Bowie State University Athletics

Damon Wilson is in his 12th year at the helm of the Bowie State University football program. Wilson, who was an all-conference tight end for the Bulldogs (1998), did his first tour of duty as an assistant coach from 1999-2003. As the Assistant Head Coach (Running Backs and Special Teams Coordinator) during those years, BSU’s special teams and running game consistently ranked at the top of the conference. During Wilson’s first run at Bowie State, the Bulldogs combined an overall record of 26-24 and they were able to bring home a CIAA Eastern Division Championship in 2002.

As Wilson began to flourish in his coaching career, he would trade the comforts of home and the CIAA for the life in the south, deep in the heart of Texas. He spent three seasons on the sidelines at Texas Southern University and then Wilson took a position at Prairie View A&M University. The Panthers of Prairie View finished the 2008 season with a 9-1 record and ranked 23rd nationally in Division I-AA football polls. As the running backs coach, Wilson helped lead the Panthers’ offense to their most successful season ever. Under Wilson’s guidance, they led the SWAC in rushing and broke the university’s all-time record. Wilson would leave his name in the history books, having been the first coach in Prairie View history to coach a 1,000 yard running back.
 
Wilson began his head coaching era at Bowie State in 2009. In 2009 Wilson’s Bulldogs broke the school record for Most Offensive Yards in a game, had eight players to receive All Conference honors, and four players selected to All-Rookie Team. At one point in 2009 Bowie State was ranked as high as 8th in the region, and closed the season with the #1 ranked defense in the country. While Wilson garnered Coach of the Week awards on two separate occasions during 2009, Isaac Redman was signed by the Pittsburgh Steelers of the NFL. The 2009 Eastern Division Champs also boasted an impressive 25 players with grade point averages above a 3.0.
 
The 2010 season would prove to be another successful campaign for Wilson and the Bulldogs. Wilson continues to put his name in the history books as his high-powered offense broke and reset many records. The Bulldogs broke the school record for Most First Downs in a Game, Most Pass Completions in a Game and Season, Most Yards Passing, Most Touchdowns Thrown, Most Kickoff Returns in a Season and Career, Most Pass Breakups and Most Blocked Kicks. They posted a 6-1 CIAA record; the best Bowie State conference record since 1989, and had two players receive conference awards. Wilson has had five players represent Bowie State University in Russell Athletics HBCU All-Star game and two players selected to participate in Division I All Star Game, two players in the NFL and one in the IFL (Indoor Football League), and graduated 30 players in three years. Wilson was also one of the twenty coaches selected from across the country to participate in the NCAA Expert Coaches Academy. The one–time Coach of the Week used his powers of persuasion and strong business acumen to assist the University and supporters in the installation of a million dollar synthetic turf field at the Bulldogs Stadium.

In 2011 the Bulldogs found it hard to replace the senior class from the 2010 season. Although the Bulldogs started off 3-0 they then experienced some loses in close games that they were unable to bounce back from. While it was a challenging season on the gridiron, it did not prevent the Bulldogs from experiencing success in the classroom and in the community. There were 15 seniors to graduate from the 2011 team and seven players that received All Conference recognition.
 
In the summer of 2013, Coach Wilson completed a summer internship with St. Louis Rams as part of the Bill Walsh NFL Minority Coaching Fellowship. The annual program is administered by the NFL Management Council and NFL Player Engagement and its objective is to use NFL club’s training camps, offseason workout program and minicamps to give talented minority coaches opportunities to observe, participate, and gain experience with coaching staffs, front office, and other various areas of the organization.
 
Coach Wilson entered the 2015 season with six Bowie State University Bulldogs named among those selected 2014 Preseason D2 (CIAA) All-America Football Team. Wilson’s Bulldogs finished the 2014 season second in the division and received a number of post season accolades. Wilson had 11 players recognized by the conference and 3 players were named to All American Teams. In 2014 another Bulldog signed a NFL contract, making it four Bulldogs in the last five years to pursue their NFL dream.
 
The 2015 season proved to be the best on record since 1975 as the Bulldogs earned the title of Northern Division Champions and recorded an impressive 9-3 overall record, they ran the table in the CIAA (7-0 CIAA and 5-0 North), competed in the conference championship game and advanced to the NCAA Division II Super Region One Quarterfinals for the first time in school history. Wilson was named 2015 CIAA Coach of the Year, 2015 Mid-Major Coach of the Year, 2015 AFCA Top 25 Coaches Poll, and 2015 Bowie State University Coach of the Year. Wilson had 16 players recognized by the conference and two players were named to All American Teams.
 
Bowie State football experienced another great season in 2016, finishing the season with an overall record of 7-4, 6-1 mark in the CIAA North, captured the CIAA Northern Division crown for the second consecutive year and made a return trip to the conference championship game.
During the 2017 season Bowie State finish with a record of 9-2 and secure the teams’ first home playoff game in the history of Bowie State.  Along the way, Bowie State’s offensive was able to establish themselves as the #1 offense in the nation in terms of points per game (54.5) and yards per game (566.5). Defensively Bowie State was recognized for being #1 in the nation in pass defense. 

The 2018 season was memorable for Bowie State football as the Bulldogs claimed the schools first-ever CIAA Championship, defeating Fayetteville State by a score of 30-10. 

The victory allowed the Bulldogs to host the first round of the NCAA Super Region 2 Playoffs for the second consecutive season. in the opening round game, Bowie State took down West Alabama 41-35 in a true battle on the gridiron that advanced the Bulldogs to the Second Round of Super Region 2 for the first-time in school history. Bowie State faced a very tough Valdosta (Ga.) State team and dropped a 66-16 decision to the eventual NCAA Division II National Champions.

Bowie State's 2019 season was even more remarkable as the Bulldogs recorded the schools first-ever undefeated regular season and repeated as CIAA Champions. The Bulldogs carried an 11-0 record into the first round of the NCAA Playoffs before falling short at home to Carson-Newman by a final score of 17-9.

Damon is married to Allison (Dunn) and they have one son Dylan. Coach Wilson is a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. In his spare time he enjoys spending time with his family, working with children, fishing, and attending sporting events.