Joey Boese is in his fifth season with the Bengals in 2023, and again will lead the team's strength and conditioning program.
Since arriving in Cincinnati in 2019, Boese and his staff have led the physical development of an influx of new and young Bengals players. In 2022, he helped QB Joe Burrow return to the field in time for the start of the regular season, after an emergency surgery to remove Burrow's appendix held him out of training camp for three weeks. During the regular season, he aided in the return from injury for several notable starters who missed action, including WR Ja'Marr Chase and DT DJ Reader.
Boese's program helped Cincinnati navigate a 21-game schedule in 2021 that included a postseason run to Super Bowl LVI. His staff was instrumental in Burrow's rehabilitation, as the second-year QB set several single-season team records after missing the final six games of his rookie season in 2020 due to a knee injury. Burrow was named the NFL Comeback Player of the Year, becoming the second player in Bengals history to receive the honor.
Boese's efforts were particularly evident in 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic prohibited training at the team facility during the offseason and limited it during the regular season. His staff adjusted and helped onboard new additions that included a seven-player draft class and numerous free agent signees.
In 2019, his first season in Cincinnati, Boese's program contributed to a late-season surge, with the Bengals averaging 70.6 more rushing yards per game in the second half of the season compared to the first, while defensively they notched 11 more sacks and yielded 84.1 fewer yards per game.
Prior to joining the Bengals, Boese spent three years (2016-18) as the head football strength and conditioning coach at the University of Illinois. In 2018, he helped the Illini develop a powerful rushing offense, as the team's 244.2 rushing yards per game ranked second in the Big Ten.
Boese spent the previous four seasons (2012-15) as head strength and conditioning coach at Fresno State University. In 2012-13, he helped the Bulldogs to back-to-back conference titles, a first for the program since 1992-93. Boese also helped develop 14 first-team All-Mountain West performers and six NFL draft picks. In 2013, Boese's program helped the Bulldogs tie a school record for wins (11) and reach as high as No. 13 in the USA Today Coaches Poll.
Boese broke into the coaching ranks as assistant strength and conditioning coach at Texas A&M from 2008-11. During his time with the Aggies, Boese worked with seven future first-round NFL draft picks. He also worked alongside two members of the current Bengals coaching staff — head coach Zac Taylor and wide receivers coach Troy Walters.
Between August 2009 and July 2011, Boese served as the head strength and conditioning coach for Texas A&M's baseball team, helping the Aggies reach the 2011 College World Series.
Boese attended the University of Wisconsin, where he played defensive back on the football team from 1998-2001. He was a four-year letterman, two-year starter and three-time Academic All-Big Ten selection. He helped the Badgers to back-to-back Rose Bowl victories (1998 and '99) and a Sun Bowl victory (2000). After college, he played four seasons (2003-06) in the Canadian Football League for the Calgary Stampeders. After his playing days, Boese served as a defensive video intern with the Nebraska football team in 2007.
Boese was born in Chicago, Ill., but raised in Southern California. He earned a bachelor's degree in communication arts from Wisconsin in 2002, and finished his master's of science in health, physical education and recreation at Emporia State University in '08. He is a certified strength and conditioning specialist (CSCS), and a member of the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) and Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coaches Association (CSCCA).
Boese and his wife, Aimee, have three sons — Sam, Ben and Max. His last name is pronounced "bo-ZAY."
Playing and coaching history: 1998-2001—Played DB at Wisconsin. 2003-06—Played DB with Calgary Stampeders (CFL). 2008-11—Assistant coach (AC), Texas A&M. 2012-15—AC, Fresno State. 2016-18—AC, Illinois. 2019-present—AC, Cincinnati Bengals.
