Jim Bollman - Football Coach - Michigan State University Athletics

Photo by: Rey Del Rio

Jim Bollman

Title:
Co-Offensive Coordinator/Tight Ends
Email:
football@msu.edu
Phone Number:
355-1647

Jim Bollman, who has more than four decades of coaching experience, both at the collegiate and professional levels, is in seventh season on Mark Dantonio’s staff at Michigan State and 10th overall in East Lansing. He will coach the offensive line in 2019 after serving as the co-offensive coordinator/tight ends coach the past six seasons (2013-18).

After spending 11 years as the offensive coordinator/offensive line coach at Ohio State (2001-11), Bollman was named co-offensive coordinator at Michigan State on March 4, 2013. During his time as co-offensive coordinator, Michigan State won 56 of 79 games, including two Big Ten Championships (2013, 2015); claimed victories in the Rose Bowl, Cotton Bowl and Holiday Bowl; and played in the College Football Playoff (2015).

Bollman has proven during his career to be one of the top offensive line coaches in the nation, developing nine first-team All-Americans, 13 first-team All-Big Ten players, 17 NFL Draft choices, including three first-rounders, and 25 NFL linemen, including three Pro Bowlers and three All-Pros.

Including his stints as offensive coordinator for Ohio State and MSU, Bollman mentored 10 first-team All-Americans, 26 first-team All-Big Ten players, 47 NFL Draft selections, including seven first-rounders, and more than 50 NFL players while collecting a 156-51 record (.754). He has been on coaching staffs for nine Big Ten Championships (seven at Ohio State, two at Michigan State) and has coached in 11 Bowl Championship Series/New Year’s Six bowl games, including three at Michigan State (2014 Rose, 2015 Cotton, 2015 CFP Semifinal at Cotton Bowl). He was the offensive coordinator for the Buckeyes during their 2002 National Championship season and coached in three BCS National Championship Games with OSU.

Throughout his 41-year coaching career, Bollman has coached 11 first-team All-Americans, including 2006 Heisman Trophy winner Troy Smith; 52 NFL Draft picks, including eight first-rounders; and more than 60 players who have played in the NFL.

Bollman and Dantonio coached together before on three previous occasions before reuniting again in 2013: Youngstown State (1986-90), Michigan State (1995-97) and Ohio State (2001-03). Bollman was the offensive line coach for three seasons (1995-97) at MSU under Nick Saban while Dantonio was the secondary coach. Dantonio and Bollman both arrived at Ohio State for the 2001 season. Dantonio spent three years (2001-03) as the defensive coordinator under Jim Tressel, while Bollman went on to coach 11 years (2001-11) for the Buckeyes, both as an offensive line coach and offensive coordinator. Dantonio and Bollman first coached together at Youngstown State for four seasons (1986-90).

For the past six seasons, Bollman was instrumental in the development of Michigan State’s tight ends, which are asked to perform a multitude of roles in MSU’s pro-style offense.

Matt Sokol was the team’s primary starter at tight end the past two seasons (2017-18). He ranked fourth on the team with a career-high 21 receptions for 222 yards in 2017 and earned an invitation to the 2019 East-West Shrine Game following his senior year in 2018. Sokol signed as a free agent with the Los Angeles Chargers for the 2019 season.

Josiah Price, who played all four years under Bollman, closed out his record-setting career in 2016 with a career-high 38 receptions for 387 yards and five touchdowns as a senior. His five TD catches were the most by a Big Ten tight end in the regular season and his 38 catches tied for second most by a Spartan tight end in a single season. A third-team All-Big Ten selection for the second year in a row, Price finished his career with the most TD catches (21) by a tight end in school history, which also ranks fourth among all players in the MSU record book. Price’s 104 career catches and 1,238 receiving yards also rank third most among Spartan tight ends.

Bollman oversaw an experienced group of tight ends during MSU's Big Ten Championship season in 2015, led by Price and senior Paul Lang. Lang had his best year as a Spartan, catching a career-high 11 passes for 129 yards, while Price, a third-team All-Big Ten selection, found the end zone six times and caught 23 passes for 267 yards.

A total of seven Spartans landed on the All-Big Ten teams for offense in 2015, including a league-best four first-teamers, the most for the program since 1978. Quarterback Connor Cook was MSU's first All-Big Ten first-team selection at the position since 1965, and he was also named the Big Ten Quarterback of the Year and the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award winner. Aaron Burbridge was named Big Ten Receiver of the Year, while center Jack Allen and offensive tackle Jack Conklin also made the first team.

During MSU's record-breaking season in 2014, the Spartans finished seventh in the FBS in scoring (43.0 ppg.) and 11th in total offense (500.8 ypg.). The Spartans set numerous school single-season records, including points (559), scoring average (43.0 ppg.), offensive touchdowns (70), total offense (6,510 yards; 500.8 ypg.), rushing touchdowns (44), rushing yards (3,057) and first downs (321). In addition, MSU ranked among the FBS Top 25 in third-down conversion percentage (seventh at .500), passing yards per completion (10th at 14.6), first downs (17th with 321), yards per play (17th with 6.55), passing efficiency (18th with 151.1 rating), and rushing offense (19th with 235.2 ypg.). The Spartans also featured the No. 1 passing offense in the Big Ten (265.6 ypg.).

Under the tutelage of Bollman, the Spartan tight ends showed tremendous growth during the 2013 Big Ten and Rose Bowl Championship season. The entire group had a combined five starts entering the season, but the trio of Price and juniors Michael Dennis and Andrew Gleichert all contributed with multiple starts in helping transform the position into a strength for the offense. Price caught 17 passes for 210 yards and ranked second on the team with four touchdown receptions.

A former offensive line coach at Michigan State in the mid-1990s, Bollman's insight has also played a critical role in developing one of the top offensive lines in the country. All five starters received postseason recognition in 2013 and three players in 2014 picked up All-Big Ten honors, including Allen, who was named a first-team All-American by USA TODAY. Four of MSU's five starters garnered All-Big Ten accolades in 2015, including two first-team All-Americans in Allen and Conklin. Conklin went on to become a first-round NFL Draft selection by Tennessee (No. 8 overall in 2016) and earned first-team All-Pro honors as a rookie in 2016.

The Buckeyes compiled a 100-28 overall record (.781) during Bollman's tenure as offensive coordinator from 2001-11 (Ohio State had to vacate 12 wins from the 2010 season), including seven Big Ten Championships. The Buckeyes achieved seven 10-win (or more) seasons during that stretch, and he coached in 11 bowl games, including eight BCS games (2003 BCS National Championship, 2004 Fiesta, 2006 Fiesta, 2007 BCS National Championship, 2008 BCS National Championship, 2009 Fiesta, 2010 Rose, 2011 Sugar).

Under Bollman's offensive direction at Ohio State, his players earned first-team All-Big Ten honors 21 times, including quarterback Troy Smith, who captured the 2006 Heisman Trophy and also earned the Walter Camp Award, Davey O'Brien Award, AP Player of the Year, Sporting News Player of the Year and Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year his senior season. While at OSU, Bollman also mentored 17 linemen that went on to make NFL rosters, and he has worked with more than 60 players overall that have played professionally during his coaching career. In addition, six Buckeyes on the offensive side of the ball were selected in the first round of the NFL Draft during Bollman's tenure.

Prior to arriving at Ohio State, Bollman coached three seasons in the NFL. He was the tight ends coach under Ray Rhodes for one year at Philadelphia (1998) and was with the Chicago Bears for two seasons (1999-2000) as a tight ends coach under Dick Jauron.

Before jumping to the professional ranks, Bollman spent three seasons as the offensive line coach at Michigan State (1995-97). Bollman tutored Flozell Adams, who was named the 1997 Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year and went on to become a five-time Pro Bowl selection. Spartan offensive linemen earned All-Big Ten recognition on six occasions under Bollman as Michigan State made three consecutive bowl appearances (1995 Independence, 1996 Sun, 1997 Aloha).

Bollman served as the offensive line coach at Virginia for four seasons (1991-94) and helped the Cavaliers to three bowl games (1991 Gator, 1993 Carquest, 1994 Independence). At UVA, Bollman mentored two recipients of the Jacobs Trophy as the ACC's top blocker (Ray Roberts in 1991; Mark Dixon in 1993); Roberts was also a first-team All-American in 1991 and a first-round NFL Draft choice by the Seahawks in 1992.

During Bollman's five seasons at Youngstown State under Tressel from 1986-90, the Penguins amassed a 34-25 record (.576) and advanced to the NCAA I-AA Playoffs three times. Bollman was the defensive coordinator at YSU in 1986-88 and switched over to become the offensive coordinator in 1989-90. Dantonio was the secondary coach for the Penguins in 1986-88 and became the defensive coordinator in 1989-90 when Bollman made the change to offense.

Prior to his stint at Youngstown State, Bollman was assistant head coach for three years at North Carolina State. He guided the Wolfpack's offensive line in 1983 and `84, and worked with the inside linebackers during the `85 season.

Bollman began his coaching career at Miami-Ohio as a graduate assistant in 1977, then served MU as offensive line coach from 1978-82.

A standout offensive lineman at Ohio University where he co-captained the Bobcats as a senior, Bollman received his bachelor's degree in business education from Ohio in 1977.

Born Dec. 1, 1954, in Ashtabula, Ohio, Bollman's family includes his wife Terri and two daughters, Courtney and Stephanie.

THE BOLLMAN FILE

FAMILY: Wife Terri and two daughters: Courtney and Stephanie.

YEARS AT MICHIGAN STATE: 10^th overall. Seventh since rejoining the staff on March 4, 2013, from Purdue.

PREVIOUS COACHING EXPERIENCE: College - Graduate assistant coach (1977) and offensive line coach (1978-82) at Miami-Ohio; assistant head coach and offensive line (1983-84) and linebackers (1985) at North Carolina State; defensive coordinator (1986-88) and offensive coordinator (1989-90) at Youngstown State; offensive line (1991-94) at Virginia; offensive line (1995-97) at Michigan State; offensive coordinator and offensive line (2001-2011) at Ohio State; offensive line/running game coordinator (2012) at Boston College; Professional - Tight ends coach (1998) at Philadelphia Eagles; tight ends coach (1999-2000) at Chicago Bears.

EDUCATION: Bachelor's degree in business education from Ohio in 1977.

PLAYING EXPERIENCE: College - Four-year letterman as an offensive lineman at Ohio (1972-76).

POSTSEASON EXPERIENCE: Coach - 1987 NCAA Division I-AA Playoffs, 1989 NCAA Division I-AA Playoffs, 1990 NCAA Division I-AA Playoffs, 1991 Gator, 1993 Carquest, 1994 Independence, 1995 Independence, 1996 Sun, 1997 Aloha, 2002 Outback, 2003 BCS National Championship, 2004 Fiesta, 2004 Alamo, 2006 Fiesta, 2007 BCS National Championship, 2008 BCS National Championship, 2009 Fiesta, 2010 Rose, 2011 Sugar, 2012 Gator, 2014 Rose, 2015 Cotton, 2015 College Football Playoff (Cotton), 2017 Holiday, 2018 Redbox.

BIG TEN STAT CHAMPIONS AT MSU: Passing Offense (2014)

FBS TOP 10 STAT RANKINGS AT MSU: Scoring Offense (No. 7 in 2014)

FIRST-TEAM ALL-BIG TEN PLAYERS (26): Michigan State (Offensive Line, 1995-97; Co-Offensive Coordinator/Tight Ends, 2013-18): Flozell Adams (first team, 1997); C Jack Allen (first team, 2014, 2015); QB Connor Cook (first team, 2015); WR Tony Lippett (first team, 2014); OT Jack Conklin (first team, 2015); WR Aaron Burbridge (first team, 2015); Ohio State (Offensive Coordinator/Offensive Line, 2001-11): C LeCharles Bentley (first team, 2001); OT Tyson Walter (first team, 2001); RB Maurice Clarett (first team, 2002); OG Alex Stepanovich (first team, 2003); TE Ben Hartsock (first team, 2003); OG Rob Sims (first team, 2005); WR Santonio Holmes (first team, 2005); QB Troy Smith (first team, 2006); RB Antonio Pittman (first team, 2006); WR Anthony Gonzalez (first team, 2006); C Doug Datish (first team, 2006); OG TJ Downing (first team, 2006); WR Ted Ginn (first team, 2006); QB Todd Boeckman (first team, 2007); RB Beanie Wells (first team, 2007); OT Kirk Barton (first team, 2007); OL Alex Boone (first team, 2008); OL Justin Boren (first team, 2009, 2010); WR Dane Sanzenbacher (first team, 2010); C Mike Brewster (first team, 2010)

BIG TEN POSITION PLAYERS OF THE YEAR: Michigan State: OL Flozell Adams, 1997; WR Tony Lippett, 2014; QB Connor Cook, 2015; WR Aaron Burbridge, 2015; Ohio State: OL LeCharles Bentley, 2001

BIG TEN OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Ohio State: QB Troy Smith (2006)

BIG TEN FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR: Ohio State: RB Maurice Clarett (2002); QB Terrelle Pryor (2008); QB Braxton Miller (2011)

NATIONAL AWARD WINNERS: Michigan State: QB Connor Cook, Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award (2015); Ohio State: QB Troy Smith, Heisman Trophy (2006), Davey O’Brien Award (2006), Walter Camp Award (2006), AP Player of the Year (2006), Sporting News Player of the Year (2006); C LeCharles Bentley, Rimington Trophy (2001)

FIRST-TEAM ALL-AMERICANS (11): Michigan State (4): OT Flozell Adams (first team, 1997); OG Scott Shaw (first team, 1997); C Jack Allen (first team, 2014, 2015); OT Jack Conklin (first team, 2015); Ohio State (6): C LeCharles Bentley (first team, 2001); C Nick Mangold (first team, 2005); QB Troy Smith (first team, 2006); WR Ted Ginn (first team, 2006); OT Kirk Barton (first team, 2007); C Mike Brewster (first team, 2010); Virginia (1): OT Ray Roberts (first team, 1991)

NFL DRAFT PICKS (52): Michigan State (10): OT Flozell Adams (Cowboys, second round, 1998); OG Scott Shaw (Dolphins, fifth round 1998); RB Jeremy Langford (Bears, fourth round, 2015); WR/CB Tony Lippett (Dolphins, fifth round, 2015); WR Keith Mumphery (Texans, fifth round, 2015); OT Jack Conklin (Titans, first round, 2016); QB Connor Cook (Raiders, fourth round, 2016); WR Aaron Burbridge (49ers, sixth round, 2016); OG Donavon Clark (Chargers, seventh round, 2016); OL Brian Allen (Rams, fourth round, 2018); Ohio State (37): OG LeCharles Bentley (Saints, second round, 2002); RB Jonathan Wells (Texans, fourth round, 2002); TE Darnell Sanders (Browns, fourth round, 2002; FB Jamar Martin (Cowboys, fourth round, 2002); QB Steve Bellisari (Rams, sixth round, 2002); C Tyson Walter (Cowboys, sixth round, 2002); WR Michael Jenkins (Falcons, first round, 2004); TE Ben Hartsock (Colts, third round, 2004); C Alex Stepanovich (Cardinals, fourth round, 2004); QB Craig Krenzel (Bears, fifth round, 2004); WR Drew Carter (Panthers, fifth round, 2004); OT Shane Olivea (Chargers, seventh round, 2004); OG Adrien Clarke (Eagles, seventh round, 2004); RB Maurice Clarett (Broncos, third round, 2005); OG Rob Sims (Seahawks, fourth round, 2006); WR Santonio Holmes (Steelers, first round, 2006); C Nick Mangold (Jets, first round, 2006); WR Ted Ginn (Dolphins, first round, 2007); WR Anthony Gonzalez (Colts, first round, 2007); RB Antonio Pittman (Saints, fourth round, 2007); WR Roy Hall (Colts, fifth round, 2007); QB Troy Smith (Ravens, fifth round, 2007); C Doug Datish (Falcons, sixth round, 2007); OT Kirk Barton (Bears, seventh round, 2008); RB Beanie Wells (Cardinals, first round, 2009); WR Brian Robiskie (Browns, second round, 2009); WR Brian Hartline (Dolphins, fourth round, 2009); OT Mike Adams (Steelers, second round, 2012); WR DeVier Posey (Texans, third round, 2012); RB Dan Herron (Bengals, sixth round, 2012); OL Reid Fragel (Bengals, seventh round, 2013); RB Carlos Hyde (49ers, second round, 2014); OT Jack Mewhort (Colts, second round, 2014); C Corey Linsley (Packers, fifth round, 2014); WR Devin Smith (Jets, second round, 2015); TE Jeff Heuerman (Broncos, third round, 2015); WR Evan Spencer (Redskins, sixth round, 2015); Virginia (3): OT Ray Roberts (Seahawks, first round, 1992); OT David Ware (Jets, fourth round, 1993); OL Jim Reid (Oilers, fifth round, 1994); North Carolina State (1): LB Ray Phillips (Broncos, seventh round, 1986); Miami-Ohio (1): C Doug Lantz (Dolphins, 10^th round, 1980)

NFL PLAYERS (61): Michigan State (11): OT Flozell Adams (Cowboys, 1998-2009; Steelers, 2010), OG Scott Shaw (Bengals, 1998); WR Bennie Fowler (Broncos, 2014-17; Giants, 2018); OT Dan France (Panthers, 2016); RB Jeremy Langford (Bears, 2015-16; Falcons, 2018), QB Connor Cook (Raiders, 2016-17); WR Aaron Burbridge (49ers, 2016); CB Tony Lippett (Dolphins, 2015-16; Giants, 2018); WR Keith Mumphery (Texans, 2015-16); C Jack Allen (Saints, 2016); OL Brian Allen (Rams, 2018); Ohio State (46): OG LeCharles Bentley (Saints, 2002-05); RB Jonathan Wells (Texans, 2002-05); TE Darnell Sanders (Browns, 2002-03; Falcons, 2004); FB Jamar Martin (Cowboys, 2003; Dolphins, 2004; Jets, 2006); OL Tyson Walter (Cowboys, 2002-04; Packers, 2006; Redskins, 2006); OG Adrien Clarke (Eagles, 2005; Jets, 2007); OT Shane Olivea (Chargers, 2004-07); WR Drew Carter (Panthers, 2005-07); QB Craig Krenzel (Bears, 2004); C Alex Stepanovich (Cardinals, 2004-06; Bengals, 2007; Falcons, 2008); TE Ben Hartsock (Colts, 2004-05; Titans, 2006-07; Falcons, 2008; Jets, 2009-10; Panthers, 2011-13); WR Michael Jenkins (Falcons, 2004-10; Vikings, 2011-12); WR Bam Childress (Patriots, 2005-06); OG Rob Sims (Seahawks, 2006-09; Lions, 2010-14); C Nick Mangold (Jets, 2006-16); WR Santonio Holmes (Steelers, 2006-09; Jets, 2010-13; Bears, 2014); QB Troy Smith (Ravens, 2007-09; 49ers, 2010); WR Roy Hall (Colts, 2007-08); RB Antonio Pittman (Rams, 2007-08); WR Anthony Gonzalez (Colts, 2007-11); WR Ted Ginn (Dolphins, 2007-09; 49ers, 2010-12; Panthers, 2013, 2015-16; Cardinals, 2014; Saints, 2017-18); OG Kirk Barton (Bears, 2008); WR Brian Hartline (Dolphins, 2009-14; Browns, 2015); WR Brian Robiskie (Browns, 2009-11; Lions, 2012; Falcons, 2013); RB Beanie Wells (Cardinals, 2009-12); OG Alex Boone (49ers, 2010-15; Vikings, 2016; Cardinals, 2017); TE Jake Ballard (Giants, 2010-11; Patriots, 2012; Cardinals, 2013); RB Brandon Saine (Packers, 2011-12); OG Bryant Browning (Panthers, 2011); C Jim Cordle (Giants, 2011-13); WR/QB Terrelle Pryor (Raiders, 2011-13; Browns, 2015-16; Redskins, 2017; Jets, 2018; Bills, 2018); RB Dan Herron (Bengals, 2012; Colts, 2013-15; Bills, 2015); WR Dane Sanzenbacher (Bears, 2011-12; Bengals, 2012-14); WR DeVier Posey (Texans, 2012-14); C Mike Brewster (Jaguars, 2012-13); OT Mike Adams (Steelers, 2012-14; Bears, 2016); TE Jake Stoneburner (Packers, 2013; Dolphins, 2014-15); WR Corey Brown (Panthers, 2014-16); OT Reid Fragel (Buccaneers, 2015); C Corey Linsley (Packers, 2014-18); OT Jack Mewhort (Colts, 2014-17); RB Carlos Hyde (49ers, 2014-17; Browns, 2018; Jaguars, 2018); OG Andrew Norwell (Panthers, 2014-17; Jaguars, 2018); WR Evan Spencer (Buccaneers, 2015); RB Rod Smith (Seahawks, 2015; Cowboys, 2015-18); TE Jeff Heuerman (Broncos, 2016-18); WR Devin Smith (Jets, 2015-16); Virginia (3): OT Ray Roberts (Seahawks, 1992-95; Lions, 1996-2000); OL Jim Reid (Oilers, 1995); OL Mark Dixon (Dolphins, 1998-2002); North Carolina State (1): LB Ray Phillips (Falcons, 1986; Eagles, 1987)

ALL-PRO PLAYERS (3): Michigan State (2): OT Flozell Adams (Cowboys, second team, 2007); OT Jack Conklin (Titans, first team, 2016); Ohio State (1): C Nick Mangold (Jets, first team, 2009, 2010; second team, 2011)

PRO BOWL PLAYERS (3): Michigan State (1): OT Flozell Adams (Cowboys, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008); Ohio State (2): OG LeCharles Bentley (Saints, 2003, 2005); C Nick Mangold (Jets, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015)