As I continue to read a lot about Oklahoma Co-Defensive Coordinator Jay Valai, the more he feels like a perfect candidate for Notre Dame to replace the departed Mike Mickens, or at least try to do so. Mickens, who is arguably the top defensive back coach in all of college football, made news this weekend when it was announced that he was leaving to take a position with the Baltimore Ravens. That was an extremely difficult blow for head coach Marcus Freeman and the Fighting Irish.

After doing some digging on the early portion of the search, I am confident to say that there is at least some initial intrigue with Valai. Now that being said, that doesn’t mean that he is an assumed leader, or that Valai will even have much interest. It is very early in the process, and I don’t expect Notre Dame to rush this decision. 

Having spoken with several coaches around college football over the last couple of days, it put things into perspective just how attractive this secondary coaching position is for Notre Dame. One particular coach said that it is a top-three job in college football right now for defensive back coaches, and that came directly from someone who is a Power Four position coach right now. There have already been several talented coaches who have reached out directly to Notre Dame with interest.

On the surface, Valai does feel like a very solid early option to know. We will see if he reciprocates interest, and he is in the conversation when the job hunt really heats up, but I would recommend that Fighting Irish fans do some early homework. Here are some things to know about Valai. That includes his relationship with Notre Dame defensive coordinator Chris Ash, his coaching resume, and some insight on him from the Oklahoma side.

Connection to Chris Ash 

Just this offseason, we have seen Coach Ash play a big role in a coaching hire with the Irish. When former linebacker coach Max Bullough left to take the defensive coordinator job at Michigan State, Notre Dame chose to move Al Washington over to the spot after serving as the defensive line coach previously. A big reason for that, outside of the confidence in Washington to coach linebackers, was the program’s interest in Charlie Partridge. Ash worked with Partridge while together at Wisconsin, and clearly, there was a comfort in each other.

If Ash once again has a big part in this secondary coaching search, don’t be surprised if Valai becomes a candidate on the short list. That is no guarantee that Valai would leave Norman for South Bend, but you never know until you inquire about it. Not only is he one of “Ash’s buddies”, but Valai is also one of the better cornerback coaches in college football. That fit would make a ton of sense.

Jay Valai’s career background 

A four-year letterman and team captain for the Wisconsin Badgers, Valai finished his collegiate career with 153 total tackles, two interceptions, and four forced fumbles. After his playing career, Valai opened up a sports performance training facility, where he ran it for six years until 2016. 

He began his coaching career as a defensive quality control coach with the Georgia Bulldogs from 2016-17. That stop would land Valai in the same role for a year with the Kansas City Chiefs. His return to college in 2019 was a part of Ash’s staff while with Rutgers. Valai would then follow Ash to the Texas Longhorns the next year. 

After a brief stop with Alabama in 2021, Valai has coached the cornerbacks with the Sooners over the last four seasons. He also holds the Co-Defensive Coordinator title under head coach Brent Venables. 

Oklahoma insider on Jay Valai

A to Z Sports Oklahoma insider Justin Churchill was kind enough to join me to give the Sooners’ side on Valai. Here is what he had to say:

“A former All-Big Ten defensive back at Wisconsin, Valai began coaching in 2016 and has experience at both the collegiate and NFL levels,” Churchill said. “He guided the 2022 Oklahoma Sooners’ passing defense to tie for seventh nationally in interceptions and has been with the team ever since under head coach Brent Venables, during which OU has had some of the best defenses in the country. In 2021, he helped Alabama secure an SEC title and a CFP National Championship Game appearance, with the defense ranking seventh nationally in total defense. Previously, he coached cornerbacks at Texas in 2020, where the team posted strong defensive stats, and at Rutgers. He also spent a season with the Kansas City Chiefs, contributing to their playoff run and strong pass defense in 2018. Valai has been a pivotal piece of the Sooners’ secondary, especially in terms of development. The Sooners have been known as a team that trusts their homegrown players in the secondary to develop rather than spending in the portal. This last season, they stayed put when the portal opened, and started a true freshman three-star, Courtland Guillory, and a sophomore, Eli Bowen. Both were undersized for SEC play, but because of their development and coaching, they were two of the best in the conference. Valai is very important to what the Sooners have accomplished thus far, and losing him would be terrible.”

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