Oklahoma assistant Jay Valai discusses difficult decision to leave Alabama
By Andrew Olson
Published:
Jay Valai has been on the move throughout his coaching career. After 2 seasons at Georgia as a defensive quality control coach (2016-17), he has changed teams every offseason, leaving UGA for the Kansas City Chiefs in 2018, followed by stops at Rutgers, Texas, Alabama and now Oklahoma.
Valai recently met with OU media. He was asked about his decision to leave Alabama for Oklahoma. He reminded reporters that in between his move from Texas to Alabama, he had taken a position with the Philadelphia Eagles. Valai had high praise for Nick Saban, saying it was difficult to leave a position coaching with the “GOAT,” but considered Oklahoma a special opportunity close to his hometown of Euless, Texas.
“That whole last year was a crazy year, to say the least,” Valai said when asked about his time at Alabama. “It was crazy, but God opens up doors for you. Last year, in February, I didn’t think I was going to be at Alabama, I thought I was going to be corner coach for the Eagles because that’s where I was, I was in Philly. Then, the GOAT calls me the night of the Super Bowl, and that became a life decision. Working for Coach Saban… he’s just a special dude, and it was one of the hardest decisions, me coming here (to Oklahoma). To be honest, leaving him and what kind of guy he is talking ball, that was tough.
“God led me here for a specific reason with Coach (Brent) Venables and Oklahoma and close to home.”
In addition to coaching cornerbacks, Valai has the title of co-defensive coordinator on Venables’ staff.
Andrew writes about sports to fund his love of live music and collection of concert posters. He strongly endorses the Hall of Fame campaigns of Fred Taylor and Andruw Jones.
