Warrior Football Camps

About Coach Sawyer

Tom Sawyer
Head Football Coach

Head coach Tom Sawyer has made the football program at Winona State University known on a national scale since his first season with the Warriors in 1996.

In 13 seasons with the Warriors, Sawyer has coached 12 consecutive winning seasons including four seasons with double digit win totals. Sawyer ranks first all-time in program history in wins with 110 and career winning percentage with .743. He has coached in more games than any other coach in program history and is tied for first in the number of seasons coached.

After leading the Warriors to a 9-2 record in 1997 in just his second season as head coach, Sawyer was named the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Coach of the Year. The Warriors went undefeated in conference to win their first NSIC Championship under the direction of Sawyer. The nine wins posted by the Warriors were the most in a season in program history at the time. Following the season a Warrior (Travis Walch) won the NSIC Offensive Player of the Year award making it the second straight season a Warrior won the award with (Matt Brandt) winning the award in 1996.

The 1998 Warriors had the exact same results as the previous season, tying the school record for wins in a season by going 9-2 and repeating as NSIC Champions by going undefeated in conference. Once again a Warrior (Jake Goettl) was named the NSIC Offensive Player of the Year.

In 2000 Sawyer won his third NSIC Championship in five seasons as he coached the Warriors to their third-nine win season finishing with a 9-3 record overall and 7-1 in the NSIC. The Warriors made history by receiving an invitation to play in the Mineral Water Bowl which for the first time in the bowl game’s history was a matchup between two NCAA Division II teams, one from the NSIC and the other from the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association. Sawyer and his Warriors were matched up against Missouri Western State University and it took three overtimes for the Warriors to earn the victory- 43-41. Following the game a Warrior (Kevin Curtin) was named Offensive MVP and a Warrior (Nick Jaeger) was named Defensive MVP.

For his team’s efforts Sawyer was named the NSIC Coach of the Year for the second time.

Sawyer won double digit games for the first time in program history, and broke the single-season record for wins, by going 10-2 in 2001. The Warriors earned back-to-back NSIC Championships and qualified for the program’s, and the NSIC’s, first ever appearance in the NCAA Division II Playoffs.

For the second consecutive season Sawyer was named the NSIC Coach of the Year.

In 2002 Sawyer led the Warriors to a second place finish in the NSIC with a record of 8-1 and earned a second invitation from the Mineral Water Bowl. Following the bowl game a Warrior (Luke Lokanc) took home the Defensive MVP award. A Warrior linebacker (Deric Sieck) who led the NSIC in tackles won the NSIC Defensive Player of the Year award. The honors continued for the Warriors as a Warrior (Bruce Carpenter) won the NSIC Glen Galligan Award which is awarded to a football player who plays four years of football while contributing to his university and having excellent grades.

The 2003 Warriors had the best season, so far, under Sawyer. The record for wins in a season was broken again as the Warriors won 11 games and finished the season as Co-Champions of the NSIC. Sawyer and the Warriors returned to the NCAA playoffs for the second time in three seasons and made more program history. In the first round of the NCAA playoffs the Warriors defeated Emporia State University (KS) 10-3, earning the program’s first ever NCAA playoff victory and advancing to the second round for the first time in program history. Following the season a Warrior (Sieck) won NSIC Defensive Player of the Year honors for the second consecutive season finishing the season second in the NSIC in tackles.

Sawyer won the 2004 NSIC Coach of the Year award after the Warriors reached the double digit win plateau going 10-2 overall and undefeated in conference to win their sixth NSIC Championship under Sawyer. The Warriors also qualified for their second consecutive NCAA playoff appearance. Both NSIC defensive awards went to Winona State as a Warrior (Jim Stanek) was named the Defensive Player of the Year and another Warrior (Roy Kratt) was named Defensive Newcomer of the Year. The Warriors’ offense was also awarded the top honor in the NSIC as a wide receiver (Chris Samp) was named Offensive Player of the Year, who led the NSIC in reception yards per game and touchdowns scored.

In 2005 the Warriors won a share of the NSIC Championship with a record of 6-1 in conference and 8-3 overall giving the Warriors their third straight NSIC Championship. A member of the Warriors’ defense (John Tackmann) earned NSIC Defensive Player of the Year honors, finishing the season second in the NSIC in tackles.

The Warriors returned to the NCAA playoffs in 2006 after finishing the season 9-3 and 7-1 in conference. A Warrior linebacker (Tackmann) earned a second consecutive NSIC Defensive Player of the Year award. This marked the second Warriors’ defender in five years to win back-to-back Defensive Player of the Year awards and gave the Warriors five consecutive defensive award winners. This same Warrior linebacker (Tackmann) was also awarded the NSIC Glen Galligan Award.

Sawyer led the Warriors to their fifth appearance in the NCAA playoffs in 2007. The Warriors won the NSIC Championship going undefeated in conference and reaching double digit wins with a record of 10-2.

Sawyer recorded his 100th career victory at Winona State with a 49-20 win over Northern State University on October 13, 2007.

In 2008 the Warriors extended their home winning streak at Maxwell Field against NSIC opponents to 35 games.

Sawyer has recruited some outstanding football talent which includes: five Harlon Hill Award candidates, 42 All-Americans, and 211 All-NSIC selections. Sawyer has coached several Warriors who have gone on to play professional football.

Aside from coaching and teaching the game of football, Sawyer preaches to his players the value of community service by giving back and helping those who are less fortunate or experiencing difficult times. The Warriors fund raised money to go to New Orleans to help victims of Hurricane Katrina as well as helped towns affected by floods in Minnesota.

Sawyer was an assistant coach at Winona State University from 1987 to 1989 and then again from 1991 to 1994 helping the Warriors win NSIC Championships in 1993 and 1994.

Sawyer played two years of football at Winona State along with being All-NSIC while playing four years of baseball for the Warriors.

Sawyer graduated from Winona State University in 1983 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Education and in 1989 with a Master of Science degree in Education with an emphasis in Physical Education.

Sawyer is an associate professor at Winona State University in the Department of Physical Education and Sport Science.

Sawyer has a daughter named Jessica and a son named Tommy, who is a member of the Winona State football team. Sawyer and Connie Mettille live in Winona, MN.