Jay Boulware checks multiple boxes for Kentucky

The first offseason hire for Mark Stoops now seems imminent. On Wednesday, long-time Power Five assistant Jay Boulware became a name to know.

KSR’s Matt Jones is reporting that the 50-year-old is expected to be the new running backs coach and special teams coordinator at Kentucky. This comes just over a week after John Settle was relieved of his duties after two seasons in Lexington.

Just two days before this potential hiring news leaked, Stoops spoke with reporters and was asked what he was looking for in a new running backs coach.

“A lot of things,” Stoops said. “Obviously, a dynamic person, a person that can handle the room and coach his position. Once again, just as I talked about players, that talent level has to be there, first and foremost. But then I think personality matters, bringing something else to it. Are you a dynamic recruiter? Do you bring something in special teams? There’s several things that you can factor into it and I have great candidates that I’ve talked to.”

Boulware won out in the search. Now it’s time to dive in to see if he can check those recruiting and special teams boxes that Stoops wanted to be checked with this new hire.

Recruiting chops

John Settle was an addition to the Kentucky coaching staff that made a lot of sense, but the long-time Wisconsin running backs coach had a hard time making any impact on the recruiting trail. In a seven-year run at Oklahoma, that was not an issue for Jay Boulware.

The Texas alum landed multiple blue-chip players to play running back in Norman highlighted by Kennedy Brooks who finished his OU career last season with three 1,000-yard seasons. Boulware also brought junior college transfer Rhamondre Stevenson to Oklahoma, and the tailback is currently RB1 for the New England Patriots. Boulware even branched out to help land multiple players as secondary recruiter in his Texas recruiting territory.

The game is talent acquisition and upgrading the recruiting operation was a top priority for Mark Stoops. Boulware seems to help a lot in this regard but going into Texas is not something this program has done very often. Will the potential new hire change that? If Boulware is unable to recruit Texas to Kentucky, is there another area where he can make a difference?

There have been some one-off recruiting wins for Boulware, but most of his damage has been in the Lonestar State. It will be good for Kentucky to have strong relationships in this talented area when it comes to mining the transfer portal, but getting players out of high school to the Bluegrass could be difficult to pull off.

Extensive special teams background

Jay Boulware has 17 years spent as a special teams coordinator in the Power Five. For the first time since Dean Hood left for Murray State, Kentucky will seemingly have a full-time special teams coordinator on the sidelines.

The new addition has a strong track record.

Per ESPN’s SP+ data, Boulware produced three top-25 special teams units at Oklahoma and had three more in a four-year run at Auburn from 2009-12. NFL placekicker Austin Seibert was recruited by the new Kentucky staffer to Oklahoma and went on to have a great career in the Big 12.

The Cats seem prepared to hand their kicking game over to an experienced coach with a strong track record. There is a lot to like here for those wanting to see a streamlined approach and designated resources spent on fixing the kicking game in Lexington.

Boulware has a history of good special teams results and will look to upgrade the third phase upon arrival.

Jay Boulware is first big move of many

The first domino has officially fallen. Kentucky has its running backs coach and special teams coordinator that will bring some recruiting chops to the Joe Craft Football Training Facility. Now it’s time to see what comes next.

With only three scholarship tailbacks expected back on the roster in 2023, Kentucky must add at least three running backs in this recruiting cycle. Now that Boulware has joined the party, the new assistant can help the Cats lock up some commitments.

We’ll have to see where Boulware settles in as a recruiter, but there is high-level college football experience that the new coach will bring to the table after having worked for some big-time programs that have competed in BCS bowl games and the College Football Playoff. This hire makes sense on a lot of levels.

Now all eyes can turn to what Mark Stoops does at offensive coordinator and in the transfer portal at quarterback. The search process is lingering, and only one true name has emerged. A hire needs to be put together sooner rather than later. Will Liam Coen join Jay Boulware in offensive meetings in Lexington or will this search have to go in another direction?

We will have to play the waiting game a little bit longer.