Eastern Michigan Athletics
Bo Alexander Named EMU Football Assistant Coach
3/7/2023 5:59:00 PM | Football
Alexander will serve as Eastern’s defensive ends coach
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) — James "Bo" Alexander, a former standout linebacker at Kent State University, has been named an assistant football coach at Eastern Michigan University, Head Coach Chris Creighton announced today, March 7. Alexander will serve as EMU's defensive ends coach.
"We have quite a recent history with outstanding defensive ends and that will continue under the tutelage of Coach Alexander," said Creighton. "With Ben Needham shifting to our linebacker room as the co-defensive coordinator, Coach Needham has worked with Coach Alexander previously and feels that he is the right man to continue to lead that position. He is off to an excellent start. We are excited about him being a part of our football family."
Alexander has college coaching experience at the University of Pittsburgh and Beloit College as well as Kent State. During his playing career as a linebacker for the Golden Flashes, he appeared in 40 career games with 114 tackles, 19.5 tackles for loss, and 5.5 sacks.
"I'm extremely excited and thankful for the opportunity to join the EMU staff and continue to build on what Coach Creighton has started," Alexander added. "I'm looking forward to working with the defensive end unit, as EMU has developed some really good players at the defensive line position in recent years."
The Miami, Fla. native spent the last two seasons (2021-22) at Pitt working as a graduate assistant. There he worked directly with the defensive line in an aggressive quarters defense scheme. Additionally, he coached the offensive scout team, primarily working with the offensive line, tight ends, running backs, and quarterbacks.
In 2022, he helped in the development of tackle Calijah Kancey, a unanimous All-American and the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Defensive Player of the Year. Kancey led the nation's interior defenders with 14.5 tackles for loss. He was the only player in the country to be selected as a 2022 finalist for both the Outland Trophy (nation's best interior lineman) and Bronko Nagurski Trophy (national defensive player of the year).
The Panthers' trademarks—a swarming pass rush and smothering run defense—were again on full display during the 2022 season. The ball-hawking unit produced points on the scoreboard as well. Pitt ranked second nationally with an average of 3.69 sacks per game. The Panthers have collected 199 sacks over the past four seasons (2019-22), the highest total in the nation over that span.
Pitt limited opponents to an ACC-low 98.0 rushing yards per contest, ranking eighth nationally in run defense. Overall, the Panthers have finished in the nation's top 12 in stopping the run each year from 2019-22.
Pittsburgh's defense also proved adept at producing points. The Panthers scored five defensive touchdowns in 2022 to lead the ACC and rank third nationally. Combined between the 2021 and 2022 seasons, Pitt led the country in defensive touchdowns (10) and pick sixes (eight).
Pitt finished 9-4, including a stirring 37-35 win over nationally ranked UCLA in the Sun Bowl. Pitt finished in the national top 25 for the second consecutive season, placing No. 22 in both major polls. It marked the first time since 1979-83 that Pitt earned top 25 finishes in back-to-back years.
In 2021, Alexander worked with a defensive unit that was highly instrumental in the Panthers' run to the 2021 ACC championship, ranking second nationally in sacks (3.86 avg.), sixth in rushing defense (89.3 avg.), and eighth in interceptions (16 total).
It was a historic 2021 campaign when Pitt stormed to 11 victories and claimed their first outright conference title with a 45-21 triumph over Wake Forest in the ACC Championship Game. Pitt earned a No. 13 ranking in the final 2021 polls, its highest finish since 1982.
The Panthers combined to win 20 games over the past two seasons. Pitt last achieved 20 wins over a two-year span in 1981-82.
Alexander spent the Fall of 2020 working as the linebackers graduate assistant for Kent State while moving to the defensive line graduate assistant in the Spring of 2020. The 2019 Golden Flashes defeated Utah State, 51-41, in the Tropical Smoothie Cafe Frisco Bowl. It marked the first bowl victory in Kent State history.
Alexander started his coaching career at Division III Beloit College in 2018 as the Defensive Line Coach and Video Coordinator.
As a player, Alexander was a four-year letterman at Kent State from 2014-17. As a senior, he paced the team in tackles for loss (10) and finished third with 62 total stops.
In addition to his on-field production, Alexander was also a decorated student. The MAC honored him as a "Distinguished Scholar Athlete." Moreover, he was a three-time Academic All-MAC Team selection and received induction into the National Football Foundation's prestigious Hampshire Honor Society.
He earned a bachelor's degree in criminal justice in 2017 and a master's degree in criminal justice with a concentration in global security from KSU in 2018.
"We have quite a recent history with outstanding defensive ends and that will continue under the tutelage of Coach Alexander," said Creighton. "With Ben Needham shifting to our linebacker room as the co-defensive coordinator, Coach Needham has worked with Coach Alexander previously and feels that he is the right man to continue to lead that position. He is off to an excellent start. We are excited about him being a part of our football family."
Alexander has college coaching experience at the University of Pittsburgh and Beloit College as well as Kent State. During his playing career as a linebacker for the Golden Flashes, he appeared in 40 career games with 114 tackles, 19.5 tackles for loss, and 5.5 sacks.
"I'm extremely excited and thankful for the opportunity to join the EMU staff and continue to build on what Coach Creighton has started," Alexander added. "I'm looking forward to working with the defensive end unit, as EMU has developed some really good players at the defensive line position in recent years."
The Miami, Fla. native spent the last two seasons (2021-22) at Pitt working as a graduate assistant. There he worked directly with the defensive line in an aggressive quarters defense scheme. Additionally, he coached the offensive scout team, primarily working with the offensive line, tight ends, running backs, and quarterbacks.
In 2022, he helped in the development of tackle Calijah Kancey, a unanimous All-American and the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Defensive Player of the Year. Kancey led the nation's interior defenders with 14.5 tackles for loss. He was the only player in the country to be selected as a 2022 finalist for both the Outland Trophy (nation's best interior lineman) and Bronko Nagurski Trophy (national defensive player of the year).
The Panthers' trademarks—a swarming pass rush and smothering run defense—were again on full display during the 2022 season. The ball-hawking unit produced points on the scoreboard as well. Pitt ranked second nationally with an average of 3.69 sacks per game. The Panthers have collected 199 sacks over the past four seasons (2019-22), the highest total in the nation over that span.
Pitt limited opponents to an ACC-low 98.0 rushing yards per contest, ranking eighth nationally in run defense. Overall, the Panthers have finished in the nation's top 12 in stopping the run each year from 2019-22.
Pittsburgh's defense also proved adept at producing points. The Panthers scored five defensive touchdowns in 2022 to lead the ACC and rank third nationally. Combined between the 2021 and 2022 seasons, Pitt led the country in defensive touchdowns (10) and pick sixes (eight).
Pitt finished 9-4, including a stirring 37-35 win over nationally ranked UCLA in the Sun Bowl. Pitt finished in the national top 25 for the second consecutive season, placing No. 22 in both major polls. It marked the first time since 1979-83 that Pitt earned top 25 finishes in back-to-back years.
In 2021, Alexander worked with a defensive unit that was highly instrumental in the Panthers' run to the 2021 ACC championship, ranking second nationally in sacks (3.86 avg.), sixth in rushing defense (89.3 avg.), and eighth in interceptions (16 total).
It was a historic 2021 campaign when Pitt stormed to 11 victories and claimed their first outright conference title with a 45-21 triumph over Wake Forest in the ACC Championship Game. Pitt earned a No. 13 ranking in the final 2021 polls, its highest finish since 1982.
The Panthers combined to win 20 games over the past two seasons. Pitt last achieved 20 wins over a two-year span in 1981-82.
Alexander spent the Fall of 2020 working as the linebackers graduate assistant for Kent State while moving to the defensive line graduate assistant in the Spring of 2020. The 2019 Golden Flashes defeated Utah State, 51-41, in the Tropical Smoothie Cafe Frisco Bowl. It marked the first bowl victory in Kent State history.
Alexander started his coaching career at Division III Beloit College in 2018 as the Defensive Line Coach and Video Coordinator.
As a player, Alexander was a four-year letterman at Kent State from 2014-17. As a senior, he paced the team in tackles for loss (10) and finished third with 62 total stops.
In addition to his on-field production, Alexander was also a decorated student. The MAC honored him as a "Distinguished Scholar Athlete." Moreover, he was a three-time Academic All-MAC Team selection and received induction into the National Football Foundation's prestigious Hampshire Honor Society.
He earned a bachelor's degree in criminal justice in 2017 and a master's degree in criminal justice with a concentration in global security from KSU in 2018.
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