Sooners Complete Coaching Staff Hiring By Adding Jay Boulware

University of Oklahoma head coach Bob Stoops announced Friday that Jay Boulware has joined the OU football staff. He will coach tight ends and will also have special teams duties to be further defined at a later date. Boulware spent the last four seasons at Auburn as tight ends coach and special teams coordinator, where he helped the Tigers to an undefeated 2010 campaign and a victory in the 2011 BCS Championship Game.

"Jay owns an impressive track record as both a coach and recruiter," Stoops said. "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."

Born in Oklahoma City, Okla., Boulware was an offensive lineman at the University of Texas before he began his coaching career with the Longhorns as both a student assistant (1994-95) and a graduate assistant (1996). His Big 12 experience also included a stint as special teams coordinator/running backs coach at Iowa State (2007-08) before joining head coach Gene Chizik at Auburn (2009-12).

"I have the utmost respect for Coach Stoops and his program at the University of Oklahoma," said Boulware. "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."

At Auburn, Boulware was part of Chizik's staff that inherited a team coming off a 5-7 record 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's star pupil at tight end while at Auburn was Philip Lutzenkirchen, a second-team All-SEC selection in 2011 who set the school's record for tight ends with 14 career touchdown receptions.

Boulware's punt coverage unit ranked second in the nation in 2012, permitting a mere four punt return yards on 70 punts. The Tigers also ranked third in the country in kickoff coverage last season, allowing 16.6 yards per return. Under Boulware's direction in 2011, Auburn led the SEC in kickoff return yards (1,264), kick return touchdowns (2), kickoff coverage (546 yards) and fewest punts returned (10).

Boulware has coached in eight bowl games, including three BCS games. He enjoyed his initial full-time coaching assignment at Northern Illinois, where he coached tight ends (1997) and served as co-offensive line coach (1998-2000). One of his star pupils with the Huskies was Ryan Diem, who spent 11 seasons as an offensive lineman with the Indianapolis Colts.

Boulware spent three seasons at Arizona 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.

After a one-year stint as running backs coach at Stanford (2004), he worked for two seasons as tight ends coach/co-special teams coordinator at Utah (2005-06). During the summer of 2004, he was part of the NFL Minority Coaching Fellowship Program with the San Francisco 49ers.

Boulware and his wife, Chantay, have a daughter, Jordin.