Coach Bryan Jackson Bossard

Bryan Jackson Bossard, was born on June 29, 1967, to the union of Winnifred Beatrice Wright and Belasco Jackson Bossard, Jr., in Camden, South Carolina. Bryan was their second born child, and departed this life on October 17, 2022, at The Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Known as Coach Bo, many in the collegiate and professional Football Community are reeling upon hearing of his death. The outpouring of love and support to his family has been tremendous.
In 1969, Jack and Winnie Bossard, Bryan's parents, relocated from South Carolina to Dover, Delaware with their two sons, Eric and Bryan.
Bryan attended Towne Point Elementary School, William Henry Middle School and then on to Dover High School. He played Pop Warner Football, Little League baseball, ran track and at Dover High School, he was an outstanding football player on the Senators squad. Bryan graduated from Dover High School in 1985 and was presented with a full academic scholarship to the University of Delaware (UD).
On the field at the University of Delaware Bryan was a three-year letter winner under the legendary coach Tubby Raymond. Bryan played a defensive back for Delaware from 1986-88. He led Delaware with 122 tackles in 1988 which is the 11th most in UD history and 2nd most by a defensive back. He recorded 22 tackles against Navy, a mark that still ranks third all-time in program history and as a senior he earned All-Yankee Conference Second Team honors. He would later join the coaching staff at Delaware four different times and had 12 total seasons there as an assistant coach.
Coach Bo started as a graduate assistant at Delaware in 1990. He coached at Morehouse College (1991), West Chester University (1992 Spring) and Bucknell (1992-93) before returning to the University of Delaware Blue Hens in 1994. In his second stint at UD, Bo helped lead Delaware to three consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances, including a national semifinals appearance in 1997. Following stops at Army (1999) and Wyoming (2000-01), Bo returned for a third stint with the UD coaching staff from 2002-04. Serving as the wide receivers and returners coach, as well as the passing game coordinator, Bossard helped lead the Blue Hens to the 2003 NCAA I-AA (FCS) national title with a 15-1 mark and led the 2004 squad to a berth in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. During Delaware's championship season, the Blue Hens had three different receivers catch 50+ passes. Bo also spent time at the FBS level with coaching stops at both Maryland (2005-07) and Pittsburgh (2008-09) where he coached the wide receivers and returners.
After a four-year stint as the offensive coordinator at Bucknell, Bo made his fourth stop in Newark where he returned as the wide receivers coach from 2014-16. From there Bryan returned home to Dover, Delaware to help care for his mother. He was hired at Caesar Rodney High School, Camden, Delaware and taught Agribusiness and was the offensive coordinator for their football team, the CR Riders where he helped guide them to an appearance in the State Playoffs. Finally, the opportunity came about for him to join the coaching staff at Delaware State University prior to the 2020-21 Spring season, and he took over as the offensive coordinator midway through 2021. In the final two games of the fall 2021 season with Bossard calling plays, the Hornets averaged 27.0 points and 344.0 total yards, in addition to throwing seven touchdown passes. The DSU offense averaged 21.5 points per game through the first two games of the 2022 season before Coach Bo stepped down due to his illness.
Other highlights of his coaching career include traveling to Ireland with the Chicago Bears when they played an NFL game over there and he was interning with the Bears organization in their Minority Intern Coaching program. Bryan also traveled to Washington DC with the Blue Hens after they won 2003 NCAA I-AA (FCS) national title with a 15-1 record and was welcomed at the United States Capitol by then Senator Joe Biden, University of Delaware alum. He experienced coaching in a number of bowl games including 2009 Sun Bowl in El Paso, TX, the 2007 Emerald Bowl in San Francisco, CA and the 2006 Citrus Bowl in Orlando, FL.
In Spring 1995, Bryan Bossard was initiated into Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Incorporated, Psi Iota Chapter, Dover, Delaware becoming a Legacy Que as he joined his father, Belasco "Jack' Bossard in the illustrious fraternity.
Coach Bo, Bryan, touched so many lives and while he was a standout football player and coach, he was an outstanding man, father, brother, uncle, cousin, teammate, colleague, fraternity brother and friend. Bryan earned many awards, trophies, and recognition throughout his scholastic and athletic career, but his greatest joy was being dad to his two sons, Xen and Xyon Bossard.
Bryan was preceded in death by his parents, Belasco J. Bossard, Jr. and Winnie W. Bossard.
Bryan leaves to mourn and celebrate his home going, his sons, Xen Bossard and Xyon Bossard of Bear, Delaware; brother, Eric Bossard (JoAnne) of Lansdale, Pennsylvania; first cousins, Vanessa Wright Adams of Camden, South Carolina and Jacqueline Rutledge of Seneca, South Carolina; nephews, Brandon Bossard, Justin Bossard, Connor Bossard, Calvin Miller, Elliott Miller, Benjamin Miller; his son's mother, Kimber; extended family along with his best friends affectionately referred to as "brothers from other mothers"; and a community of people who loved, admired and respected him.
He fought a good fight. Bryan's purpose here has been fulfilled and he has left a beautiful and lasting legacy for all who knew him.