Rodriguez Names Boulware as Running Backs Coach
December 29, 2025 04:26 PM | Football
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - West Virginia University football coach Rich Rodriguez announced that Jay Boulware has been hired as the running backs coach on the Mountaineer staff.
"Jay Boulware brings years of successful experience as a highly respected coach and recruiter," Rodriguez said. "His knowledge of the Big 12 Conference and ability to recruit high-level players and develop running backs make him a great addition to our program. I look forward to having him join our staff here at WVU."
Boulware, a 29-year coaching veteran, comes to West Virginia after serving as the running backs coach and special teams coordinator at Kentucky for the past three years. He has coached running backs, tight ends and special teams at numerous Power 4 programs, has coached in 17 bowl games, including several BCS and CFP games and won a national championship. Programs that he worked for won seven conference championships, had numerous indviiduals named all-conference, All-American, national individual finalists and NFL Draft choices.
His resume includes working at Texas (2020-21, 1996-97), Oklahoma (2013-20), Auburn (2009-12), Iowa State (2007-09), Utah (2005-07), Stanford (2004-05) and Arizona (2000-04).
He also spent time assisting with the running backs with the Pittsburgh Steelers and did fellowships with the New Orleans Saints and the San Francisco 49ers. His first full-time coaching position was at Northern Illinois (1997-2000).
In 2023, Kentucky boasted a back who finished with 1,129 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns, in 2024 – two running backs had almost 600 yards each and in 2025, his top running back finished with more than 700 yards and 12 touchdowns.
This past season, the Wildcats finished No. 13 nationally in kickoff return defense. In 2024, UK was No. 6 nationally in punt return defense, No. 15 in net punting and No. 25 in kickoff return defense. In 2023, the Wildcats ranked No. 2 nationally in kickoff return yards, averaging 30.13 yards per return and scored a nation-leading three touchdowns.
At Texas, he helped the No. 19 Longhorns finish 7-3 overall and capture the Alamo Bowl title in 2020.
He spent seven years at Oklahoma as the special teams coordinator, five seasons as the running backs coach and two years with the tight ends. The Sooners' special teams produced 10 touchdowns, a safety and three returned
two-point PATs.
Boulware guided six of his running backs at OU to 1,000-yard seasons and five of his running backs earned first or second-team All-Big 12 honors with three players drafted in the NFL.
Before Oklahoma, he spent four seasons (2009-12) at Auburn as the tight ends coach and special teams coordinator in 2008. Two seasons later, the Tigers posted a 14-0 record capped by a 22-19 win over Oregon in the BCS Championship Game.
Boulware spent two seasons (2007-08) at Iowa State coaching running backs and special teams under Gene Chizik. The Cyclones ranked No. 12 nationally in kickoff returns in 2008, set an NCAA FBS individual record with 319 kickoff return yards against Oklahoma State. ISU was also second in the Big 12 Conference in punting that year.
Prior to Iowa State, Boulware worked for two seasons as tight ends coach/co-special teams coordinator at Utah under coach Kyle Whittingham. While there, his special teams units were among the Mountain West Conference leaders, including a kickoff return unit that led the MWC in 2006.
Boulware spent three seasons at Arizona under coach John Mackovic as tight ends coach (2001), running backs coach (2002) and running backs coach/special teams coordinator (2003). During his tenure with the Wildcats, he mentored running back Mike Bell who finished his collegiate career with 3,163 rushing yards, the third-highest total in school history, and was named second-team All-Pac 10 as a sophomore.
An all-state selection at Nimitz High School in Irving, Texas, Boulware played on the offensive and defensive lines. He went on to play at Texas as an offensive lineman in 1991. After redshirting his first year and seeing action as a reserve in 1992, he was contending for a starting position before the 1993 season but was forced to end his career after being diagnosed with a health condition.
He began his coaching career at Texas, first as a student coach (1994-95) and then as a graduate assistant (1996). He helped UT win at least a share of three conference championships and made three bowl appearances in all three of his seasons working with the staff.
In 2024, he was inducted into the Irving ISD Athletic Hall of Fame.
Boulware graduated from Texas in 1996 with a degree in economics. He has one daughter, Jordin.
"Jay Boulware brings years of successful experience as a highly respected coach and recruiter," Rodriguez said. "His knowledge of the Big 12 Conference and ability to recruit high-level players and develop running backs make him a great addition to our program. I look forward to having him join our staff here at WVU."
Boulware, a 29-year coaching veteran, comes to West Virginia after serving as the running backs coach and special teams coordinator at Kentucky for the past three years. He has coached running backs, tight ends and special teams at numerous Power 4 programs, has coached in 17 bowl games, including several BCS and CFP games and won a national championship. Programs that he worked for won seven conference championships, had numerous indviiduals named all-conference, All-American, national individual finalists and NFL Draft choices.
His resume includes working at Texas (2020-21, 1996-97), Oklahoma (2013-20), Auburn (2009-12), Iowa State (2007-09), Utah (2005-07), Stanford (2004-05) and Arizona (2000-04).
He also spent time assisting with the running backs with the Pittsburgh Steelers and did fellowships with the New Orleans Saints and the San Francisco 49ers. His first full-time coaching position was at Northern Illinois (1997-2000).
In 2023, Kentucky boasted a back who finished with 1,129 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns, in 2024 – two running backs had almost 600 yards each and in 2025, his top running back finished with more than 700 yards and 12 touchdowns.
This past season, the Wildcats finished No. 13 nationally in kickoff return defense. In 2024, UK was No. 6 nationally in punt return defense, No. 15 in net punting and No. 25 in kickoff return defense. In 2023, the Wildcats ranked No. 2 nationally in kickoff return yards, averaging 30.13 yards per return and scored a nation-leading three touchdowns.
At Texas, he helped the No. 19 Longhorns finish 7-3 overall and capture the Alamo Bowl title in 2020.
He spent seven years at Oklahoma as the special teams coordinator, five seasons as the running backs coach and two years with the tight ends. The Sooners' special teams produced 10 touchdowns, a safety and three returned
two-point PATs.
Boulware guided six of his running backs at OU to 1,000-yard seasons and five of his running backs earned first or second-team All-Big 12 honors with three players drafted in the NFL.
Before Oklahoma, he spent four seasons (2009-12) at Auburn as the tight ends coach and special teams coordinator in 2008. Two seasons later, the Tigers posted a 14-0 record capped by a 22-19 win over Oregon in the BCS Championship Game.
Boulware spent two seasons (2007-08) at Iowa State coaching running backs and special teams under Gene Chizik. The Cyclones ranked No. 12 nationally in kickoff returns in 2008, set an NCAA FBS individual record with 319 kickoff return yards against Oklahoma State. ISU was also second in the Big 12 Conference in punting that year.
Prior to Iowa State, Boulware worked for two seasons as tight ends coach/co-special teams coordinator at Utah under coach Kyle Whittingham. While there, his special teams units were among the Mountain West Conference leaders, including a kickoff return unit that led the MWC in 2006.
Boulware spent three seasons at Arizona under coach John Mackovic as tight ends coach (2001), running backs coach (2002) and running backs coach/special teams coordinator (2003). During his tenure with the Wildcats, he mentored running back Mike Bell who finished his collegiate career with 3,163 rushing yards, the third-highest total in school history, and was named second-team All-Pac 10 as a sophomore.
An all-state selection at Nimitz High School in Irving, Texas, Boulware played on the offensive and defensive lines. He went on to play at Texas as an offensive lineman in 1991. After redshirting his first year and seeing action as a reserve in 1992, he was contending for a starting position before the 1993 season but was forced to end his career after being diagnosed with a health condition.
He began his coaching career at Texas, first as a student coach (1994-95) and then as a graduate assistant (1996). He helped UT win at least a share of three conference championships and made three bowl appearances in all three of his seasons working with the staff.
In 2024, he was inducted into the Irving ISD Athletic Hall of Fame.
Boulware graduated from Texas in 1996 with a degree in economics. He has one daughter, Jordin.
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