Veteran offensive line coach Bill O'Boyle begins his second season on Northwestern's coaching staff as offensive line coach in 2025.
O'Boyle has over 19 seasons as an offensive line position coach and 35 seasons as a college coach, with experience across the FBS, FCS and Division II ranks, including seven as a head coach.
O’Boyle helped the offensive line improve by allowing 27 fewer sacks than the season prior to his arrival in his first season in Evanston in 2024. Left tackle Caleb Tiernan was named All-Big Ten and the eighth-highest graded offensive tackle in the country.
He previously was the offensive line coach at Colorado in 2023, where he helped the Buffaloes increase their scoring offense by 12.8 points per game from the previous season.
Prior to coaching at Colorado, O'Boyle spent five seasons (2018-22) as the offensive line coach and run game coordinator at Kent State, where he molded the Golden Flashes offensive line into one of the best in the Mid-American Conference by posting three consecutive seasons averaging 200 or more rushing yards per game. His offensive line paved the way for a ground game that led the MAC and ranked 22nd nationally by rushing for 202.1 yards per game in 2022. Over a three year span from 2020-22, Kent State ranked No. 3 in the FBS in rushing yards–only behind Air Force and Army.
The 2021 Flashes won their first MAC East Division title in 10 seasons, and made their fifth bowl game appearance in school history (Famous Idaho Potato Bowl) in large part due to O'Boyle's work with the ground attack, as they posted 248.6 rushing yards per game, the third-best mark in the country and the top finish among non-triple option teams. Kent State posted 495.2 yards of total offense per game, the fourth-best mark nationally.
In 2020, Kent State posted the nation's best scoring offense, averaging 49.8 points per game, and ranked third nationally rushing for 283.0 yards per game, the best mark at the school in over 65 years. The Golden Flashes set a program record and led the nation by posting 606.5 yards of total offense per game.
O'Boyle helped guide Kent State to a 51-41 victory over Utah State in the 2019 Tropical Smoothie Café Frisco Bowl, the first postseason win in program history. Under his watch, the offense averaged over 400 total yards per game for the season. While at Kent State, O'Boyle had six offensive linemen named All-MAC, after the school had just six All-MAC offensive linemen in the 16 seasons before his arrival.
O'Boyle spent 2016 and 2017 as the offensive line coach at South Dakota, where the 2017 Coyote team reached the second round of the FCS Playoffs and defeated four ranked teams that season.
From 2013-15, O'Boyle worked at Southern Illinois where he began his tenure as the offensive line coach and later took on co-offensive coordinator and assistant head coach duties. In three seasons at SIU, O'Boyle helped the Salukis improve in scoring offense and passing offense each season. In 2014, the Salukis set a program record for touchdown passes and averaged nearly 500 yards of total offense per game in 2015, the second-best mark in school history.
O'Boyle spent the 2012 season as the offensive coordinator at Colorado Mesa. He spent the previous 18 seasons working at Division II Chadron State.
From 2005 to 2011, O'Boyle was the head coach at Chadron State with an overall record of 57-21. He coached the team to three straight undefeated Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference championships. Under O'Boyle, the Eagles won 28 straight RMAC games and earned three NCAA Division II playoff berths, advancing to the quarterfinals in 2006 and 2007 and to the second round in 2008. While at Chadron, he coached NFL running back and two-time Harlon Hill Trophy winner Danny Woodhead.
In 2006 O'Boyle was recognized by Football Gazette as the National Coach of the Year as well as the Sportexe Division II Coach of the Year. He was also a three-time RMAC Coach of the Year. A year later, he was named the Division-II Liberty Mutual National Coach of the Year for the 2007 season.
Before being named head coach, O'Boyle was the offensive coordinator at Chadron State from 1999 to 2004 and an assistant coach from 1994 to 1998. He spent the previous four seasons at his alma mater, Western Illinois as the offensive line coach. O'Boyle's first coaching assignment was also at Chadron State in 1987, serving as the offensive line coach.
O'Boyle played three seasons at Western Illinois and was a two-year starter, and also earned his degree in physical education and studio art.
"We are so excited to have Bill O'Boyle on our coaching staff at Northwestern. Bill brings a wealth of knowledge and deep-rooted passion for the game. His expertise and commitment to player development will be instrumental in elevating our program to new heights, and we're excited to see the impact he'll make both on our offensive line and the entire team."
– Dan & Susan Jones Family Head Football Coach David Braun
"I'm incredibly grateful for the opportunity to join Coach Braun's staff and become a part of the Northwestern football family. The commitment that Northwestern and Coach Braun have shown to the holistic development of student-athletes is truly admirable, and I'm excited to contribute to that mission."
– Offensive Line Coach Bill O'Boyle
O'Boyle has over 19 seasons as an offensive line position coach and 35 seasons as a college coach, with experience across the FBS, FCS and Division II ranks, including seven as a head coach.
O’Boyle helped the offensive line improve by allowing 27 fewer sacks than the season prior to his arrival in his first season in Evanston in 2024. Left tackle Caleb Tiernan was named All-Big Ten and the eighth-highest graded offensive tackle in the country.
He previously was the offensive line coach at Colorado in 2023, where he helped the Buffaloes increase their scoring offense by 12.8 points per game from the previous season.
Prior to coaching at Colorado, O'Boyle spent five seasons (2018-22) as the offensive line coach and run game coordinator at Kent State, where he molded the Golden Flashes offensive line into one of the best in the Mid-American Conference by posting three consecutive seasons averaging 200 or more rushing yards per game. His offensive line paved the way for a ground game that led the MAC and ranked 22nd nationally by rushing for 202.1 yards per game in 2022. Over a three year span from 2020-22, Kent State ranked No. 3 in the FBS in rushing yards–only behind Air Force and Army.
The 2021 Flashes won their first MAC East Division title in 10 seasons, and made their fifth bowl game appearance in school history (Famous Idaho Potato Bowl) in large part due to O'Boyle's work with the ground attack, as they posted 248.6 rushing yards per game, the third-best mark in the country and the top finish among non-triple option teams. Kent State posted 495.2 yards of total offense per game, the fourth-best mark nationally.
In 2020, Kent State posted the nation's best scoring offense, averaging 49.8 points per game, and ranked third nationally rushing for 283.0 yards per game, the best mark at the school in over 65 years. The Golden Flashes set a program record and led the nation by posting 606.5 yards of total offense per game.
O'Boyle helped guide Kent State to a 51-41 victory over Utah State in the 2019 Tropical Smoothie Café Frisco Bowl, the first postseason win in program history. Under his watch, the offense averaged over 400 total yards per game for the season. While at Kent State, O'Boyle had six offensive linemen named All-MAC, after the school had just six All-MAC offensive linemen in the 16 seasons before his arrival.
O'Boyle spent 2016 and 2017 as the offensive line coach at South Dakota, where the 2017 Coyote team reached the second round of the FCS Playoffs and defeated four ranked teams that season.
From 2013-15, O'Boyle worked at Southern Illinois where he began his tenure as the offensive line coach and later took on co-offensive coordinator and assistant head coach duties. In three seasons at SIU, O'Boyle helped the Salukis improve in scoring offense and passing offense each season. In 2014, the Salukis set a program record for touchdown passes and averaged nearly 500 yards of total offense per game in 2015, the second-best mark in school history.
O'Boyle spent the 2012 season as the offensive coordinator at Colorado Mesa. He spent the previous 18 seasons working at Division II Chadron State.
From 2005 to 2011, O'Boyle was the head coach at Chadron State with an overall record of 57-21. He coached the team to three straight undefeated Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference championships. Under O'Boyle, the Eagles won 28 straight RMAC games and earned three NCAA Division II playoff berths, advancing to the quarterfinals in 2006 and 2007 and to the second round in 2008. While at Chadron, he coached NFL running back and two-time Harlon Hill Trophy winner Danny Woodhead.
In 2006 O'Boyle was recognized by Football Gazette as the National Coach of the Year as well as the Sportexe Division II Coach of the Year. He was also a three-time RMAC Coach of the Year. A year later, he was named the Division-II Liberty Mutual National Coach of the Year for the 2007 season.
Before being named head coach, O'Boyle was the offensive coordinator at Chadron State from 1999 to 2004 and an assistant coach from 1994 to 1998. He spent the previous four seasons at his alma mater, Western Illinois as the offensive line coach. O'Boyle's first coaching assignment was also at Chadron State in 1987, serving as the offensive line coach.
O'Boyle played three seasons at Western Illinois and was a two-year starter, and also earned his degree in physical education and studio art.
Quotables
"We are so excited to have Bill O'Boyle on our coaching staff at Northwestern. Bill brings a wealth of knowledge and deep-rooted passion for the game. His expertise and commitment to player development will be instrumental in elevating our program to new heights, and we're excited to see the impact he'll make both on our offensive line and the entire team."– Dan & Susan Jones Family Head Football Coach David Braun
"I'm incredibly grateful for the opportunity to join Coach Braun's staff and become a part of the Northwestern football family. The commitment that Northwestern and Coach Braun have shown to the holistic development of student-athletes is truly admirable, and I'm excited to contribute to that mission."
– Offensive Line Coach Bill O'Boyle