Jay Boulware
Encyclopedia
Jay Boulware is an American
college football
assistant coach at Auburn University
, serving as special teams coordinator and tight ends coach
under new head coach Gene Chizik
. He has spent over a decade as an assistant coach, primarily in the Big 12
and Pac 10 conferences. Most recently, he served as the running backs coach
and special teams coordinator of the Iowa State Cyclones
.
before becoming a graduate assistant
working with the tight ends in 1996.
Boulware received his first full time position coaching tight ends at Northern Illinois University
, where after one season he was promoted to co-offensive line coach. During his four years at NIU, Boulware helped develop one of the best offenses in the nation as the Huskies
ranked 12th in the nation in both rushing and scoring and 19th in total offense. In 2001, Boulware was lured away as tight ends coach for John Mackovic
at Arizona. Boulware was also put in charge of special teams for the first time in his career and the following season his Wildcats
kick returns unit finished ranked 4th in the nation. Upon the firing of Mackovic, Boulware left to join the Stanford
staff as the running backs coach
. In the summer months of 2004, Boulware honed his coaching skills working with the San Francisco 49ers
as a participant in the NFL
Minority Coaching Fellowship Program.
After Urban Meyer
left for the Florida
job, newly promoted Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham
brought in Boulware to fill the vacant position coaching tight ends. He also served as co-special teams coordinator where he oversaw the nation's top ranked punting.
He left the Utes
to join Gene Chizik
's staff at Iowa State in 2007, serving as running backs coach and special teams coordinator. In Boulware's first season, newcomer tailbacks Alexander Robinson and J.J. Bass both posted a pair of 100-yard games. The performances marked the first time two different Cyclone running backs topped the century barrier twice in a single season since 2002. ISU's special teams finished second in the Big 12
in punting during 2008. The Cyclones also improved to 12th nationally in kickoff returns after ranking 109th the previous season.
When Chizik left to take the head coach position at Auburn
, he brought Boulware along. On January 4, 2009, it was announced Boulware would serve as special teams coordinator as well as fill the vacant spot coaching tight ends. While special teams struggled due to depth issues during the 2009 season, junior college transfer Demond Washington ended the season ranked 6th in the nation in kickoff returns (averaging over 31 yards per return).
Coach Boulware has experience coaching in 6 bowl games including the 1994 Sun Bowl
, 1995 Sugar Bowl
, 1996 (1997) Fiesta Bowl
, 2005 Emerald Bowl
, 2006 Armed Forces Bowl
and 2010 Outback Bowl
.
n. At NIU, Ryan Diem
, a three-year starter for Boulware, was a two-time all-MAC selection and was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts
in 2001
. He was joined by another all-MAC player in McAllister Collins. Boulware was also responsible for recruiting current Atlanta Falcons
running back Michael Turner to Northern Illinois.
While at Arizona, Boulware coached second-team all-PAC10 running back Mike Bell who is now playing for the New Orleans Saints
. At Utah, he helped freshman kick returner Brent Casteel earn honorable mention Freshman All-America honors from Sporting News, averaging over 23 yards per return. While at Iowa State, he coached another standout freshman kickoff returner, Leonard Johnson, to a top-20 national performance. The Rivals.com
second-team Freshman All-American kick returner was the 2nd leading returner in his class after gaining 1055 yards, averaging over 26 yards per return. With 319 kickoff return yards against Oklahoma State
, Johnson set an NCAA FBS single-game record.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
assistant coach at Auburn University
Auburn University
Auburn University is a public university located in Auburn, Alabama, United States. With more than 25,000 students and 1,200 faculty members, it is one of the largest universities in the state. Auburn was chartered on February 7, 1856, as the East Alabama Male College, a private liberal arts...
, serving as special teams coordinator and tight ends coach
Tight ends coach
A tight ends coach is a coach in charge of the tight ends in American football. The tight ends coach typically operates under the team's offensive coordinator....
under new head coach Gene Chizik
Gene Chizik
Eugene "Gene" Chizik is an American football coach and former player. He is currently the head coach of the Auburn University football team, a position he has held since the 2009 season. Chizik's 2010 Auburn Tigers football team completed a 14–0 season with a victory over Oregon in the BCS...
. He has spent over a decade as an assistant coach, primarily in the Big 12
Big 12 Conference
The Big 12 Conference is a college athletic conference of ten schools located in the Central United States, with its headquarters located in Las Colinas, a community in the Dallas, Texas suburb of Irving...
and Pac 10 conferences. Most recently, he served as the running backs coach
Running backs coach
A running backs coach is a coach in charge of the running backs in gridiron football. The running backs coach typically operates under the team's offensive coordinator....
and special teams coordinator of the Iowa State Cyclones
Iowa State Cyclones football
The Iowa State Cyclones football team represents Iowa State University in college football. The Cyclones compete in the Big 12 Conference in the NCAA's Division I Football Bowl Subdivision. ISU started playing football in 1892, however, it did not become an official sport until 1894...
.
Personal life
Boulware earned his bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Texas in 1996. He is married to Chantay Sanders-Boulware, with whom he has one daughter, Jordin.Coaching career
The coaching career of Jay Boulware began while he was still a student-athlete at the University of Texas. After two years as a backup offensive tackle, Boulware was slated to start in 1993 before his career ended after being diagnosed with cardiac arrhythmia. No longer able to play, he became a student-assistant coach for the LonghornsTexas Longhorns football
The Texas Longhorns football program is the intercollegiate football team representing The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas. The team currently competes in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision as a member of the Big 12 Conference which is a Division I Bowl Subdivision of the National...
before becoming a graduate assistant
Graduate assistant
A graduate assistant is a position who serves in a support role at a university, usually while completing post-graduate education. The individual typically assists professors or with instructional responsibilities as teaching assistants, coaches with an athletic team, or university department...
working with the tight ends in 1996.
Boulware received his first full time position coaching tight ends at Northern Illinois University
Northern Illinois University
Northern Illinois University is a state university and research institution located in DeKalb, Illinois, with satellite centers in Hoffman Estates, Naperville, Rockford, and Oregon. It was originally founded as Northern Illinois State Normal School on May 22, 1895 by Illinois Governor John P...
, where after one season he was promoted to co-offensive line coach. During his four years at NIU, Boulware helped develop one of the best offenses in the nation as the Huskies
Northern Illinois Huskies football
The Northern Illinois Huskies football team represents Northern Illinois University in the Mid-American Conference of the NCAA's Division I-Football Bowl Subdivision.-History:...
ranked 12th in the nation in both rushing and scoring and 19th in total offense. In 2001, Boulware was lured away as tight ends coach for John Mackovic
John Mackovic
John Mackovic is an American football coach and former player. He is currently the head coach of United States national American football team, which was formed to compete in the American Football World Cup...
at Arizona. Boulware was also put in charge of special teams for the first time in his career and the following season his Wildcats
Arizona Wildcats football
The Arizona Wildcats football team is the football team of the University of Arizona, located in Tucson, Arizona, United States. The team competes in the Pacific-12 Conference at the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision level.-Early years:...
kick returns unit finished ranked 4th in the nation. Upon the firing of Mackovic, Boulware left to join the Stanford
Stanford Cardinal football
The Stanford Cardinal football program represents Stanford University in college football at the NCAA Division I FBS level and is a member of the Pac-12 Conference's North Division. Stanford, the top-ranked academic institution with an FBS program, has a highly successful football tradition. The...
staff as the running backs coach
Running backs coach
A running backs coach is a coach in charge of the running backs in gridiron football. The running backs coach typically operates under the team's offensive coordinator....
. In the summer months of 2004, Boulware honed his coaching skills working with the San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
as a participant in the NFL
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
Minority Coaching Fellowship Program.
After Urban Meyer
Urban Meyer
Urban Frank Meyer, III is an American football coach and former player. He is head football coach at Ohio State University, having been hired for the position in November 2011...
left for the Florida
Florida Gators football
The Florida Gators football team represents the University of Florida in the sport of American football. The Florida Gators compete in the Football Bowl Subdivision of the National Collegiate Athletics Association and the Eastern Division of the Southeastern Conference...
job, newly promoted Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham
Kyle Whittingham
Kyle Whittingham is the head football coach of the University of Utah Utes. Prior to becoming the head coach at Utah, Whittingham served as Utah's defensive coordinator for ten seasons. He was named head coach of Utah after Urban Meyer left for the Florida Gators in 2004...
brought in Boulware to fill the vacant position coaching tight ends. He also served as co-special teams coordinator where he oversaw the nation's top ranked punting.
He left the Utes
Utah Utes football
The Utah Utes football program is a college football team that currently competes in the Pacific-12 Conference of the Football Bowl Subdivision of NCAA Division I and represents the University of Utah. The Utah college football program began in 1892 and has played home games at Rice–Eccles...
to join Gene Chizik
Gene Chizik
Eugene "Gene" Chizik is an American football coach and former player. He is currently the head coach of the Auburn University football team, a position he has held since the 2009 season. Chizik's 2010 Auburn Tigers football team completed a 14–0 season with a victory over Oregon in the BCS...
's staff at Iowa State in 2007, serving as running backs coach and special teams coordinator. In Boulware's first season, newcomer tailbacks Alexander Robinson and J.J. Bass both posted a pair of 100-yard games. The performances marked the first time two different Cyclone running backs topped the century barrier twice in a single season since 2002. ISU's special teams finished second in the Big 12
Big 12 Conference
The Big 12 Conference is a college athletic conference of ten schools located in the Central United States, with its headquarters located in Las Colinas, a community in the Dallas, Texas suburb of Irving...
in punting during 2008. The Cyclones also improved to 12th nationally in kickoff returns after ranking 109th the previous season.
When Chizik left to take the head coach position at Auburn
Auburn Tigers football
Only Mohamed Amin Abughadir set the record with 1,890 yards in 1 season. He was the QB for Auburn in 1998.The Auburn Tigers football team represents Auburn University in college football as a member of the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision, competing in the Western Division of the...
, he brought Boulware along. On January 4, 2009, it was announced Boulware would serve as special teams coordinator as well as fill the vacant spot coaching tight ends. While special teams struggled due to depth issues during the 2009 season, junior college transfer Demond Washington ended the season ranked 6th in the nation in kickoff returns (averaging over 31 yards per return).
Coach Boulware has experience coaching in 6 bowl games including the 1994 Sun Bowl
1994 Sun Bowl
The 1994 Sun Bowl was a post-season college football game played on December 29, 1994. The game pitted the unranked against the #20 North Carolina Tar Heels and eventual Texas head coach Mack Brown. The game was a seesaw offensive battle...
, 1995 Sugar Bowl
1995 Sugar Bowl (December)
The 1995 Sugar Bowl was the 62nd edition of the post-season American college football Sugar Bowl bowl game. It featured the Virginia Tech Hokies and the and was held at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana on December 31, 1995...
, 1996 (1997) Fiesta Bowl
1997 Fiesta Bowl (January)
The 1997 Tostitos Fiesta Bowl game was a post-season college football bowl game between the Penn State Nittany Lions and the on January 1, 1997, at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Arizona. Penn State defeated Texas, 38-15...
, 2005 Emerald Bowl
2005 Emerald Bowl
The 2005 Emerald Bowl, part of the 2005-06 NCAA football bowl games season, was played on December 29, 2005, at AT&T Park in San Francisco, California. It featured the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, and the Utah Utes.-Game summary:...
, 2006 Armed Forces Bowl
2006 Armed Forces Bowl
The 2006 edition to the Armed Forces Bowl, the 4th edition , featured the , and the Utah Utes, both former members of the Western Athletic Conference...
and 2010 Outback Bowl
2010 Outback Bowl
The 2010 Outback Bowl was the 24th edition of the college football bowl game, and was played at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. The game started at 11 AM US EST on Friday, January 1, 2010. The game was telecast on ESPN and matched Auburn University against Northwestern University...
.
Players coached
Boulware has served as position coach for a number of prominent players over his career. While still an assistant at Texas, one of the players he coached (Pat Fitzgerald) was named a first-team All-AmericaAll-America
An All-America team is an honorary sports team composed of outstanding amateur players—those considered the best players of a specific season for each team position—who in turn are given the honorific "All-America" and typically referred to as "All-American athletes", or simply...
n. At NIU, Ryan Diem
Ryan Diem
Ryan Diem is a starting offensive tackle for the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League. Ryan Diem stands 6'6" tall and weighs 305 pounds...
, a three-year starter for Boulware, was a two-time all-MAC selection and was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts
Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League ....
in 2001
2001 NFL Draft
The 2001 NFL Draft took place on April 21–22, 2001 at the theater at Madison Square Garden, in New York City. This was the 66th National Football League draft in league history. The draft was broadcast on ESPN both days and eventually moved to ESPN2. No teams elected to claim any players in the...
. He was joined by another all-MAC player in McAllister Collins. Boulware was also responsible for recruiting current Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are a member of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
running back Michael Turner to Northern Illinois.
While at Arizona, Boulware coached second-team all-PAC10 running back Mike Bell who is now playing for the New Orleans Saints
New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They are members of the South Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League ....
. At Utah, he helped freshman kick returner Brent Casteel earn honorable mention Freshman All-America honors from Sporting News, averaging over 23 yards per return. While at Iowa State, he coached another standout freshman kickoff returner, Leonard Johnson, to a top-20 national performance. The Rivals.com
Rivals.com
Rivals.com is a network of websites that focus mainly on college football and basketball recruiting. The network was started in 1996 and currently employs more than 300 personnel.-Schools:The individual collegiate sites can be found...
second-team Freshman All-American kick returner was the 2nd leading returner in his class after gaining 1055 yards, averaging over 26 yards per return. With 319 kickoff return yards against Oklahoma State
Oklahoma State Cowboys football
The Oklahoma State Cowboys football program represents Oklahoma State University–Stillwater in college football. The team is a member of the Big 12 Conference and completes at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision level. The Cowboys are led by Mike Gundy, who is in his seventh year as...
, Johnson set an NCAA FBS single-game record.