When your defense dominates the way Oklahoma’s did in 2025, it’s only a matter of time before other programs come knocking. And now, one of Brent Venables’ top assistants is drawing interest from a fellow college football blue blood.
Oklahoma cornerbacks coach Jay Valai - who also holds the titles of assistant head coach for defense and co-defensive coordinator - has surfaced as a candidate for a key opening on Notre Dame’s staff. The Fighting Irish are in the market for a new secondary coach after losing theirs to the NFL, and Valai’s name is reportedly in the mix.
While it’s unclear whether he’s the frontrunner for the job, the interest is real. And it makes sense. Valai’s track record at Oklahoma speaks for itself.
Since arriving in Norman in 2022 as part of Venables’ first staff, Valai has steadily built a reputation for player development and recruiting savvy. In 2024, he was elevated to assistant head coach for defense - a reflection of his growing influence in the program.
This past season, he helped guide a young cornerback duo in sophomore Eli Bowen and freshman Courtland Guillory. Under Valai’s watch, Guillory blossomed into an SEC All-Freshman selection, while Bowen - already an ESPN Freshman All-American the year before - continued to solidify his role as a cornerstone of the Sooners’ secondary. Both are set to return in 2026, giving Oklahoma one of the more promising cornerback tandems in the conference.
Valai’s ability to get immediate production from young talent is no accident. It’s rooted in his own experience as a high-level player and his unconventional path through the coaching ranks. A standout defensive back at Wisconsin from 2006 to 2010, Valai earned Second-Team All-Big Ten honors twice and captained the Badgers to a Big Ten title and Rose Bowl appearance in his senior year.
After his playing days, he spent six years running a sports performance training facility, working with both high school and professional athletes. That foundation in player development eventually led him to coaching, starting as a defensive quality control coach at Georgia in 2016 and 2017 - including the year Georgia beat Oklahoma in the College Football Playoff. He followed that up with a stint on the Kansas City Chiefs’ staff in 2018 in the same role.
Valai got his first shot as a position coach at Rutgers in 2019, then moved on to Texas in 2020 and Alabama in 2021 before landing at Oklahoma. His time at Rutgers and Texas also saw him work alongside Chris Ash, who was recently named Notre Dame’s new defensive coordinator. That connection is likely part of what’s fueling the current interest from South Bend.
If Valai does end up joining the Irish, it would mark a significant move - but also a manageable one for Oklahoma. Losing just one assistant from a staff that orchestrated such a strong 2025 campaign would be a testament to the stability Venables has built.
And if the Sooners manage to keep the entire defensive staff intact heading into 2026? That might be an even bigger win than any offseason roster retention.
For now, it’s a situation worth monitoring. Valai’s name is rising, and with good reason. Whether he stays in Norman or heads to Notre Dame, his coaching trajectory is clearly on the upswing.