Bolen arrived at Defiance from Fairmont State University, where he served as the running backs coach. During the 2018 season, he helped guide the Falcons to a 9-2 overall record, including an 8-2 mark within the Mountain East Conference. Under his guidance, the running backs corps tallied 2,452 yards of rushing with two players earning all-conference honors.

Before joining Fairmont State, Bolen was the quarterbacks coach, as well as the passing game coordinator and safeties coach at Greensboro College. 

Bolen played his collegiate football at West Virginia Wesleyan College, seeing action on both sides of the ball as a starting quarterback and safety. He graduated in May 2017 from West Virginia Wesleyan with a bachelor's degree in physical education and health.