Texas hires Jabbar Juluke as running backs coach

[Jeff Howe]

Here's the official release from UT on Juluke's hiring:

A 30-year coaching veteran, including 13 in the collegiate ranks as a running backs coach, Jabbar Juluke (juh-LOO-k) has been named Texas Football’s associate head coach (offense)/running backs coach, head coach Steve Sarkisian announced Friday.

Juluke comes to Austin after spending the last four seasons as Florida’s associate head coach/running backs coach. Prior to that, he served in similar roles at Louisiana (2018-21) and Texas Tech (2017), while also having mentored running backs at LSU (2016) and Louisiana Tech (2013-15). He spent the first 17 years of his career as a high school coach in the state of Louisiana.

This past season at Florida, Juluke guided sophomore running back Jadan Baugh to a second-team All-SEC honors, including amassing 1,170 yards and eight touchdowns on the ground on 220 carries (5.3 ypc). Baugh ranked third in the SEC in both rushing yards and rushing yards per game (97.5), while ranking 15th and 16th respectively in those categories nationally. Baugh also caught 33 passes for 210 yards and two touchdowns with his 122.3 all-purpose yards per game ranking second in the SEC and eighth in the FBS.

In 2024, Juluke helped guide Florida to a late-season charge, winning the last four games of the season to finish with an 8-5 record overall, with victories over No. 21 LSU, No. 9 Ole Miss, Florida State and Tulane in the 16th Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl. The Gators were one of just six unranked teams in the nation to post multiple top-25 wins on the year.

Individually, Baugh led the team with 133 rushes for 673 yards and seven touchdowns, earning Freshman All-SEC accolades. Baugh ranked second in rushing yards by a freshman in the SEC and his five rushing touchdowns against Kentucky in his first career start tied the program record with Trey Burton (2010) and Tim Tebow (2007). Florida was the only FBS team to be 3-0 when starting a true freshmen backfield that season.

Montrell Johnson had 593 rushing yards and six scores in just 10 games, while Ja’Kobi Jackson had 509 rushing yards and seven touchdowns on the year. Johnson finished second in the nation in rush yards per carry at 5.93. Johnson, who was coached by Juluke his entire career, ended his collegiate tenure with over 3,000 rushing yards.

In 2023, Juluke saw his duo of Trevor Etienne and Johnson lead the Gators’ backfield with a combined 67.2% of carries (283 of 421) and 87.5% of the team’s net rushing yardage (1,570 of 1,794). They finished with nearly identical averages in rushing yards per game with Etienne at 68.5, and Johnson at 68.1.

During his first year leading Florida’s running backs room, the Gators finished the regular season as the third-most productive rushing offense in the nation and best in the conference in yards per carry (5.84). Florida ran the ball for an average of 213.7 yards per game in 2022, which ranked 16th in the FBS and third in the SEC.

At the forefront of the Florida’s mighty ground offense was the running back duo formed by freshman Trevor Etienne and Louisiana transfer Montrell Johnson Jr, who averaged 5.7 yards per carry and 120.0 rushing yards per game, while combining for a touchdown in all 12 regular-season games and scoring 17 total touchdowns. They were one of only 15 running back duos in the FBS to rush for over 700 yards apiece in 2022.

Johnson, who Juluke recruited out of high school to play at UL, finished the 2022 campaign ranked tied for fourth in the SEC in rushing touchdowns (10) and became the first UF running back to rush for over 800 yards since La’Mical Perine in 2018. Meanwhile, Etienne ranked fourth in yards per carry (6.1), tied for 10th in touchdowns (six) and eighth in rushing yards (719) in the FBS among true freshmen.

Prior to Florida, Juluke spent the four previous years (2018-21) on Billy Napier's staff at Louisiana, which included four straight Sun Belt West Division titles, a share of the Sun Belt title in 2020, and the championship in 2021.

Juluke coached two running backs who were drafted in back-to-back years (2020-21) – Eli Mitchell by the San Francisco 49ers and Raymond Calais by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Mitchell was named First Team All-Sun Belt in 2020 and led Louisiana in rushing, with 141 carries for 878 yards and eight touchdowns. His yardage total was third in the league and 23rd nationally, while his eight rushing scores were the fifth most in the Sun Belt and tied for 41st nationally. Mitchell finished his career ranked fifth in career rushing touchdowns (41) and sixth in career rushing yards (3,267) and set the program record for most rushing yards in a bowl game after tallying 127 yards and a touchdown in the 2020 SERVPRO First Responder Bowl.

The 2019 FootballScoop Running Backs Coach of the Year, Juluke led the Ragin' Cajuns to their best rushing season in program history in 2019, setting school records in total rushing yards (3,604) and rushing touchdowns (42). Louisiana finished the season ranked third nationally in yards per rush (6.28), rushing touchdowns (42) and sixth in total rushing yards.

Prior to a season at Texas Tech (2017), he was the running backs coach at LSU in 2016. Juluke tutored one of the nation’s top running backs in Leonard Fournette who was the No. 5 overall selection in the 2017 NFL Draft. He also worked with Derrius Guice that season, pushing the sophomore to 1,428 yards and 11 touchdowns while being named to the All-SEC First Team with Fournette.

He began his collegiate coaching career at Louisiana Tech, where he spent three seasons (2013-15) as the running backs coach. Juluke helped the Bulldogs win the Conference USA West Division title in 2014. He was also heavily involved in recruiting efforts and helped land three 2017 NFL Draft picks in wide receivers Carlos Henderson (Denver Broncos), Trent Tyalor (San Francisco 49ers) and safety Xavier Woods (Dallas Cowboys).

Juluke arrived at Louisiana Tech following nine years as the head coach at Edna Karr High School in New Orleans. Juluke was regarded as one of Louisiana’s top high school coaches during that time as he compiled an 80-39 record that was capped by a perfect 14-0 mark and a Class 4A state title in 2012.

Juluke guided Edna Karr to seven district titles and two state runner-up finishes during his tenure. He boasted a 49-8 record over his final four seasons alone which featured three appearances in the state championship game. Most impressively, Juluke helped over 70 of his players earn college football scholarships during his head coaching career.

Prior to his stint at Edna Karr, Juluke served as the defensive backs coach and special teams coordinator at O.P. Walker High School for one season (2002). Juluke coached linebackers at St. Augustine High School in 2000 and 2001 after serving as the wide receivers coach for Brother Martin High School in 1999.

Juluke began his coaching career as the defensive coordinator for Frederick Douglas High School from 1996-98.

As a player, Juluke helped guide Southern University to an 11-1 record and a Black National Championship in 1993. In addition to his time as a standout safety for the Jaguars, Juluke also lettered one season with the men’s basketball program during the 1994-95 campaign. He earned his bachelor’s degree in sociology from Southern in 1999.

Juluke is a native of New Orleans. He and his wife, Denise, are parents to three children – Jahmad, Jamari and Dyrius Smith.

Jabbar Juluke Coaching History

2025-current: Texas, Associate Head Coach (Offense)/Running Backs Coach

2022-25: Florida, Associate Head Coach/Running Backs Coach

2018-21: Louisiana, Assistant Head Coach/Running Backs Coach

2017: Texas Tech, Associate Head Coach/Running Backs Coach

2016: LSU, Running Backs Coach

2013-15: Louisiana Tech, Running Backs Coach

2006-12: Edna Karr High School, Head Coach

2005: McKinley High School, Assistant Coach

2003-04: Edna Karr High School, Head Coach

2002: O.P. Walker High School, Defensive Backs Coach/Special Teams Coordinator

2000-01: St. Augustine High School, Linebackers

1999: Brother Martin High School, Wide Receivers

1996-98: Frederick Douglas High School, Defensive Coordinator

[General Grant]

Edited 1 hour ago by General Grant

[Flynn]

Just now, Jeff Howe said:

 

 

[Longhornfrenzy]

[DiggsTX]

WHEN SARK KNOCKS, THEY ANSWER 🤘

 

Edited 1 hour ago by DiggsTX

[Jbro52]

[PaulieD]

@Jeff HoweJeff, this seems like a home run hire - what say you?

[Longhornfrenzy]

Very solid hire.🤘🏼

[Tuco Ramirez]

[Texas fan in Georgia]

IVE GOT THE JOY JOY JOY JOY DOWN IN MY HEART!

[charlie990]

jaden baugh get ready to learn texas buddy

[CJ Vogel]

Juluke was on campus Thursday and Friday finalizing details with the school.

He was the clear target for Sark. 

[Shane]

Welcome to the 40 coach !🤘🏻

[Alex Butler]

I love the hire. I don’t know if Baugh comes with him. Either way it’s exciting to look at the talent we have in the room and coming in for him to work with!! Welcome to the 40, Hook’em 

[Bunk Moreland]

Sark to Juluke during the interview

[Jeff Howe]

1 minute ago, PaulieD said:

@Jeff HoweJeff, this seems like a home run hire - what say you?

It checks two major boxes: a seasoned SEC assistant coach who has recruited, coached, and developed NFL running backs, who also has significant ties to a metro area that produces a high volume of talent (New Orleans).

A very good hire.

[Joe Zura]

Love this hire 

[Shmatt]

Major upgrade for sure

[coltonmartinez]

On Texas FootBaugh!!

[Beast Texas]

Love it. Love the quick move too. No time to waste.

[GoHorns1]

Welcome to the 40 Acres Coach Jabbar Juluke and family. Hook em

🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘

[CJ Vogel]

 

Kenneth Dixon - La Tech

Leonard Fournette - LSU

Derius Guice - LSU

Elijah Mitchell - ULL

Raymond Calais - ULL

Trevor Etienne - UF

Montrell Johnson - UF

Jadan Baugh - UF

[Bobby Burton]

FYI - CJ and I talked about the hire.

https://youtu.be/yhmVnpAL2ak

[Q]

We always seem to benefit from the coaching carousel. Feels like every year. 🤘🏿🤘🏿🤘🏿

[NothinButDaHorns34]

I just hope he can find a downhill back with contact balance who can turn 2 yards into 6