BGSU football head coach Eddie George has announced numerous changes to the team’s coaching staff for the 2026 season, headlined by the hiring of Greg Froelich as special teams coordinator and the elevation of Joe Bowden to defensive coordinator.
The program also announced secondary coach Richard McNutt has added the title of pass game coordinator, Jack McCarthy is returning as an assistant offensive line coach, Baron May has been named an offensive analyst, Zac Garvin is transitioning from special teams quality control to special teams analyst and Shane Aylward has joined the program as an assistant football strength and conditioning coach.
“We’re excited to put the finishing touches on our 2026 staff as we head into spring football,” George said in a press release by the program. “Continuity, alignment and competitive excellence were priorities throughout this process. We’ve added outstanding coaches and elevated proven leaders within our program. I’m confident this staff reflects the standard we’re building at Bowling Green and will position our student-athletes for success on and off the field.”
Froelich most recently served as special teams quality control coach at Washington last season, and replaces Alex Bayer, who left the program to take the special teams coordinator job at Syracuse.
“We’re excited to welcome Greg to the BGSU family,” George said. “Greg is an up-and-coming coach who has been part of highly successful special teams units at every stop in his career. Special teams play a critical role in the overall success of a football program, and Greg brings the experience, attention to detail, and competitive mindset we value. As we continue to elevate our program, his energy and expertise will be a tremendous asset to our staff and our student-athletes.”
Froelich previously served as the special teams coordinator and running backs coach at Charlotte during the 2023 and 2024 seasons. Before that, he was the special teams analyst at Illinois from 2021-22 and a special teams and running backs analyst at Michigan from 2017-20.
Prior to coaching, Froelich played offensive line and fullback for the Wolverines from 2013-17.
“I’m fired up for the opportunity to join Bowling Green State University as the special teams coordinator,” Froelich said. “I am excited to join the outstanding staff Coach George has put together, with its decades of experience and brilliant football minds. Bowling Green’s winning tradition and outstanding leadership are something anyone would be honored to be a part of. I cannot wait to help build a program our players, alumni, and community can be proud of.”
Bowden’s promotion from linebackers coach fills the role left vacant by Brandon Fisher, who departed the program for other coaching opportunities.
“Joe Bowden is someone I’ve trusted for a long time,” said George. “We lined up together in the NFL, and we have worked side by side every day I’ve been a head coach. I know how he thinks, I know how he prepares, and I know the standard he holds himself and our players to every single day. Joe brings experience, toughness and consistency to our defense. We’re going to continue to play hard-nosed, blue-collar football that reflects this program and help build young men for their future.”
Bowden also coached alongside George at Tennessee State in 2021 after spending four seasons as the defensive coordinator at Missouri Baptist.
Bowden was a First-Team All-American linebacker at Oklahoma and played seven years in the NFL with the Houston Oilers/Tennessee Oilers/Tennessee Titans and Dallas Cowboys, playing alongside George in Tennessee. He also coached six seasons in the NFL with the St. Louis/Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers.
Aylward spent last season as a strength and conditioning intern at LSU after serving in the same capacity at Minnesota.
Garvin spent last season on the team’s staff in a special teams quality control role. He has also served as the assistant head coach and offensive coordinator at Community Christian College in 2023, a graduate assistant at Central Michigan and stops at Wake Forest and Wayne State.
May joins the program’s coaching staff after being a quarterback for the past two seasons, appearing in two career games.
McCarthy returns to Bowling Green after serving as a graduate assistant and offensive quality control coach from 2022-24.
Finally, McNutt will enter his second season at BGSU after joining George in the transition from Tennessee State. He is a 22-year coaching veteran, having coached defensive backs at the NFL, FBS, FCS and Division III levels.
