Lembo Hires Bowen as Defensive Coordinator, Makes Other Staff Appointments
1/28/2024 6:15:00 PM | Football
BUFFALO, NY – New University at Buffalo football head coach Pete Lembo announced on Sunday the hiring of Joe Bowen as the team's defensive coordinator. Bowen comes from Miami (OH) where he served as linebackers coach and running game coordinator.
Bowen spent two seasons at Miami and helped build the RedHawks into one of the best defensive units in the Mid-American Conference. In 2022, Miami was the conference's top-ranked scoring defense and run defense. In 2023, the RedHawks ranked in the top three in the MAC in scoring defense, rushing defense and defensive efficiency. Nationally, Miami ranked in the Top 10 in scoring defense, third-down defense and redzone defense.
Miami won the 2023 MAC Championship, led by linebacker Matt Salopek who was named the league's Defensive Player of the Year. In addition, linebacker Ty Wise was one of only two players in the FBS with 120+ tackles and 8+ sacks on the season.
Prior to being hired at Miami, Bowen spent the 2021 season as a defensive graduate assistant at South Carolina on the same staff as Lembo. In Bowen's lone season with the Gamecocks, they led the SEC in turnovers with 24 while having the best total defense and scoring defense the school has had since 2013. The Gamecock defense finished first in the SEC and seventh nationally in pass yards allowed per game.
Prior to that, Bowen was a defensive analyst and defensive graduate assistant at Florida State for three seasons. Bowen coached with inside linebackers in 2018 and 2020 and moved to outside linebackers in 2019.
Bowen spent the 2017 season at Michigan State as a defensive graduate assistant/assistant LB coach. While at Michigan State, Bowen coached in a defense that finished as the nation's second-ranked rushing defense, seventh-ranked total defense and 18th-ranked third-down defense. The 2017 Spartans yielded an average of only 95.31 yards per game on the ground.
Bowen began his career as a defensive graduate assistant at Miami (OH) for the 2015-16 seasons.
A native of Grand Rapids, MI, Bowen graduated from Miami University in 2015 with a degree in finance and a minor in coaching. He earned his master's degree in kinesiology and health in 2017 from Miami.
As a student at Miami, he served as an offensive intern from 2013-15 and as a student assistant from 2011-13.
"Joe has a great combination of energy, intelligence, football knowledge and passion for the game," Lembo said. "He is mature beyond his years and can see the big picture. As soon as this process began for me, he was the guy I targeted for this position. I am very excited to see him grow into an outstanding leader of our defensive unit."
In addition, Lembo announced that five members of the previous staff will be retained.
Ray Pickering, who was hired to the previous staff last week, will coach the running backs.
Pickering came to Buffalo after serving one season as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Norfolk State. In his lone season with the Spartans, Norfolk State ranked third in the MEAC in scoring offense (24.0) and second in rushing offense (173.8).
Prior to Norfolk State, Pickering served as an offensive assistant at Texas. He worked with the offensive line which produced freshman All-American, Kelvin Banks. He helped a unit that improved vastly during the second year of head coach Steve Sarkisian that propelled running backs Bijan Robinson and Roschon Johnson to career bests. The Longhorns finished second in the Big 12 Conference and played Washington in the Valero Alamo Bowl.
Prior to Texas, Pickering was the offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach at Lane College, where he helped produce one of the most explosive teams in the conference as well as school history. Pickering's offense ranked among the top tier, setting several records for Lane College. Behind his leadership, Lane was able to reel off several first time wins in school history. During his tenure, Lane College also set several offensive school records as Pickering orchestrated an offense that produced two All-Americans and four All-Conference players.
Prior to Lane, Pickering was assistant head coach and offensive coordinator at Moss Point High School, Hattiesburg High School, Daphne High School, Laurel High School, and his alma mater West Jones High School. He was also head baseball coach at Laurel, and assistant baseball coach at Hattiesburg where the team won the 2018 5A State Championship.
A native of Laurel, MS, Pickering is a graduate of the University of Southern Mississippi, where he received a bachelor's in coaching education. He earned his master's in secondary education and sports administration from William Carey University. Pickering also spent time at Jones Junior College and Alabama State University where he played collegiate football and baseball.
Originally hired in early January, Dave Patenaude has been retained as the Bulls' offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.
"Dave and I have a relationship that goes back to the 1990s," Lembo said. He is a highly experienced coach and well-respected play caller. He connects well with his players and knows how to manage an offensive staff. He will do an excellent job evaluating and best utilizing our personnel."
Ron Whitcomb returns to coach the tight ends, Matt Stansfield will coach the offensive line and Holman Copeland is back and will coach the cornerbacks.
"I spent the vast majority of the last week getting to know our current players, assistant and support staff," Lembo said. "After evaluating it thoroughly, I am confident that several existing coaches have the right combination of values, work ethic, expertise and energy to fit well in our program moving forward."
Bowen spent two seasons at Miami and helped build the RedHawks into one of the best defensive units in the Mid-American Conference. In 2022, Miami was the conference's top-ranked scoring defense and run defense. In 2023, the RedHawks ranked in the top three in the MAC in scoring defense, rushing defense and defensive efficiency. Nationally, Miami ranked in the Top 10 in scoring defense, third-down defense and redzone defense.
Miami won the 2023 MAC Championship, led by linebacker Matt Salopek who was named the league's Defensive Player of the Year. In addition, linebacker Ty Wise was one of only two players in the FBS with 120+ tackles and 8+ sacks on the season.
Prior to being hired at Miami, Bowen spent the 2021 season as a defensive graduate assistant at South Carolina on the same staff as Lembo. In Bowen's lone season with the Gamecocks, they led the SEC in turnovers with 24 while having the best total defense and scoring defense the school has had since 2013. The Gamecock defense finished first in the SEC and seventh nationally in pass yards allowed per game.
Prior to that, Bowen was a defensive analyst and defensive graduate assistant at Florida State for three seasons. Bowen coached with inside linebackers in 2018 and 2020 and moved to outside linebackers in 2019.
Bowen spent the 2017 season at Michigan State as a defensive graduate assistant/assistant LB coach. While at Michigan State, Bowen coached in a defense that finished as the nation's second-ranked rushing defense, seventh-ranked total defense and 18th-ranked third-down defense. The 2017 Spartans yielded an average of only 95.31 yards per game on the ground.
Bowen began his career as a defensive graduate assistant at Miami (OH) for the 2015-16 seasons.
A native of Grand Rapids, MI, Bowen graduated from Miami University in 2015 with a degree in finance and a minor in coaching. He earned his master's degree in kinesiology and health in 2017 from Miami.
As a student at Miami, he served as an offensive intern from 2013-15 and as a student assistant from 2011-13.
"Joe has a great combination of energy, intelligence, football knowledge and passion for the game," Lembo said. "He is mature beyond his years and can see the big picture. As soon as this process began for me, he was the guy I targeted for this position. I am very excited to see him grow into an outstanding leader of our defensive unit."
In addition, Lembo announced that five members of the previous staff will be retained.
Ray Pickering, who was hired to the previous staff last week, will coach the running backs.
Pickering came to Buffalo after serving one season as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Norfolk State. In his lone season with the Spartans, Norfolk State ranked third in the MEAC in scoring offense (24.0) and second in rushing offense (173.8).
Prior to Norfolk State, Pickering served as an offensive assistant at Texas. He worked with the offensive line which produced freshman All-American, Kelvin Banks. He helped a unit that improved vastly during the second year of head coach Steve Sarkisian that propelled running backs Bijan Robinson and Roschon Johnson to career bests. The Longhorns finished second in the Big 12 Conference and played Washington in the Valero Alamo Bowl.
Prior to Texas, Pickering was the offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach at Lane College, where he helped produce one of the most explosive teams in the conference as well as school history. Pickering's offense ranked among the top tier, setting several records for Lane College. Behind his leadership, Lane was able to reel off several first time wins in school history. During his tenure, Lane College also set several offensive school records as Pickering orchestrated an offense that produced two All-Americans and four All-Conference players.
Prior to Lane, Pickering was assistant head coach and offensive coordinator at Moss Point High School, Hattiesburg High School, Daphne High School, Laurel High School, and his alma mater West Jones High School. He was also head baseball coach at Laurel, and assistant baseball coach at Hattiesburg where the team won the 2018 5A State Championship.
A native of Laurel, MS, Pickering is a graduate of the University of Southern Mississippi, where he received a bachelor's in coaching education. He earned his master's in secondary education and sports administration from William Carey University. Pickering also spent time at Jones Junior College and Alabama State University where he played collegiate football and baseball.
Originally hired in early January, Dave Patenaude has been retained as the Bulls' offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.
"Dave and I have a relationship that goes back to the 1990s," Lembo said. He is a highly experienced coach and well-respected play caller. He connects well with his players and knows how to manage an offensive staff. He will do an excellent job evaluating and best utilizing our personnel."
Ron Whitcomb returns to coach the tight ends, Matt Stansfield will coach the offensive line and Holman Copeland is back and will coach the cornerbacks.
"I spent the vast majority of the last week getting to know our current players, assistant and support staff," Lembo said. "After evaluating it thoroughly, I am confident that several existing coaches have the right combination of values, work ethic, expertise and energy to fit well in our program moving forward."
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