Football
Buckels, Carlton
Carlton Buckels
- Title:
- Cornerbacks Coach | 2nd Season
Carlton Buckels joined the TCU staff in January 2022 as cornerbacks coach.
Buckels has coached NFL Draft picks in each of his first two seasons with the Horned Frogs. In 2022, Buckels mentored Tre'Vius Hodges-Tomlinson into becoming the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award winner as the nation's top defensive back and a sixth-round selection by the Los Angeles Rams. The 2023 campaign saw Josh Newton earn All-Big 12 honors for the second straight year en route to being a fifth-round pick of the Cincinnati Bengals.
Buckels spent the previous four seasons (2018-21) at Tulsa. After serving his first three years as safeties coach, he was promoted to defensive passing game coordinator and moved to cornerbacks for the 2021 campaign.
Tulsa’s 2020 defense ranked second in the American Athletic Conference for total defense, scoring defense, rushing defense, pass defense and pass defense efficiency. The Hurricane were in the top-20 nationally for fewest passing yards, pass defense efficiency and total defense.
In 2018, Buckels’ first year with the Hurricane, Tulsa led the AAC and ranked eighth nationally in pass defense (174.6 yards per game).
Buckels came to Tulsa following one season as the defensive coordinator and secondary coach at Belhaven University in Jackson, Miss.
Buckels’ collegiate coaching stops have included Delta State (2001-02), Southeastern Louisiana (2003-04), New Mexico State (2005-07), North Texas (2009-10) and Baylor (2011-16). In the summer of 2010, Buckels worked with the NFL’s Oakland Raiders coaching staff as part of the Bill Walsh Minority Coaching Fellowship Program.
A native of Louisiana, Buckels played collegiately at LSU and coached high school football in the state.
Buckels received his start in collegiate coaching at his alma mater, LSU, where he served as a graduate assistant under Nick Saban and Gerry Dinardo. He worked with the defense and special teams while earning his master’s degree in 2001.
Before beginning his collegiate coaching career, Buckels was a defensive assistant at Hammonds (La.) High School from 1996-99, helping the Tornados to the Class 4A state semifinals in 1996 and 1997.
Buckels was a two-time all-state defensive back at Amite (La.) High School before going to LSU. A four-year letterman (1989-92), Buckels served as Team Captain and earned Special Teams Most Valuable Player honors in 1991. He totaled six career interceptions, including one returned for a touchdown.
After LSU, Buckels played professionally with the CFL’s Baltimore Stallions and the semi-pro Louisiana Bayou Thunder.
Buckels and his wife, Kyra, have three sons: Justin, Carsyn and Carlon.
Buckels has coached NFL Draft picks in each of his first two seasons with the Horned Frogs. In 2022, Buckels mentored Tre'Vius Hodges-Tomlinson into becoming the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award winner as the nation's top defensive back and a sixth-round selection by the Los Angeles Rams. The 2023 campaign saw Josh Newton earn All-Big 12 honors for the second straight year en route to being a fifth-round pick of the Cincinnati Bengals.
Buckels spent the previous four seasons (2018-21) at Tulsa. After serving his first three years as safeties coach, he was promoted to defensive passing game coordinator and moved to cornerbacks for the 2021 campaign.
Tulsa’s 2020 defense ranked second in the American Athletic Conference for total defense, scoring defense, rushing defense, pass defense and pass defense efficiency. The Hurricane were in the top-20 nationally for fewest passing yards, pass defense efficiency and total defense.
In 2018, Buckels’ first year with the Hurricane, Tulsa led the AAC and ranked eighth nationally in pass defense (174.6 yards per game).
Buckels came to Tulsa following one season as the defensive coordinator and secondary coach at Belhaven University in Jackson, Miss.
Buckels’ collegiate coaching stops have included Delta State (2001-02), Southeastern Louisiana (2003-04), New Mexico State (2005-07), North Texas (2009-10) and Baylor (2011-16). In the summer of 2010, Buckels worked with the NFL’s Oakland Raiders coaching staff as part of the Bill Walsh Minority Coaching Fellowship Program.
A native of Louisiana, Buckels played collegiately at LSU and coached high school football in the state.
Buckels received his start in collegiate coaching at his alma mater, LSU, where he served as a graduate assistant under Nick Saban and Gerry Dinardo. He worked with the defense and special teams while earning his master’s degree in 2001.
Before beginning his collegiate coaching career, Buckels was a defensive assistant at Hammonds (La.) High School from 1996-99, helping the Tornados to the Class 4A state semifinals in 1996 and 1997.
Buckels was a two-time all-state defensive back at Amite (La.) High School before going to LSU. A four-year letterman (1989-92), Buckels served as Team Captain and earned Special Teams Most Valuable Player honors in 1991. He totaled six career interceptions, including one returned for a touchdown.
After LSU, Buckels played professionally with the CFL’s Baltimore Stallions and the semi-pro Louisiana Bayou Thunder.
Buckels and his wife, Kyra, have three sons: Justin, Carsyn and Carlon.
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