Buffalo tapping Joe Cauthen for it’s defensive coordinator

Newly minted Buffalo Bulls coach Maurice Linguist has no time to waste at Buffalo. Among other things he has to connect with his players, wooing back Bulls from the portal, and establishing recruiting relationships as the Buffalo head coach.

But to get any of this done he’s going to need help, he needs a full staff, and the first piece of that puzzle seems to be Joe Cauthen.

It’s a very smart move for a couple of reasons.

It balances Linguist’s age with some experience is very young to be a head coach. He has no experience in the big chair and only served as a unit coordinator for three months. Cauthen brings years of experience to the Buffalo staff.

Cauthen has filled the role to which he is being assigned. Cauthen has 30 years coaching experience and stops along the way included the defensive coordiantor job at Arkansas State. And Houston. Being a defenisve coordinator for six seasons, previous to becoming a defensive analyst for Akransas (not state) this spring.

He runs an aggressive defense which matches up with our current personnel and past several years of recruiting. Defenses run by Cauthen are characterized by aggressive swarming to the ball and a focus on big plays generating turnovers. At Arkansas State his defense had at least five tackles for loss in 39 of its last 42 games while he was there. The defense was ranked in the top 25 nationally in each of the last three seasons in TFLs including 13th in 2018.

Cauthen and Linguist both worked together at Valdosta State in 2008.

• 2019-20 Houston, Defensive Coordinator/LBs
• 2014-18 Arkansas State, Defensive Coordinator/LBs
• 2012-13 Middle Tennessee, Defensive Line
• 2011 Middle Tennessee, Linebackers
• 2007-10 Valdosta State, Defensive Coordinator
• 1999-2006 Texas A&M-Commerce, Defensive Coordinator
• 1997-98 Stephen F. Austin, Defensive Line
• 1996 Trinity Valley CC, Defensive Line
• 1990-95 Sherman High School