Bowling Green State University Athletics
Joseph Named Defensive Backs Coach
April 10, 2004 | Football
April 10, 2004
Bowling Green, Ohio - Bowling Green State University football coach Gregg Brandon has named Vance Joseph defensive backs coach for the Falcons. Joseph, who worked with Brandon at the University of Colorado in 2000, comes to BGSU after spending the last two years in a similar capacity with the Buffaloes. He also coached the kickoff coverage unit on special teams and played for Colorado from 1990-94. Brandon served as an assistant at Colorado from 1999-2000.
"Once you spend five minutes with Vance you realize that he is one of the top up and coming young coaches in our profession," said Brandon. "Vance will be a great teacher for our defensive backs and his experience in recruiting in Michigan and the southern United States will be invaluable to our program. We believe that Vance is an outstanding addition to our staff."
Joseph, 31, returned to his alma mater after a brief stint as the secondary coach at Wyoming (where he worked with current BGSU quarterbacks coach Mick McCall), in April 2002 following two years as a graduate assistant at CU. He was first hired as a grad assistant at CU with the secondary in December 1999, and worked the 2000 and 2001 seasons (spring and fall).
He lettered three times during his collegiate career at CU, which spanned five years (1990-94). Originally recruited at quarterback by former BGSU standout Bob Simmons, he was a true freshman who saw action on Colorado's 1990 national championship team. He finished his career at tailback.
He graduated from CU in the August prior to his senior season (1994), earning his bachelor's degree in marketing. He signed as a free agent with the New York Jets in 1995, but as a defensive back. Pressed into a starting role due to injuries, he played 17 games in the NFL with New York and Indianapolis over the course of two seasons, and he had two interceptions. He also spent a year working as a salesman for BWD Sports Insurance.
Born Sept. 20, 1972 in Marrero, La., he graduated from Archbishop Shaw High School in Marrero, where he lettered in football, basketball and baseball. He is married to the former Holly Pittman. They have a daughter, Nataly (3).
"I'm extremely honored to be joining a program that finished in the Top 25 last year," said Joseph. "The first thing you hear from people who are either working at BGSU or who have worked here is that this is an outstanding place to raise a family. The people in the University community that I met during this process have been genuine and sincere. This coaching staff has an outstanding reputation in the college football community and I look forward to being a part of that tradition."
Joseph replaces Steven Wilks who joined the Notre Dame coaching staff earlier this spring.
