Former Wisconsin safety Jay Valai (2006-2010) on Monday was officially announced as the cornerbacks coach for Texas.
Valai a Texas native has previously coached at Rutgers as he served as the cornerbacks coach for the Scarlet Knights. Valai has also served as a coach with the Kansas City Chiefs.
Valai joins Chris Ash at Texas as Ash the former head coach at Rutgers will serve as Texas’ defensive coordinator. Ash served as Wisconsin’s defensive backs coach in 2010 before being named co-defensive coordinator at Wisconsin with Charlie Partridge from 2011-to-2012.
Valai only played one season under Ash as a player in 2010 and has also coached under Ash at Rutgers for only one season. Ash will also serve as the safeties coach for Texas in addition to being the defensive coordinator.
Valai replaces Jason Washington as the cornerbacks coach at Texas as Ash elected not to retain him as his position coach.
Valai in his career at Wisconsin started 37 career games while appearing in 48 overall. Valai finished his career at Wisconsin with 153 career tackles (91 solo), 10.5 tackles for loss, one sack, four forced fumbles, 10 pass deflections, and two interceptions.
Valai was a two-time second-team All-Big Ten selection as he made the second team in 2008 and 2010. Statistically Valai’s best season came in 2008 when he posted career highs in tackles (56), tackles for loss (four), sacks (one), and forced fumbles (three).
Valai will be tasked with helping shore up a Longhorn secondary that allowed 292.5 passing yards per game, which ranked 127th nationally. Compared to the 232.5 passing yards Rutgers allowed this past season, which ranked 76th nationally.