Fred (June 22, 2005). "BCS courts Wagner, Yoshida". Honolulu Advertiser. Retrieved November 9, 2014.
  3. ↑ "Bob Wagner".
  4. ↑ Zanesville Times-Recorder, August 20, 1972.
  5. ↑ "Bob Wagner". UTEP. Archived from the original on February 24, 2002.
  6. ↑ "Wagner wants back as defensive coordinator". Honolulu Star-Bulletin. December 16, 1999. Retrieved November 6, 2015.
  7. ↑ Arnett, Paul (November 17, 1999). "'Bows examining their options". Star Bulletin. Retrieved November 9, 2014.
  8. ↑ Arnett, Paul (December 16, 1999). "Wagner wants back as defensive coordinator". Star Bulletin. Retrieved November 9, 2014.
  9. ↑ Durrenberger, Charles (September 2, 1998). "Arizona's Ex-Rainbow Coalition". Tucson Citizen. Retrieved November 9, 2014.
  10. ↑ Hansen, Greg (August 17, 1998). "Wagner Turns a Negative into Positive". Arizona Daily Star. Star Bulletin. Retrieved November 9, 2014.
  11. ↑ Durrenberger, Charles (August 31, 1998). "Past comes alive". Tucson Citizen. Retrieved November 9, 2014.
  12. ↑ "Wagner to retire as KS Hawaii athletic director". Hawaii 24/7. April 16, 2012. Retrieved November 9, 2014.
  13. ↑ "Former UH coach to join Kamehameha Schools". Honolulu Advertiser. July 11, 2002. Retrieved November 9, 2014.
  14. ↑ Tsai, Stephen. "Highly successful Hawaii football coach Bob Wagner dies at 76". Honolulu Star-Advertiser. Retrieved October 4, 2023.
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