Alabama Hires Former Wisconsin DB and Eagles Assistant

After recently landing a job with the Philadelphia Eagles, Jay Valai leaving to become Alabama's new cornerbacks coach.

Valai has been job hopping ever since he was not retained by former Alabama offensive coordinator and Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian. Texas and Alabama have been trading assistants in the offseason, as Kyle Flood and Jeff Banks followed Sarkisian to Austin, Texas after the national championship.

Valai is replacing Karl Scott, who left to become the Minnesota Vikings defensive backs coach. Valai has worked under some great coaches, like Andy Reid and Kirby Smart; however, now he gets the chance to work under Nick Saban. ESPN reporter Adam Rittenberg first reported the news.

According to Yahoo Sports, this will be Valai's fourth job within the past month. He took jobs at Texas, Houston, Philadelphia and now Alabama. He previously was the cornerbacks coach at Rutgers in 2019 and Texas this past season. Valai also served as the quality control coach for Georgia in 2016 and 2017 and the Kansas City Chiefs in 2018.

Valai played for the Wisconsin Badgers as a defensive back and earned second-team All-Big Ten in 2008 and 2009. He was also part of the Wisconsin team that won the Big Ten championship and the Rose Bowl in 2010 he made 153 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, two interceptions and one sack during his four seasons with the Badgers.

The Valai hire will complete the Alabama assistant coaching staff for the 2021 season.