Carlton Buckels - Football Coach

Carlton Buckels

Title:
Safeties Coach
Email:
ctb4807@utulsa.edu
Phone:
2481

FOURTH YEAR

Carlton Buckels enters his fourth season on the Golden Hurricane coaching staff after joining The University of Tulsa in March 2018. He was promoted to defensive passing game coordinator and moved to coaching the cornerbacks in March 2021 after his first three seasons as safeties coach.

Buckels has 22 years of collegiate coaching experience, all as a defensive secondary coach.

Tulsa’s 2020 defense ranked second in the American Athletic Conference for total defense, scoring defense, rushing defense, pass defense and pass defense efficiency. Nationally, Tulsa was 18^th for fewest passing yards, 19^th nationally in pass efficiency defense, 19^th for total defense and 27^th for fewest points per game.

In Buckels’ first year, the 2018 Tulsa defense completed the season with the nation’s eighth best pass defense, holding the opposition to 174.6 yards per game. Tulsa also led the American Athletic Conference in pass defense and ranked fourth for defensive pass efficiency.

Last year, sophomore safety Kendarin Ray led the Hurricane in tackles and pass breakups. In 2019, Buckels’ two starting safeties, Brandon Johnson and Manny Bunch, ranked third and fourth on the team for tackles and tied for second for pass break-ups.

Buckels came to Tulsa following one season as the defensive coordinator and secondary coach at Belhaven University in Jackson, Mississippi.

A native of Louisiana, Buckels played collegiately at LSU and coached high school football in the state, allowing the Hurricane to expand its recruiting blueprint in the state of Louisiana even more.

Buckels received his start in collegiate coaching at his alma mater, LSU, where he served as a graduate assistant under Nick Saban and Gerry Dinardo. He worked with the defense and special teams, while earning his master’s degree in 2001.

Before beginning his collegiate coaching career, Buckels coached at Hammonds (La.) High School from 1996-99, helping the Tornados to the Class 4A state semifinals in 1996 and 1997 as a defensive assistant coach.

Buckels’ collegiate coaching stops have included Delta State (2001-02), Southeastern Louisiana (2003-04), New Mexico State (2005-07), North Texas (2009-10) and Baylor University (2011-16). In the summer of 2010, Buckels worked with the NFL’s Oakland Raiders coaching staff as a part of the Bill Walsh Minority Coaching Fellowship Program.

Buckels was a two-time all-state defensive back at Amite (La.) High School before going on to a four-year career at LSU. A four-year letterman (1989-92), Buckels served as team captain and earned special teams MVP honors in 1991. He tallied six career interceptions and returned one for a touchdown.

After LSU, he had stints in professional football with the CFL’s Baltimore Stallions and the semi-pro Louisiana Bayou Thunder.

Buckels and his wife, Kyra, have three sons: Justin, Carsyn and Carlon.

Alma Mater: LSU ‘93
Birthdate: September 13, 1969
Hometown: Amite, La.
Playing Experience: Four-year letterman as a defensive back at LSU

Bowl Games as a Player
1989           Outback Bowl

Bowl Games as a Coach
2000      Peach Bowl (LSU)
2011      Alamo Bowl (Baylor)
2012      Holiday Bowl (Baylor)
2013      Fiesta Bowl (Baylor)
2014      Cotton Bowl (Baylor)
2015      Russell Athletic Bowl (Baylor)
2016      Cactus Bowl (Baylor)
2020      Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl (Tulsa)