UK football hires veteran assistant as special teams coordinator and running backs coach

The University of Kentucky football team made a move Monday to bolster its often-problematic special teams units when it hired a veteran assistant coach with a family connection.

Jay Boulware, who most recently served collegiately as associate head coach for special teams/tight ends at Texas, has joined the Wildcats to oversee their special teams and coach running backs.

Boulware’s hiring fills the position that opened Nov. 28 when head coach Mark Stoops decided not to renew the contract of running backs coach John Settle. Settle and safeties coach Frank Buffano previously shared the title of special teams coordinator. Quality control coach Louie Matsakis is the assistant who has primarily worked with kickers.

Boulware, an offensive lineman at Texas in the early 1990s, returned to his alma mater in 2020 after seven years on the sidelines at Oklahoma — including four under Bob Stoops, Mark’s older brother — as special teams coordinator. He brings to Kentucky his strong recruiting ties to the state of Texas.

“I’m thrilled to add Jay to our staff at Kentucky,” Mark Stoops said. “I’ve known Jay from his time with my brother, Bob, at Oklahoma. I’ve always been impressed with him and his work ethic. He brings a wide range of experience coaching running backs and in recruiting, along with his expertise and success with special teams. That’s what I was looking for in this position and Jay is well-regarded in all those areas.”

Boulware, 50, also boasts previous Southeastern Conference coaching experience. He served as tight ends coach and special teams coordinator under Gene Chizik at Auburn from 2009-12, a period that included the Tigers’ undefeated season and national championship in 2010-11.

Boulware’s career also includes stops at Iowa State, Utah, Stanford, Arizona and Northern Illinois.

All told, Boulware, has more than 25 years of coaching experience and has been a part of 16 teams that advanced to bowl games. Most recently, he served as an offensive intern in the NFL for the Pittsburgh Steelers, working specifically with the running backs, including UK’s all-time leading rusher, Benny Snell Jr.

He spent one season at Texas, in 2020, but was not retained when the Longhorns replaced Tom Herman with Steve Sarkisian as head coach.

The Kentucky special teams were a consistent source of frustration this season.

UK ranked 103rd nationally in field-goal percentage. Some of those struggles could be attributed directly to kicker Matt Ruffolo, but much of the problem resulted from repeated mistakes with the snap and hold. Snapping was also an issue on multiple punts this fall.

“I want to thank Coach Stoops for giving me this amazing opportunity,” Boulware said. “I’ve known and worked with the Stoops family for many years, and I’ve followed Mark’s career for a long time. I’m honored to be on his coaching staff as I have the utmost respect for him and the work he’s done at Kentucky. I’m looking forward to helping him continue the success he’s built here in the Bluegrass.”