The scoop on Jay Boulware

This guy seems to be the guy who is least known about, but who may be one of the better coaches Gene Chizik signed. From what I understand, he was an offensive lineman in college and coached running backs at Iowa State - which was a much-improved squad once he got hold of them.

Something to think about: Eddie Gran coached running backs as well as special teams at Auburn, so there's your connection between the running game and special teams. And there's also your connection between Boulware's running game coaching experience and his special teams coaching job now. Apparently the two go hand-in-hand. And since he knows a little something about blocking as a former lineman, this appears to be another great hire.

Here's Boulware's bio from the Iowa State Web site:

Jay Boulware’s tailbacks hit the ground running in his first season as running backs coach, reviving the Iowa State rushing attack.  In Boulware’s first ISU 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. Jason Scales also had a 100-yard rushing game in 2007.

Boulware coached at Texas, Northern Illinois, Arizona, Stanford and Utah before coming to Iowa State. His Ute special teams were Mountain West Conference leaders. The Utah kickoff return unit paced the MWC in 2006. Utah earned a bid to the Emerald Bowl in 2005, beating Georgia Tech 38-10. Boulware helped coach the Utah team that received a bid to the 2006 Armed Forces Bowl, in which it beat Tulsa 25-13.

It all started for Boulware at Texas, where he lettered twice on the offensive line.  First as a student coach and then as a graduate assistant, he was with the Longhorns as they participated in three bowl games.

His players have earned national honors and gone onto the NFL.  At Northern Illinois, he recruited future All-American and current Atlanta running back Michael “the Burner” Turner.  During Boulware’s tenure at NIU, the Huskie offense ranked 12th nationally in rushing as two-time all-MAC offensive lineman Ryan Diem moved on to the NFL, where he plays for the Indianapolis Colts. Arizona recruited Boulware to the Wildcat program where he coached tailback Mike Bell, an all-Pac 10 performer who now plays for the Denver Broncos.

COACHING EXPERIENCE
2007- Iowa State
Running Backs
Special Teams Coordinator 
2005-06 Utah 
Tight Ends
Co-Special Teams Coord.
2004 Stanford 
Running Backs
2001-03 Arizona 
2001 Tight Ends
2002 Running Backs
2003 Running Backs
Special Teams Coordinator
1997-2000 Northern Illinois 
1998-00 Co-Offensive Line
1997 Tight Ends
1994-96 Texas 
1994-95 Student Assistant
1996 Graduate Assistant
Tight Ends

BOWL EXPERIENCE
1994 Sun Bowl
1995 Sugar Bowl
1996 (1997) Fiesta Bowl
2005 Emerald Bowl