Bio

With impeccable hands and a powerful leg, UW-Oshkosh’s Jim Wild established himself as one of the top football players in the WIAC during the early 1980s.

Wild played both wide receiver and punter for the Titans from 1980-83. In doing so, the Dodgeland High School graduate became the third member of his family to play football at UW-Oshkosh, following the footsteps of brothers, Gary and Bruce. Wild’s brother, Gary, was inducted into the UW-Oshkosh Hall of Fame in 1988.

Wild was a four-time All-WIAC award winner at UW-Oshkosh. In 1983, he was named WIAC Player of the Year after earning all-league first team accolades at both the wide receiver and punter positions. Wild also received All-WIAC first team status in 1981 and All-WIAC second team mention in 1982 as a punter.

Wild caught 10 passes for 140 yards and punted the football 21 times for an average of 35.0 yards per kick in 1980. The following year, Wild caught 13 passes for 162 yards and one touchdown while punting the football 60 times for an average of 38.4 yards per boot. He led the WIAC in punting that year and ranked 15th in the NCAA Division III.

Wild had a big season for the Titans in 1982 by catching 51 passes for 534 yards and six touchdowns. He led UW-Oshkosh in all three pass receiving categories while punting the football 58 times for an average of 36.8 yards per kick.

Wild authored a distinguished season in 1983 when he caught 41 passes for 871 yards and eight touchdowns to lead UW-Oshkosh in all three areas. He also punted the football 59 times for an average of 38.2 yards per kick.

Wild had two exceptional games for the Titans in 1983. In a 28-7 loss to UW-Eau Claire, he caught a career-best nine passes for 114 yards, including a 4-yard touchdown grab from quarterback Kevin Reichardt. In a 28-7 win over UW-Stevens Point, he hauled in seven passes for a career-best 203 yards, including touchdown receptions of 37 and 84 yards from quarterback Mark Baalke.

Wild finished his UW-Oshkosh career with 115 pass receptions for 1,707 yards and 15 touchdowns. In school history, he ranks fifth in career pass receptions, eighth in career pass receiving yardage and ninth in career touchdown catches. Wild punted the football 198 times during his career for an average of 37.5 yards per kick. 

Successful in business and active in the community, Wild is currently the president of Jim Wild Painting in Reeseville and an assistant football coach at Dodgeland High School. Wild and his wife, Denise, are the parents of three children, Samantha, Alexandra and Stephanie.