The Wisconsin Badgers are continuing to reshape their coaching staff, and the latest addition brings both NFL experience and an infectious energy to the defensive side of the ball. On Tuesday, the Badgers announced the hiring of Robert Steeples as their new cornerbacks coach - a move that not only adds another sharp football mind to the staff, but also shifts veteran assistant Paul Haynes into a broader role overseeing the entire secondary.
For head coach Luke Fickell, this isn’t just about filling a position - it’s about building a defensive unit with depth, cohesion, and leadership. “Bringing Robert Steeples to Wisconsin is a great addition to our coaching staff,” Fickell said in a statement.
“He has seen the game at every level - playing professionally, coaching at the high school and collegiate level. Our players and staff will love working with him and we’re excited to get him here.”
With Steeples stepping in to lead the corners, Haynes - who’s been coaching Wisconsin’s cornerbacks for the past three seasons - will now take on a larger role as the secondary coach. That shift allows the Badgers to further unify their coverage schemes and maximize the experience Haynes brings to the table.
Steeples arrives in Madison after a two-year stint at Iowa State as a senior offensive assistant, but his coaching résumé stretches deeper, including time at LSU and a three-year playing career in the NFL. That firsthand experience gives him a unique perspective - one that resonates with players in a way that’s both relatable and impactful.
“Wisconsin’s commitment to excellence and rugged style of play gives me the opportunity to work with the type of student-athletes that can benefit most from my style of coaching,” Steeples said. “The defensive structure and culture that Coach Fickell and Coach Tressel have implemented complements the guys on the island - the corners.”
Steeples isn’t just bringing technique and tactics - he’s bringing a mindset. For him, coaching cornerbacks is about more than footwork and film study; it’s about cultivating a mentality.
“As a coach, I fall back on my experiences in the shoes of players and under that helmet,” he said. “I try to be a source of poise and confidence for those I work with, and a communicator on a level that is processable by all.
I’ll make sure that my competitive passion for the cornerback position is infectious and challenges my players’ intensity - because being on that island as a DB is a lifestyle.”
That “island” mentality is something Steeples knows well. As a former NFL defensive back, he understands the pressure, the isolation, and the confidence it takes to win one-on-one matchups. His coaching style is built to reflect that - instilling toughness, discipline, and swagger in the corners he leads.
While his recent work at Iowa State was on the offensive side of the ball, it was anything but a detour. Steeples worked directly with the Cyclones’ receiving corps, helping guide an offense that made history in 2024.
Iowa State went 11-3, notching the program’s first-ever double-digit win season. They finished 7-2 in Big 12 play and climbed to No. 15 in the final AP Top 25 - the second-highest end-of-season ranking in school history.
That success was fueled in part by a dynamic receiving duo: Jaylin Noel and Jayden Higgins each topped 1,000 receiving yards, marking the first time since 2018 that a Big 12 team had two 1,000-yard receivers in the same season. For Steeples, coaching receivers wasn’t just about teaching routes - it was about gaining insight into the minds of the players his corners will face week in and week out.
Now, he brings that knowledge back to the defensive side of the ball, where his understanding of offensive tendencies and wide receiver skill sets can give his cornerbacks a sharper edge.
This is the second coaching move for Wisconsin this offseason. Earlier, the Badgers brought in Eric Mateos to take over as offensive line coach, replacing AJ Blazek. With Steeples now in the fold, the staff continues to evolve heading into what promises to be a pivotal season for Luke Fickell and the program.
In Steeples, Wisconsin isn’t just getting a position coach - they’re getting a competitor, a teacher, and a former player who knows exactly what it takes to thrive on the perimeter. And for a team looking to elevate its secondary play, that could be a game-changer.