Howard University Athletics

Ron Bolton
Defensive Backs Coach/ Recruiting Coordinator
Ron Bolton begins his third season and second stint as defensive back coach. It did not take the highly confident Bolton  long to show why he is regarded as one of the top secondary coaches in the FCS.  The Bison secondary, which had been victimized by passing touchdowns from opponents, improved dramatically, ranking among the best in the MEAC in pass defense and pass efficiency defense in 2011.  Howard cornerback Lanny Kelly finished second in the FCS in passes broken up.
 
During his first stint here, Bolton served as defensive back coach under then head coach, Rayford Petty from 2002-06 and playing a key role in the development of current NFL standouts, Antoine “Deuce” Bethea of the Indianapolis Colts and Ronald Bartell, Jr of the St. Louis Rams. Howard was No. 1in the MEAC in total defense under Bolton in 2005 and No. 2 in 2006.
 
Prior to coming to Howard, Bolton served as secondary coach for Delaware State. In his first season with the Hornets, his defensive backs accounted for 12 of the team’s 13 interceptions in2009. Safety Jerome Strums finished third in the MEAC with four interceptions. Additionally, Bolton’s secondary amassed three of the team’s four defensive touchdowns.
 
Bolton also made a coaching stop at Liberty University from 1996-97 and at Norfolk State, his alma mater, from 1997-2001. Additionally, he was a teacher and head football coach at Booker T. Washington High School in Norfolk, Virginia during the 2007 and2008 seasons. Bolton played collegiately at Norfolk State and had an outstanding career and was named to the Pittsburgh Courier Gazette Black College American team. After an outstanding college career Bolton was drafted in the fifth round by the New England Patriots and spent four seasons there as a cornerback and two years as the team’s Player Representative. Bolton was also a member of the Cleveland Browns and helped lead the team to the AFCCentral Division championship and playoff berth in1980.
 
Bolton received a bachelor’s in health and physical education from Norfolk State in 1972.