Football: Juluke Joins Ragin’™ Cajuns Football Staff

By: Jeff Schneider, Assistant Director of Athletics Communications

LAFAYETTE, La. – Louisiana native Jabbar Juluke has joined the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns football staff, head coach Billy Napier announced on Tuesday. Juluke has been named an Assistant Head Coach and work with the running backs for the Cajuns after successful stints at Texas Tech and LSU.
 
"We took a huge step forward in our vision for the program with the hire of Jabbar Juluke," Napier said. "His relationships in this state and in particular in New Orleans will be huge for our recruiting strategy. Jabbar is a man of integrity and class. He is a quality coach and has a great track record in player development. I’m excited to see him make a difference with our young men as players and people.  Let’s welcome Jabbar, his wife Denise and their family to Lafayette!"
 
Juluke comes to Louisiana from Texas Tech where he served as the Associate Head Coach/Running Backs coach. The Red Raiders averaged 140.9 yards per game on the ground in 2017 as the offensive averaged 34.3 points per game.  
 
Prior to his time at Texas Tech, Juluke spent the 2016 season as the running backs coach at LSU under Les Miles. Juluke tutored one of the nation’s top running backs while with the Tigers in Leonard Fournette, who battled through several injuries to rush for 843 yards and eight touchdowns over seven games. Fournette, the No. 5 overall selection in the 2017 NFL Draft, still managed to earn second team All-SEC honors despite being limited through portions of conference play.
 
In Fournette’s absence, Juluke mentored Derrius Guice, pushing the sophomore to 1,428 yards and 11 touchdowns on the ground as LSU’s primary option out of the back field. Guice, who was named to the All-SEC first team, rushed for at least 250 yards twice during the 2016 campaign, becoming just the second player in SEC history to reach the mark multiple times in a single season.
 
Guice snapped the LSU single-game record with 285 rushing yards in the regular-season finale against Texas A&M, breaking the previous mark that was just set a few weeks earlier by Fournette, who totaled 284 yards on the ground versus Ole Miss. LSU concluded the 2016 season ranked 21st nationally in rushing offense as the Tigers averaged 233.0 yards per game on the ground.
 
Juluke began his college coaching career at Louisiana Tech where he helped push the Bulldogs to consecutive nine-win seasons and back-to-back postseason victories in the 2015 New Orleans Bowl and the 2014 Zaxby’s Heart of Dallas Bowl. It marked the first time Louisiana Tech had won back-to-back bowl games in school history.
 
Under Juluke’s direction, Kenneth Dixon became one of the most prolific running backs in NCAA history. Dixon, who was selected in the fourth round of the 2016 NFL Draft, ended his Louisiana Tech career as the NCAA’s all-time leader among running backs for career total touchdowns (87), points scored (522) and games played with a touchdown (38).
 
Juluke coached Dixon for each of his final three seasons of his illustrious career which featured 3,410 rushing yards and 53 rushing touchdowns, both of which were school records. During his senior season alone, Dixon led the nation in scoring (14.2 points per game) and ranked second in touchdowns scored (26) for a Louisiana Tech offense that averaged 37.5 points per game.
 
Louisiana Tech combined to rush for 2,075 yards during Juluke’s final season in Ruston as the Bulldogs ranked 19th nationally in scoring offense and 21st in total offense (482.8 yards per game). His staple of running backs contributed at least 1,900 rushing yards each season during his tenure which also featured a Conference USA West Division title in 2014.
 
In addition to his role as running backs coach, Juluke was heavily involved in Louisiana Tech’s recruiting efforts where he helped haul in eventual 2017 NFL Draft picks in wide receivers Carlos Henderson (3rd Round: Denver Broncos) and Trent Taylor (5th Round; San Francisco 49ers) as well as safety Xavier Woods (6th Round; Dallas Cowboys).
 
Juluke arrived at Louisiana Tech following nine years as the head coach at Edna Karr High School in New Orleans. Juluke was regarded as one of Louisiana’s top high school coaches during that time as he compiled an 80-39 record that was capped by a perfect 14-0 mark and a Class 4A state title in 2012.
 
Juluke guided Edna Karr to seven district titles and two state runner-up finishes during his tenure. He boasted a 49-8 record over his final four seasons alone which featured three appearances in the state championship game. Most impressively, Juluke helped over 70 of his players earn college football scholarships during his head coaching career.
 
Prior to his stint at Edna Karr, Juluke served as the defensive coordinator for four years at nearby Frederick Douglas High School (1999-03) in New Orleans and was the wide receivers coach at Brother Martin High School (1998) for one year before that.
 
Juluke began his coaching career as an assistant coach at McKinley High School in 1995 before moving to O.P. Walker High School in New Orleans the following year. He later spent two seasons at St. Augustine High School (1996-97) as linebackers coach.
 
As a player, Juluke helped guide Southern University to an 11-1 record and a Black National Championship in 1993. In addition to his time as a standout safety for the Jaguars, Juluke also lettered one season with the men’s basketball program during the 1994-95 campaign. He earned his bachelor’s degree in sociology from Southern in 1999.
 
Juluke and his wife, Denise, are parents to three children – Jahmad, Jamari and Dyrius Smith.
 
Juluke’s hiring is pending approval by the University of Louisiana System Board of Supervisors.
 
JULUKE AT A GLANCE
Alma Mater: Southern, 1999
Hometown: New Orleans, La.
Wife: Denise
Children: Jahmad, Jamari and Dyrius Smith
 
COACHING EXPERIENCE
2017, Texas Tech Associate Head Coach (Running Backs)
2016, LSU Assistant Coach (Running Backs)
2013-15, Louisiana Tech Assistant Coach (Running Backs)
2003-12, Edna Karr H.S. Head Coach
1999-03, Frederick Douglas H.S. Assistant Coach (Defensive Coordinator)
1998, Brother Martin H.S. Assistant Coach (Wide Receivers)
1996-97, St. Augustine H.S. Assistant Coach (Linebackers)
1995, O.P. Walker H.S. Assistant Coach (Defensive Backs/Special Teams)
1995, McKinley H.S. Assistant Coach