Football
- Title:
- Co-Defensive Run Game Coordinator, Special Teams Coordiinator & JACKS Coach
SECOND YEAR
Joe Bolden is in his second season at The University of Tulsa, coaching the JACKS position and serving as special teams coordinator. He added the responsibility of co-defensive run game coordinator this year.
He joined the Golden Hurricane coaching staff in March 2023.
Bolden coached first-team all-conference and second-team HERO Sports Group of Five All-American Ben Kopenski at the JACK position a season ago. Tulsa’s special teams units ranked 25th nationally for punt returns and 43rd for kick returns in 2023.
Bolden came to Tulsa following one season as the special teams coordinator and outside linebackers coach at Nevada. In his one year, the Wolfpack ranked 36th nationally for blocked kicks and 40th for kick return defense in 2022.
Before his stint at Nevada, Bolden spent two seasons (2020-21) at Ohio State as a defensive quality control coach. In those two years, the Buckeyes played in the CFP championship game and the Rose Bowl.
Bolden began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at his alma mater, Michigan, in 2016 before a brief stop at Florida Atlantic. He spent the 2017 and 2018 seasons as a graduate assistant coach at Washington State. In 2019, Bolden served as the special teams quality control analyst at Southern Cal.
Bolden was a four-year letterwinner (2012-15) and three-year starter at Michigan, where he finished his career with 270 tackles and 18.5 tackles for loss from his linebacker position. He captained the 2015 Wolverine team as a senior and earned honorable mention All-Big Ten honors as well. Bolden led the Wolverines with 83 tackles his senior season.
A native of Cincinnati, Ohio, Bolden graduated from Michigan in 2015 with a degree in sports management.
Bolden and his wife, Kristen, have three young children: son Bodie and daughters Blakely and Blaire.
Alma Mater: Michigan ‘15
Hometown: Cincinnati, Ohio
Playing Experience: Was a four-year letterwinner and three-year starting linebacker at Michigan
Bowl Games as a Player
2013 Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl (Michigan)
2014 Outback Bowl (Michigan)
2015 Citrus Bowl (Michigan)
Bowl Games as a Coach
2016 Orange Bowl (Michigan)
2017 Holiday Bowl (Washington State)
2018 Alamo Bowl (Washington State)
2019 Holiday Bowl (USC)
2020 Sugar Bowl & College Football Championship (Ohio State)
2021 Rose Bowl (Ohio State)
