Staff Directory
Jay Boulware
- Title:
- Running Backs Coach
- Phone:
- (304) 293-4194
Follow @CoachJ_Boulware
The Boulware File
| Personal Information | |
|---|---|
| Hometown | Irving, Texas |
| Education | Texas, 1996(Bachelor's) |
| Children | Jordin |
| Coaching History | |
|---|---|
| 1994-95 | Texas - Student Assistant |
| 1996 | Texas - Graduate Assistant |
| 1997-2000 | Northern Illinois - Tight Ends/ Co-Offensive Line |
| 2001-03 | Arizona- Tight Ends/Running Backs/ Offensive Line |
| 2004 | Stanford - Running Backs |
| 2005-06 | Utah - Tight Ends/ Co-Special Teams |
| 2007-08 | Iowa State - Running Backs/ Co-Special Teams |
| 2009-12 | Auburn - Running Backs/ Special Teams |
| 2013-19 | Oklahoma - Running Backs/ Special Teams |
| 2020 | Texas - Associate Head Coach/ Tight Ends/Special Teams |
| 2023-25 | Kentucky - Running Backs/ Special Teams |
| 2026-Present | West Virginia Running Backs |
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 individuals named all-conference, All-American, national individual finalists and NFL Draft choices.
He came to WVU from Kentucky after spending three years with the Wildcats as the running backs coach and special teams’ coordinator.
In 2025, 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.
Boulware guided the special teams to national prominence in 2024. Senior kicker Alex Raynor was named to the All-America Second Team, a Lou Groza Award Finalist, the Southeastern Conference Special Teams Player of the Year and to the All-SEC First Team. Return specialist Barion Brown was named College Football Network’s SEC Kick Returner of the Year, an All-America Honorable Mention and to the All-SEC First Team. 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).
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 PAT’s.
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.
Boulware spent two seasons (2007-08) at Iowa State coaching running backs and special teams under Gene Chizik.
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).
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 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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