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ATHENS, Ohio – Joe Bolden and Jeff Phelps will complete the 2025 Ohio football program defensive staff, as announced by Head Coach
Brian Smith today (Jan. 8).
Bolden is the Bobcats' new linebackers coach, while Phelps is the pass rush specialist and defensive ends coach.
Bolden comes to Ohio by way of Tulsa, where he oversaw the outside linebackers while also serving as the special teams coordinator, co-defensive coordinator and run game coordinator. While with the Golden Hurricane, Bolden coached first-team all-conference and second-team HERO Sports Group of Five All-American defensive lineman Ben Kopenski. Under his guidance, Tulsa's special teams units ranked 25th nationally for punt returns and 43rd for kick returns in 2023.
"Joe is a passionate leader and coach," said Smith. "He comes from a great football family in the State of Ohio and I look forward to seeing his impact on recruiting and developing players here at Ohio.
Prior to Tulsa, Bolden was the special teams coordinator and outside linebackers coach at Nevada, finishing 2022 with the Wolfpack ranked 36th nationally for blocked kicks and 40th for kick return defense. Bolden spent the 2020 and 2021 seasons at Ohio State as a defensive quality control coach, going to both the CFP Championship Game and the Rose Bowl.
Bolden also made stops at Southern Cal (2019), Washington State (2017-18) and Florida Atlantic (2017).
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, where he also started his coaching career as a graduate assistant in 2016.
Phelps comes to Ohio by way of Wyoming, where he was the defensive tackles coach for the 2024 season. He spent the season prior overseeing North Dakota State's defensive tackles as well as their field block team. Under his guidance, a blocked field goal earned the Bison a spot in the FCS Semifinals. Notably, Phelps helped mentor Eli Mostaert to All-Missouri Valley Football Conference honors last season.
"Jeff brings with him 25 years of coaching experience and a long list of incredibly successful athletes and teams," Smith said. "His skill set will allow him to carry the legacy of success our defense has cultivated."
Prior to his stint at NDSU, Phelps spent 2020 to 2022 coaching the defensive line at Mississippi State. Phelps served as Washington State's defensive line coach from 2017 to 2019, mentoring defensive lineman Will Rodgers III. In 2019, Rodgers racked up 25 total pressures per Pro Football Focus, which ranked sixth in the PAC-12 among defensive interior linemen. Rodgers tied for the league lead in QB hits by a defensive interior lineman with five on the season and led WSU in sacks (4). The 2027 Cougar defense led the Pac-12 with 38.0 sacks, the ninth-most in Washington State single-season history, and finished second in the league with 88.0 tackles for loss. Phelps also mentored defensive lineman Hercules Mata'afa, who garnered Consensus All-America honors and was named the 2017 Polynesian College Football Player of the Year.
Phelps spent six seasons as Minnesota's defensive line coach (2011-16). During his final season there, the Gophers' defense ranked 12th in the nation in tackles for loss, 14th in rushing yards allowed and 22nd in sacks. During his six seasons in Minneapolis, Phelps was a part of five bowl teams and coached four players who earned All-Big Ten honors, including 2013 third-team All-American Ra'Shede Hagemen, who was a 2014 second-round draft pick by the Atlanta Falcons.
Prior to Minnesota, Phelps coached for five seasons at Northern Illinois (2006-10). There, he helped develop two-time MAC MVP, 2008 MAC Defensive Player of the Year and 16th overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft, Larry English.
Phelps was an All-MAC outside linebacker for Ball State, where he graduated in 1998 with a bachelor's degree in marketing. He began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Ball State in 1999 before moving on to DePauw as a linebackers and running backs coach (2000-2002) and Hillsdale as a defensive line coach (2003-2005).
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