Jay Boulware rounds out OU football coaching staff
BY ERIC BAILEY World Sports Writer
Saturday, March 02, 2013
3/02/13 at 6:19 AM
NORMAN - Oklahoma's coaching staff has turned younger following an offseason filled with restructuring.
Jay Boulware was the Sooners' final member announced by Bob Stoops on Friday afternoon. The 40-year-old was on Wisconsin's staff for seven weeks prior to joining the Sooners. During four previous seasons, he was Auburn's tight ends coach and special teams coordinator. He will assume a similar role at OU.
Boulware joins Bill Bedenbaugh (offensive line) and Jerry Montgomery (defensive line) as new members on OU's staff. Boulware and Bedenbaugh are 40 years old. Montgomery is 33. The trio replaces Bruce Kittle (54 years old), Jackie Shipp (50) and James Patton (41).
Boulware, who was born in Oklahoma City, was an offensive tackle at Texas between 1991-92. After three seasons as a student assistant and graduate assistant in Austin, he coached at six FBS schools before landing at Oklahoma.
"Jay owns an impressive track record as both a coach and recruiter," Stoops said in a statement. "He possesses a wide range of coaching experience, competing in some of the nation's toughest conferences.
"He also has strong ties in the state of Texas, as well as recruiting relationships across the country that will serve us well at the University of Oklahoma. We enthusiastically welcome Jay back to his roots in the Big 12."
Boulware's expertise is special teams. In 2012, Auburn's punt coverage team ranked second nationally and the kickoff coverage team finished third nationally.
During an introductory press conference at Wisconsin, Boulware was asked what he wanted out of his special teams unit.
"The biggest things we look for from special teams is energy and enthusiasm," Boulware said.
His recruiting prowess may benefit Oklahoma. During his Wisconsin news conference, Boulware said his recruiting strengths were in Florida and the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
"I have the utmost respect for Coach Stoops and his program at the University of Oklahoma," Boulware said in a statement. "To have a chance to join the Oklahoma staff is an unbelievable professional and personal opportunity. I'm looking forward to the start of spring practice and the chance to work with the talented student-athletes and coaches on OU's roster."
Boulware has coached at Northern Illinois (1997-2000), Arizona (2001-03), Stanford (2004), Utah (2005-06) and Iowa State (2007-08) prior to his time at Auburn.
JAY BOULWARE
Age: 40
College: Texas, 1996
Family: Wife, Chantay; daughter, Jordin
Coaching history: Auburn, 2009-12 (tight ends, special teams coordinator); Iowa State, 2007-08 (running backs, special teams coordinator); Utah, 2005-06 (tight ends, co-special teams coordinator); Stanford, 2004 (running backs); Arizona, 2001-03 (running backs, special teams coordinator in '03, running backs in '02); Northern Illinois, 1997-2000 (co-offensive line in '98-2000, tight ends in '97), Texas, 1994-96 (graduate assistant in '96, student assistant in '94-'95).
Original Print Headline: Boulware rounds out OU staff
Eric Bailey 918-581-8391
eric.bailey@tulsaworld.com
