Jay Valai - Co-Defensive Coordinator / Pass Defense / Cornerbacks and Nickelbacks - Football Coaches

Jay Valai

Title:
Co-Defensive Coordinator / Pass Defense / Cornerbacks and Nickelbacks

Coaching Notes and Accomplishments
• Named Oklahoma's co-defensive coordinator/pass defense on Jan., 11, 2022, and added the title assistant head coach for defense this past offseason. Valai (pronounced vuh-LIE) coaches cornerbacks and nickelbacks.

• A former All-Big Ten defensive back at Wisconsin, he has coached at both the collegiate and NFL levels since joining the profession in 2016.

• Oversees an OU passing defense that leads the country with 37 interceptions in his two seasons with the Sooners.

• Presided over a 2023 OU passing defense that ranked first nationally in interceptions per game (1.5) and second in total interceptions (20). Cornerback Gentry Williams ranked second on the team with his three picks.

• Under his guidance, the 2022 Sooners passing defense tied for seventh nationally with 17 interceptions. Cornerback C.J. Coldon led the team and ranked third in the Big 12 with four picks.

• In 2021, he helped Alabama to a 13-2 record, an SEC title and an appearance in the CFP National Championship Game.

• Alabama ranked seventh nationally in total defense (304.1 yards per game) and 18th in scoring defense (20.1 points per game) while totaling 15 interceptions and 45 pass breakups. Redshirt junior cornerback Jalyn Armour-Davis earned second-team All-SEC honors after registering a team-high-tying three interceptions in his 11 games.

• Served as cornerbacks coach at Texas in 2020, where he helped the Longhorns' Josh Thompson earn second-team All-Big 12 honors after making 28 tackles, three tackles for loss and an interception. At the opposite corner, D'Shawn Jamison recorded 31 tackles with six pass breakups. Texas ranked third in the Big 12 in opponent yards per completion (13.5), fourth in pass efficiency defense (128.7) and fourth in opponent yards per pass attempt (6.8).

• Served as cornerbacks coach at Rutgers in 2019 after spending 2018 with the Kansas City Chiefs in a defensive quality control role and as assistant defensive backs coach.

• In 2018, the Chiefs ranked 12th in the NFL regular season in pass efficiency defense (92.7). They went 12-4 before beating Indianapolis in the divisional round of the playoffs and eventually lost in overtime to New England in the AFC Championship Game.

• Spent the 2016 and 2017 seasons at Georgia as defensive quality control coach, helping the Bulldogs to a double-overtime Rose Bowl win over Oklahoma at the end of the 2017 season and earn a spot in the CFP National Championship Game. He has worked two national championship games (2017 and 2021 seasons).

• Following his playing career, opened a sports performance training facility and for six years (2011-16) worked with professional athletes from the NBA and NFL, as well as with high school student-athletes.

Accomplishments as a Player
• Was a four-year letterwinner at Wisconsin, where he was a senior captain on its 2010 Rose Bowl team. He earned second-team All-Big Ten honors in 2008 and '09 and totaled 153 tackles, four forced fumbles and a pair of interceptions in 48 career games in helping the Badgers to a 37-15 record. His three forced fumbles in 2008 paced the Big Ten. He appeared in four bowl games and helped UW to the 2010 Big Ten title, an 11-2 overall record (7-1 in league play) and a No. 7 final AP ranking.

• A native of Euless, Texas, he lettered in football, basketball and track at Colleyville Heritage High School. As a senior in 2005, he was a PrepStar All-American, first-team All-District 5-5A selection and district special teams player of the year. A captain that season, he was also named the squad's co-defensive MVP and special teams MVP.