Chris Ault
{{Short description|American athletic director, football coach and former player}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox college coach
| name = Chris Ault
| image = Christ Ault Reno Navy Week Sept 16, 2009.jpg
| alt =
| caption = Ault on September 16, 2009
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1946|11|8}}
| birth_place = San Bernardino, California, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| alma_mater =
| player_years1 = 1965–1968
| player_team1 = Nevada
| player_positions = Quarterback
| coach_years1 = 1968
| coach_team1 = Churchill County HS (NV) (assistant)
| coach_years2 = 1969–1971
| coach_team2 = Bishop Manogue HS (NV)
| coach_years3 = 1972
| coach_team3 = Reno HS (NV)
| coach_years4 = 1973–1975
| coach_team4 = UNLV (assistant)
| coach_years5 = 1976–1992
| coach_team5 = Nevada
| coach_years6 = 1994–1995
| coach_team6 = Nevada
| coach_years7 = 2004–2012
| coach_team7 = Nevada
| coach_years8 = 2016–2017
| coach_team8 = Rhinos Milano
| admin_years1 = 1986–2004
| admin_team1 = Nevada
| admin_years2 = 2013–2015
| admin_team2 = Kansas City Chiefs (consultant)
| overall_record = 234–108–1 (college){{#tag:ref|In 1985, UNLV was forced to forfeit all 7 wins from the 1983 season and all 11 wins from the 1984 season, including their victory in the California Bowl.{{cite news|last = McCurdie|first = Jim|url = https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1985-03-13-sp-22150-story.html|title = UNLV Punished for Using Ineligible Football Players|date = March 13, 1985|work = Los Angeles Times|access-date = October 1, 2019}} Ault and his team were given a win and the Fremont Cannon as a result. See Wikipedia:WikiProject College football/Vacated victories for an explanation of how vacated victories are recorded.|group = "n"|name = forfeitedwins}}
| bowl_record = 2–8
| tournament_record = 9–7 (NCAA D-I-AA playoffs)
| championships = 4 Big Sky (1983, 1986, 1990–1991)
3 Big West (1992, 1994–1995)
2 WAC (2005, 2010)
Italian Football League Champion (2016)
| awards = Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year (1991)
4× Big Sky Coach of the Year (1983, 1986, 1990–1991)
2× WAC Coach of the Year (2005, 2010)
| coaching_records =
| CFBHOF_year = 2002
| CFBHOF_id = 2060
}}
Christopher Thomas Ault (born November 8, 1946) is a former American football player, coach, and college athletics administrator. 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. He also coached in the Italian Football League. He recently served as a member of the Nevada Athletic Commission, overseeing all boxing and UFC fights in the state. Chris Ault is currently on the College Football Playoff Selection Committee.
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.{{cite news|url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/20031204/grid04/nevada-ad-ault-succeeds-tormey|title=Nevada AD Ault succeeds Tormey|date=December 4, 2003|work=The Seattle Times}}{{cite news|url=http://nevadasagebrush.com/blog/2007/09/25/ault-deserves-credit-for-coaching-accomplishments/|title=Ault deserves credit for coaching accomplishments|date=September 25, 2007|work=The Nevada Sagebrush|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090926192216/http://nevadasagebrush.com/blog/2007/09/25/ault-deserves-credit-for-coaching-accomplishments/|archive-date=September 26, 2009|url-status=dead}} 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.{{cite web|url=https://docs.google.com/gview?a=v&q=cache:KURc4MzyJt4J:www.unr.edu/facultysenate/Meetings/Archives/03-04/12.10.03min.pdf+chris+ault+tormey&hl=en&gl=us|title=2003-04 Faculty Senate minutes|date=December 10, 2003|work=University of Nevada, Reno|access-date=November 8, 2016|archive-date=April 8, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230408105130/https://docs.google.com/gview?a=v&q=cache:KURc4MzyJt4J:www.unr.edu/facultysenate/Meetings/Archives/03-04/12.10.03min.pdf+chris+ault+tormey&hl=en&gl=us|url-status=dead}}
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.{{cite news|url=http://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/8788306/chris-ault-retires-coach-nevada-wolf-pack|title=Nevada coach Chris Ault retires]|date=December 28, 2012|work=ESPN}} He had spent 41 years―all but seven years of his adult life―at Nevada as a player, coach or administrator.
=Italian Football League=
On September 17, 2015, Rhinos Milano announced Ault as new head coach for the 2016 season.{{cite web|url=http://www.rhinos.it/2015/09/17/una-leggenda-alla-guida-dei-rhinos-chris-ault/|title=Una leggenda alla guida dei Rhinos: Chris Ault!|date=September 17, 2015|publisher=Rhinos Milano}} On July 9, 2016, he won the Italian Football League Italian Bowl Championship after an undefeated season and a 13 games win streak. Ault led the Rhinos to the Italian Bowl championship game again in 2017 but this time lost to Seamen Milano, 37–29.
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. His daughter, Lisa, is married to American baseball coach, John Savage. His grandson, Jack, is a staff member of the Jim Rome radio show.
Head coaching record
=College=
{{CFB Yearly Record Start | type = coach | team = | conf = | bowl = | poll = both | poll1 = Coaches | poll2 = AP/NCAA }}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subhead
| name = Nevada Wolf Pack
| conf = NCAA Division II independent
| startyear = 1976
| endyear = 1977
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = 1976
| name = Nevada
| overall = 8–3
| conference =
| confstanding =
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking =
| ranking2 =
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = 1977
| name = Nevada
| overall = 8–3
| conference =
| confstanding =
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking =
| ranking2 = 7
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subhead
| name = Nevada Wolf Pack
| conf = NCAA Division I-AA independent
| startyear = 1978
| endyear = single
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = 1978
| name = Nevada
| overall = 11–1
| conference =
| confstanding =
| bowlname = NCAA Division I-AA Semifinal
| bowloutcome = L
| bcsbowl =
| ranking =
| ranking2 = 1
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subhead
| name = Nevada Wolf Pack
| conf = Big Sky Conference
| startyear = 1979
| endyear = 1991
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = 1979
| name = Nevada
| overall = 8–4
| conference = 5–2
| confstanding = 2nd
| bowlname = NCAA Division I-AA Semifinal
| bowloutcome = L
| bcsbowl =
| ranking =
| ranking2 = 5
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = 1980
| name = Nevada
| overall = 6–4–1
| conference = 4–3
| confstanding = T–2nd
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking =
| ranking2 =
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = 1981
| name = Nevada
| overall = 7–4
| conference = 4–3
| confstanding = T–4th
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking =
| ranking2 =
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = 1982
| name = Nevada
| overall = 6–5
| conference = 3–4
| confstanding = T–5th
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking =
| ranking2 =
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship = conference
| year = 1983
| name = Nevada
| conference = 6–1
| confstanding = 1st
| bowlname = NCAA Division I-AA Semifinal
| bowloutcome = L
| bcsbowl =
| ranking =
| ranking2 = 11
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = 1984
| name = Nevada
| overall = 7–4
| conference = 5–2
| confstanding = 2nd
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking =
| ranking2 =
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = 1985
| name = Nevada
| overall = 11–2
| conference = 6–1
| confstanding = 2nd
| bowlname = NCAA Division I-AA Quarterfinal
| bowloutcome = L
| bcsbowl =
| ranking =
| ranking2 = 2
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship = conference
| year = 1986
| name = Nevada
| overall = 13–1
| conference = 7–0
| confstanding = 1st
| bowlname = NCAA Division I-AA Semifinal
| bowloutcome = L
| bcsbowl =
| ranking =
| ranking2 = 1
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = 1987
| name = Nevada
| overall = 5–6
| conference = 4–4
| confstanding = T–4th
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking =
| ranking2 =
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = 1988
| name = Nevada
| overall = 7–4
| conference = 4–4
| confstanding = T–4th
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking =
| ranking2 =
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = 1989
| name = Nevada
| overall = 7–4
| conference = 5–3
| confstanding = T–3rd
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking =
| ranking2 = 19
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship = conference
| year = 1990
| name = Nevada
| overall = 13–2
| conference = 7–1
| confstanding = 1st
| bowlname = NCAA Division I-AA Championship
| bowloutcome = L
| bcsbowl =
| ranking =
| ranking2 = 4
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship = conference
| year = 1991
| name = Nevada
| overall = 12–1
| conference = 8–0
| confstanding = 1st
| bowlname = NCAA Division I-AA Quarterfinal
| bowloutcome = L
| bcsbowl =
| ranking =
| ranking2 = 1
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subhead
| name = Nevada Wolf Pack
| conf = Big West Conference
| startyear = 1992
| endyear = single
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship = conference
| year = 1992
| name = Nevada
| overall = 7–5
| conference = 5–1
| confstanding = 1st
| bowlname = Las Vegas
| bowloutcome = L
| bcsbowl =
| ranking =
| ranking2 =
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subhead
| name = Nevada Wolf Pack
| conf = Big West Conference
| startyear = 1994
| endyear = 1995
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship = conference
| year = 1994
| name = Nevada
| overall = 9–2
| conference = 6–1
| confstanding = T–1st
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking =
| ranking2 =
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship = conference
| year = 1995
| name = Nevada
| overall = 9–3
| conference = 7–0
| confstanding = 1st
| bowlname = Las Vegas
| bowloutcome = L
| bcsbowl =
| ranking =
| ranking2 =
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subhead
| name = Nevada Wolf Pack
| conf = Western Athletic Conference
| startyear = 2004
| endyear = 2011
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = 2004
| name = Nevada
| overall = 5–7
| conference = 3–5
| confstanding = T–6th
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking =
| ranking2 =
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship = conference
| year = 2005
| name = Nevada
| overall = 9–3
| conference = 7–1
| confstanding = T–1st
| bowlname = Hawaii
| bowloutcome = W
| bcsbowl =
| ranking =
| ranking2 =
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = 2006
| name = Nevada
| overall = 8–5
| conference = 5–3
| confstanding = T–3rd
| bowlname = MPC Computers
| bowloutcome = L
| bcsbowl =
| ranking =
| ranking2 =
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = 2007
| name = Nevada
| overall = 6–7
| conference = 4–4
| confstanding = T–4th
| bowlname = New Mexico
| bowloutcome = L
| bcsbowl =
| ranking =
| ranking2 =
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = 2008
| name = Nevada
| overall = 7–6
| conference = 5–3
| confstanding = T–2nd
| bowlname = Humanitarian
| bowloutcome = L
| bcsbowl =
| ranking =
| ranking2 =
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = 2009
| name = Nevada
| overall = 8–5
| conference = 7–1
| confstanding = 2nd
| bowlname = Hawaii
| bowloutcome = L
| bcsbowl =
| ranking =
| ranking2 =
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship = conference
| year = 2010
| name = Nevada
| overall = 13–1
| conference = 7–1
| confstanding = T–1st
| bowlname = Kraft Fight Hunger
| bowloutcome = W
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = 13
| ranking2 = 11
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = 2011
| name = Nevada
| overall = 7–6
| conference = 5–2
| confstanding = T–2nd
| bowlname = Hawaii
| bowloutcome = L
| bcsbowl =
| ranking =
| ranking2 =
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subhead
| name = Nevada Wolf Pack
| conf = Mountain West Conference
| startyear = 2012
| endyear = single
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = 2012
| name = Nevada
| overall = 7–6
| conference = 4–4
| confstanding = 5th
| bowlname = New Mexico
| bowloutcome = L
| bcsbowl =
| ranking =
| ranking2 =
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subtotal
| name = Nevada
| confrecord = 133–53
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record End
| bowls = no
| poll = two
| polltype =
}}
See also
Notes
{{Reflist|group="n"}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{College Football HoF|2060}}
- [https://nevadawolfpack.com/sports/football/roster/coaches/chris-ault/232 Nevada profile]
{{Navboxes
|list =
{{Nevada Wolf Pack quarterback navbox}}
{{Nevada Wolf Pack football coach navbox}}
{{Nevada Wolf Pack athletic director navbox}}
{{Eddie Robinson Award}}
}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ault, Chris}}
Category:American football quarterbacks
Category:Nevada Wolf Pack athletic directors
Category:Nevada Wolf Pack football coaches
Category:Nevada Wolf Pack football players
Category:UNLV Rebels football coaches
Category:High school football coaches in Nevada
Category:College Football Hall of Fame inductees
Category:Sportspeople from San Bernardino, California
Category:American expatriate players of American football
Category:American expatriate sportspeople in Italy
Category:Sigma Alpha Epsilon members