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Chris Ault
File:Christ Ault Reno Navy Week Sept 16, 2009.jpg
Ault in September 2009
Biographical details
Born (1946-11-08) November 8, 1946 (age 77)
San Bernardino, California, U.S.
Alma materSt. Catherine's Academy
University of Nevada, Reno
Playing career
Position(s)Quarterback
Head coaching record
Overall234–108–1 (college)
Bowls2–8
Tournaments9–7 (NCAA D-I-AA playoffs)
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
4 Big Sky (1983, 1986, 1990–1991)
3 Big West (1992, 1994–1995)
2 WAC (2005, 2010)
Awards
Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year (1991)
4x Big Sky Coach of the Year (1983, 1986, 1990–1991)
College Football Hall of Fame
Inducted in 2002 (profile)

Christopher Thomas Ault (born November 8, 1946) is a former American football player, coach and athletic director. He served three stints at the head football coach at the University of Nevada, Reno (1976–1992, 1994–1995, and 2004–2012), leading the Nevada Wolf Pack to a record of 234–108–1 over 28 seasons and guiding the program from the NCAA's Division II to Division I-AA in 1978 and then to Division I-A in 1992. Ault was also the athletic director at Nevada from 1986 to 2004. He was the school's starting quarterback from 1965 to 1968. He is a former consultant for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League (NFL). Ault was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame as a coach in 2002, seven years after his first retirement from coaching in 1995.

Coaching career[]

After the 2004 season, Ault fired head coach Chris Tormey. He named himself as the replacement three days later, with the approval of school president John Lilley and the Nevada Board of Regents.[1][2] A member of the university's faculty senate expressed concern at the perceived conflict of interest, especially because the salary of head football coach exceeded that of athletic director.[3]

Ault is credited as the creator of the "Pistol Offense", which he instituted at Nevada in 2004. Since becoming the primary offense for Nevada, the Pistol has been used by other schools across the country. The San Francisco 49ers began employing the pistol offense with the emergence of former Nevada quarterback Colin Kaepernick. Since installing the Pistol, Nevada has won shares of two WAC titles—in 2005 (with Boise State) and 2010 (with Boise State and Hawaii).

Ault won his 200th college football game October 9, 2009 when his Wolf Pack beat Louisiana Tech, 37–14.

On December 28, 2012, Ault announced his retirement, effective at the end of the year. In an emotional press conference, Ault said the time had come to pass the program to a new coach.[4] He had spent 41 years―all but seven years of his adult life―at Nevada as a player, coach or administrator.

On September 17, 2015, Rhinos Milano announced Ault as new head coach for the 2016 season.[5] On July 9, 2016, he won his first Italian Football League Italian Bowl after an undefeated season and a 13 games win streak.

Education and family[]

Ault graduated from St. Catherine's Academy in Anaheim, California, graduated from University of Nevada, Reno with a bachelor's degree in education in 1968 and went on to complete an M.B.A. in 1971. He is married to Kathy Ault and has three children: Lisa, Chris Jr. and Amy.

Head coaching record[]

Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl/playoffs Coaches# AP°
Nevada Wolf Pack (NCAA Division II independent) (1976–1977)
1976 Nevada 8–3
1977 Nevada 8–3
Nevada Wolf Pack (NCAA Division I-AA independent) (1978)
1978 Nevada 11–1 L NCAA Division I-AA Semifinal
Nevada Wolf Pack (Big Sky Conference) (1979–1991)
1979 Nevada 8–4 5–2 2nd L NCAA Division I-AA Semifinal
1980 Nevada 6–4–1 4–3 T–2nd
1981 Nevada 7–4 4–3 T–4th
1982 Nevada 6–5 3–4 T–5th
1983 Nevada 9–5 6–1 1st L NCAA Division I-AA Semifinal
1984 Nevada 7–4 5–2 2nd
1985 Nevada 11–2 6–1 2nd L NCAA Division I-AA Semifinal
1986 Nevada 13–1 7–0 1st L NCAA Division I-AA Semifinal
1987 Nevada 5–6 4–4 T–4th
1988 Nevada 7–4 4–4 T–4th
1989 Nevada 7–4 5–3 T–3rd
1990 Nevada 13–2 7–1 1st L NCAA Division I-AA Championship
1991 Nevada 12–1 8–0 1st L NCAA Division I-AA Quarterfinal
Nevada Wolf Pack (Big West Conference) (1992)
1992 Nevada 7–5 5–1 1st L Las Vegas
Nevada Wolf Pack (Big West Conference) (1994–1995)
1994 Nevada 9–2 6–1 T–1st
1995 Nevada 9–3 7–0 1st L Las Vegas
Nevada Wolf Pack (Western Athletic Conference) (2004–2011)
2004 Nevada 5–7 3–5 T–6th
2005 Nevada 9–3 7–1 T–1st W Hawaii
2006 Nevada 8–5 5–3 T–3rd L MPC Computers
2007 Nevada 6–7 4–4 T–4th L New Mexico
2008 Nevada 7–6 5–3 T–2nd L Humanitarian
2009 Nevada 8–5 7–1 2nd L Hawaii
2010 Nevada 13–1 7–1 T–1st W Kraft Fight Hunger 13 11
2011 Nevada 7–6 5–2 T–2nd L Hawaii
Nevada Wolf Pack (Mountain West Conference) (2012)
2012 Nevada 7–6 4–4 5th L New Mexico
Nevada: 233–109–1 133–53
Total: 233–109–1
      National championship         Conference title         Conference division title
Indicates BCS bowl, Bowl Alliance or Bowl Coalition game. #Rankings from final Coaches' Poll.

Coaching tree[]

Head coach under whom Ault played:

Head coaches under whom Ault served:

Assistants under Ault who became college head coaches:

See also[]

References[]

External links[]

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