Arne Ferguson enters his 20th season (and 21st year) as the head coach of the Western Oregon football program in 2024 and his 40th year overall with the Wolves.
Ferguson owns a record of 109-96 overall at WOU - the second most wins in program history behind only Bill McArthur (180 wins in 36 seasons). The Wolves have had a winning season in 12 of those 19 seasons - including in 2024 as the Wolves went 6-5 overall, including 6-3 in the Lone Star Conference to finish tied for third. WOU also tied for third in the LSC in its inaugural season in the conference in 2022.
WOU completed play in the GNAC in 2021 and is one of two Division II football programs on the West Coast (Central Washington is the other).
In the second-to-last season of play in the GNAC, Ferguson led the Wolves to a share of their first-ever GNAC title - leading him to being named GNAC Coach of the Year. Playing one of the toughest schedules around in 2019, the Wolves showed resiliency as they went 7-4 facing top teams from not just the Great Northwest Athletic Conference, but the Lone Star Conference defeating future conference foes Texas A&M-Kingsville and Midwestern State, while coming close against Texas A&M-Commerce (NCAA postseason team) and Eastern New Mexico (bowl game appearance).
In addition to Ferguson being named Coach of the Year, 27 total Wolves earned GNAC accolades. Eleven were named to the first team on both offense and defense with Ty Currie tabbed the Offensive Player of the Year, Joseph Gonzales the Co-Offensive Lineman of the Year, Blayne Burnett the Defensive Linemand of the Year and Avery Bilensky as the Newcomer of the Year. Currie was later nominated for the Harlon Hill Trophy, Gonzales for the Gene Upshaw Award, then the trio of Jaylin Parnell, Burnett and Proctor, Jr. for the Cliff Harris Award. Gonzales also earned NFCA All-American honors.
Ferguson began his run as head coach of the Wolves in 2005, and promptly turned a 1-9 team (2004) into a 5-6 club that fall. WOU then went 6-4 in 2006, losing all four games by a total of just 21 points. He then guided Western Oregon to one of the best records in program history with a 9-2 mark and a victory in the Rotary Bowl. In 2008, the Wolves went 7-4 with a 5-2 record on the road. He then followed it up with a 5-5 campaign in 2009 and a 7-4 mark in 2010 as the program
In his time as head coach, Ferguson has had 12 players earn All-American honors (Kevin Boss 2004-06, Jon Apgar 2005, Matt Cox 2008, Jason Slowey 2010-11, Caleb Singleton 2010, Bryce Peila 2011, Marcus Cuellar 2013, Kraig Akins 2013, Paul Revis 2017, Joseph Gonzales 2019, Jaylin Parnell 2022, Joey Sinclair 2022).
Western Oregon has also had two NFL draft picks during Ferguson's tenure. Kevin Boss was drafted by the New York Giants in the fifth round of the 2007 draft and helped the Giants win the Super Bowl as the starting tight end. In 2011, Jason Slowey went to the San Francisco 49ers in the sixth round. Additionally, wide receiver Tyrell Williams signed with the San Diego Chargers as an undrafted free agent in 2015.
Ferguson started his journey at WOU as a player from 1985-88. Ferguson was a three-time All-CFA choice, earning first-team honors in 1986 and 1987 and was a second-team pick as a senior. He led Western Oregon with 65 tackles, seven pass deflections and three interceptions in 1987.
Ferguson began his coaching career at Western Oregon in 1989 and has been on the sidelines at McArthur Field ever since, minus a one-year stint in the high school coaching ranks (Silverton, 1992). He coached the defensive backs and linebackers at WOU before becoming the defensive coordinator in 1997. His defensive squad that season was one of the most feared in the conference and was a major component in the Wolves' CFA title drive that year.
Ferguson graduated from Vale High School in 1983, where he was a standout in football, basketball and baseball. He and his wife April make their home in Monmouth, where they are parents to sons Logan and Brooks.
