Jed Paulsen has been by Coach Nesbitt’s side for most of his football career. Paulsen enters his sixth year as both Truman’s offensive line coach and serves as the team’s Strength and Conditioning coordinator.
The offensive line has allowed the Bulldogs to rush for over 159 yards per game over the past five seasons and 86 rushing touchdowns. In addition, the line has allowed 103 quarterback sacks (1.9/game) with a season low of 11 during the 2013 season.
Each season, Paulsen has had at least one Bulldog named all-conference. In 2014, Brad Wellman was a first team all-GLVC selection. In 2013, Eric Stone was the first, first-team choice in seven seasons while in 2012 and 2011, center Blake Holland was honorable mention and Dan Tweeton earned a mention in 2010.
Paulsen has played an integral role in developing the team’s strength and conditioning program and has served on the athletics department weight room committee. That committee designed and laid out the Athletics Weight Room that was part of the Pershing Building construction project in 2010.
Paulsen, a three-year starter at North Carolina State University, joined the Bulldogs after spending two and a half years as a graduate assistant coach at the University of Central Missouri.
While working with Coach Nesbitt at UCM, Paulsen coached first team all-conference player and Honorable Mention all-American, DeMarco Cosby. As a sophomore, Cosby caught 29 passes for 623 yards and five touchdowns that set school records for yards by a tight end.
Cosby entered his junior year (2009) as a preseason all-American by D2Football.com and caught 39 passes for 513 yards and five more touchdowns while being mentored by Paulsen.
At UCM, Paulsen was also the department’s Strength and Conditioning coach and worked as a counselor at the annual summer football camp.
Paulsen, originally from Rocheport, Mo. and a Hickman High School graduate, was the first four-year starter for the Hickman football program and was a three-year all-State selection. In addition, Paulsen followed in the footsteps of his father and grandfather in winning a Missouri State High School Heavyweight wrestling championship.
Paulsen was recruited by Chuck Amato and was a four-year letterwinner and three-year starter for the North Carolina State University Wolfpack.
As a senior, Paulsen served as one of the team’s captains, earned the NCSU Jim Ritcher Award for Best Offensive Lineman, was named to the first-team Academic all-Atlantic Coast Conference and ACC Honor Roll, and was a preseason second-team all-ACC selection.
In 2003, Paulsen was awarded the Bob Warren Award for integrity and sportsmanship at NC State. He was a first team Academic all-ACC and ACC Honor Roll member and named to the league’s honorable mention squad.
Paulsen coached both the offensive and defensive lines for the Wolfpack for two seasons following his playing career.
Paulsen and his wife Anna, a former cheerleader at NC State, have three young children.
