FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas football interim head coach Bobby Petrino is hiring longtime NFL assistant Jay Hayes to his staff as the Razorbacks’ defensive line coach, according to a report from On3’s Chris Low on Thursday.
Petrino fired defensive coordinator Travis Williams, co-defensive coordinator Marcus Woodson and defensive line coach Deke Adams on his first full day as the interim coach Monday.
While speaking on the SEC coaches teleconference Wednesday, Petrino said he was close to making a defensive staff hire.
Hayes coached in the NFL from 1999-2018, and spent 2020 coaching for the St. Louis Battlehawks in the United Football League. His longest stint was with the Cincinnati Bengals from 2003-15.
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His last time coaching in college was from 1995-98 as the outside linebackers coach at Wisconsin. Hayes also coached at California (1991-94) and Notre Dame (1988-91).
Notable players Hayes has coached include 5-time first-team All-Pro defensive tackle Geno Atkins and 2-time Pro Bowl defensive end Carlos Dunlap.
Hayes would work under newly promoted defensive coordinator Chris Wilson, who also coached in the UFL recently. Wilson was defensive coordinator and linebackers coach for the Houston Roughnecks from 2023-24.