Joe Cauthen (Caw-then) is in his first season as Utah State’s defensive coordinator. Overall, Cauthen has 33 years of coaching experience, including 27 at the collegiate level, and is entering his 22nd year as a defensive coordinator. He has been part of five conference championship teams, including one national championship, and has coached in seven bowl games.
Cauthen comes to Utah State after spending the 2022 season as the defensive coordinator at Stephen F. Austin, where he helped the Lumberjacks win the Western Athletic Conference Championship. Cauthen’s defense ranked among the best at the Football Championship Subdivision level as it forced 19 turnovers with 11 interceptions and eight fumbles and scored a pair of touchdowns.
Under Cauthen, Stephen F. Austin had nine defenders earn all-WAC honors, including a pair of All-Americans in BJ Thompson and Edward Bobino.
Cauthen spent the 2021 season as the defensive coordinator at Buffalo, where the Bulls ranked 14th nationally in red zone defense (.735), 16th in sacks (3.08 pg) and 36th in tackles for loss (6.5 pg).
Prior to coaching at Buffalo, Cauthen spent four months on staff at Arkansas as a defensive analyst.
During the 2019 and 2020 seasons, Cauthen served as the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Houston. In 2020, his defense ranked 16th in the nation in sacks (3.00 pg) and 21st in tackles for loss (7.4 pg).
Cauthen also spent five seasons (2014-18) as the defensive coordinator at Arkansas State under Blake Anderson, helping ASU to a pair of conference championships and five bowl games.
Overall, the Red Wolves ranked among the top-21 teams in the nation in defensive touchdowns during Cauthen’s final four seasons with 22. The 2015 campaign saw ASU’s defense record an FBS-high eight touchdowns, while also leading the country in interceptions with a school-record 26.
In 2018, Arkansas State ranked 11th nationally in passing defense (177.8 ypg). Individually, defensive end Ronheen Bingham was named the Sun Belt Conference Defensive Player of the Year and was one of six A-State players to earn postseason honors.
During the 2017 season, Arkansas State’s defense ranked sixth nationally in tackles for loss (8.3 pg), ninth in fourth down conversions (.364), 19th in sacks (2.92 pg), 21st in defensive touchdowns (3), 21st in third down conversions (.330), 27th in fumbles recovered (10), 29th in turnovers gained (24), 32nd in passes intercepted (14) and 33rd in rushing defense (136.1 ypg).
Following the 2017 season, eight players were named all-Sun Belt Conference, including defensive end Ja’Von Rolland-Jones, who was tabbed the Conference Player of the Year for the second consecutive season.
In 2016, Arkansas State led the nation with 9.6 tackles for loss per game and was sixth nationally with 3.31 sacks per outing. Rolland-Jones was among nine defensive players named all-Sun Belt, helping the Red Wolves rank fourth in the nation in fourth down conversion percentage defense (.250), eighth in defensive touchdowns (4), 19th in scoring defense (21.5 ppg), 23rd in pass efficiency defense (117.25), 24th in fumbles recovered (11) and 29th in total defense (362.8 ypg).
Cauthen’s defensive unit finished the 2015 season ranked second in the country in turnovers gained (34), 11th in fourth-down conversion percentage defense (.333), 19th in third-down conversion defense (.335), 41st in sacks (2.38 pg) and 44th in rushing defense (151.5 ypg).
During Cauthen’s first year at Arkansas State in 2014, the Red Wolves ranked 14th in the nation in defensive touchdowns (4), 15th in passes intercepted (16), 17th in team sacks (2.85 pg), 21st in turnovers gained (28), 27th in third down percentage defense (.359), 28th in fumbles recovered (12) and 36th in tackles for loss (6.6 pg).
Prior to Arkansas State, Cauthen spent three seasons at Middle Tennessee, serving as the defensive line coach in 2012 and 2013 after working as the linebackers coach in 2011. He was also the special teams coordinator all three years at MTSU.
The Blue Raiders put together back-to-back eight-win seasons during Cauthen’s last two years at the school and played in the Armed Forces Bowl in 2013. In 2013, the Blue Raiders ranked fifth in the nation in turnovers gained with 33, including 15 interceptions and 18 fumble recoveries.
Cauthen also spent four seasons as the defensive coordinator at Valdosta State. In 2010, Cauthen helped lead the Blazers to a Gulf South Conference Championship after his defense ranked 23rd nationally in total defense and 18th in scoring defense. His unit was led by All-American and National Defensive Player of the Year Larry Dean, who had 122 tackles.
Cauthen’s defense was dominant during the 2008 season as it finished 24th nationally in scoring defense (18.6 ppg), 31st in total defense (304.6 ypg) and 31st in rushing defense (108.3 ypg).
In 2007, Cauthen directed a unit that finished 14th in the nation in scoring defense (17.6 ppg) as Valdosta State won its second national title. That year, VSU led the nation in passes intercepted with 27 and was second in turnovers gained with 40.
Prior to Valdosta State, Cauthen had coaching stints at Texas A&M-Commerce, Stephen F. Austin and Trinity Valley Community College. During his seven seasons with Texas A&M-Commerce, Cauthen coached six All-Americans, four Lone Star Conference (LSC) Linebackers of the Year, three Defensive Lineman of the Year, one Defensive Back of the Year and 34 defensive players that earned LSC honors.
Cauthen earned his bachelor’s degree in health and kinesiology with a minor in biology from Stephen F. Austin in 1990. He also obtained a master’s degree in sports administration from Texas-Tyler in 1997. Cauthen is married to the former Annittia Chapman and they share five children: Sam, Brooklyn, Hayden, Dakota and Jackson.
JOE CAUTHEN FILE
Coaching History
2023- Utah State – Defensive Coordinator
2022 Stephen F. Austin – Defensive Coordinator
2021 Buffalo – Defensive Coordinator
2021 Arkansas – Defensive Analyst
2019-20 Houston – Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers
2014-18 Arkansas State – Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers
2012-13 Middle Tennessee – Special Teams Coordinator/Defensive Line
2011 Middle Tennessee – Special Teams Coordinator/Linebackers
2007-10 Valdosta State – Defensive Coordinator
1999-2006 Texas A&M-Commerce – Defensive Coordinator
1997-98 Stephen F. Austin – Defensive Line
1996 Trinity Valley CC – Defensive Line
1990-95 Sherman (Texas) HS – Assistant
Bowl Games (7)
Houston (1): 2020 New Mexico Bowl
Arkansas State (5): 2018 Arizona Bowl; 2017 Camellia Bowl; 2016 Cure Bowl; 2015 New Orleans Bowl; 2014 GoDaddy Bowl
Middle Tennessee (1): 2013 Armed Forces Bowl
National Championships (1)
Valdosta State (1) – NCAA Division II, 2007
Conference Championships (5)
Stephen F. Austin (1) – WAC: 2022
Arkansas State (2) – Sun Belt: 2015, 2016
Valdosta State (2) – Gulf South: 2007, 2010
NCAA Division II Playoffs (3)
Valdosta State (3) – 2007, 2008, 2010
Education
1997 Texas-Tyler – Sports Administration (M.A.)
1990 Stephen F. Austin – Health and Kinesiology (B.S.)
Family
Wife – Annittia; Children – Sam, Brooklyn, Hayden, Dakota, Jackson