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Per a report from ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg, Rutgers is set to hire Jay Valai as cornerbacks coach, replacing Henry Baker who recently left for a job with the New York Giants.
SOURCE: Rutgers is hiring Kansas City Chiefs defensive quality control coach Jay Valai as cornerbacks coach. Valai, a former safety at Wisconsin, replaces Henry Baker, who briefly was with Rutgers before taking a position with the New York Giants.... https://t.co/ocMThAMOfS
— Adam Rittenberg (@ESPNRittenberg) February 15, 2019
Valai played safety at Wisconsin from 2007 to 2010 where he totaled 153 tackles, 1 sack, 4 forced fumbles and 2 interceptions in 48 games played. He was named All-Big Ten Second Team in both the 2008 and 2009 seasons. The Texas native was training high school and professional athletes after his college career was finished before transitioning into coaching. He worked as a defensive quality control coach at Georgia during the 2016 and 2017 seasons. This past season, Valai was a defensive quality control coach in the NFL for the Kansas City Chiefs.
Rutgers head coach Chris Ash was the defensive backs coach at Wisconsin in 2010 during Valai’s senior season. Ash remained at Wisconsin as the defensive coordinator the following two seasons.
The hiring of Valai fills out the Rutgers coaching staff and here is a full listing of staff and responsibilities:
Offensive Coordinator - John McNulty
Running Backs - Kolby Smith
Wide Receivers - Lester Erb
Tight Ends - Nunzio Campanile
Offensive Line - Peter Rossomando
Defensive Coordinator - Andy Buh
Defensive line - Corey Brown
Safeties/Co-DC - Noah Joseph
Cornerbacks - Jay Valai
Special Teams/OLB - Vince Okruch
During the recent national signing day special that Rutgers produced, you can watch interviews with every assistant coach other than Valai.