FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino has found his defensive coordinator.
Paul Haynes, the co-defensive coordinator/safeties coach at Ohio State, has agreed to join Arkansas’ staff as defensive coordinator/defensive backs coach. Haynes was in his seventh season with the Buckeyes, who will be led by new coach Urban Meyer after the Gator Bowl.
Contract information was not immediately available Friday night, but Haynes’ hiring ends a search that began earlier this week when Willy Robinson turned in his resignation after four seasons. Haynes could be with the Razorbacks as early as today, contributing to Arkansas’ preparation for the Cotton Bowl on Dec. 6.
“Through his experiences, Paul Haynes is extremely familiar with the way we operate,” Petrino said in a statement Friday night. “He has a professional approach and is an exceptional coach and recruiter.”
Haynes has ties to Petrino, former Arkansas special teams coordinator/outside linebackers coach John L. Smith, and former offensive coordinator Garrick McGee.
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He worked for Smith as defensive backs coach at Louisville in 2002 and again at Michigan State in 2003-04. Haynes also worked with the Jacksonville Jaguars as a defensive quality control assistant in 2001, the same year Petrino was the team’s offensive coordinator and McGee was an offensive quality control assistant.
In his time at Ohio State, the Buckeyes compiled a 66-11 record, won six Big Ten titles and played in six straight BCS games. Ohio State defensive backs earned five first-team All-America selections and 10 first-team All-Big Ten selections under Haynes’ guidance. Eight defensive backs were selected in the NFL Draft from 2006-11, including first rounders Donte Whitner and Malcolm Jenkins.
Haynes was promoted to co-defensive coordinator before the 2011 season after Tressel was fired and Luke Fickell was named interim coach. The Buckeyes ranked fourth in the Big Ten in interceptions (12), fifth in pass defense (186.2 yards a game) and sacks (23) in 2011. Ohio State ranked in the top 30 in the NCAA in total defense (328.6 yards) and scoring defense (20.8 points).
Haynes has not been solely in charge of a defense during his 17-year collegiate coaching career, but Petrino expressed confidence in the hire Friday night.
“This is a competitive conference and we are determined to go head-to-head with the very best,” Petrino said. “Having Paul join our program will help us as we continue on the path toward our goal of consistently winning championships. He has been a part of a team with a culture of doing just that. Paul has incredibly high standards and the defenses he has built have been challenging to prepare for and have always played with toughness, intensity and desire.”
Haynes is a Columbus, Ohio native, who walked on at Kent State in 1987 and played four seasons for the Golden Flashes. He also has had full-time coaching stints at Ferris State, Northern Iowa and Kent State in his career.
Haynes’ appointment came hours after Petrino addressed the defensive coordinator job for the first time since Robinson was let go. He said Arkansas was “in the process of working through who our next hire is going to be” and offered a few characteristics needed for a replacement.
“Any time you hire somebody, you’re looking at their experience, their character, what you know about them,” Petrino said. “How they can relate to our players and how our players are going to relate to them?
“There are a number of things that are involved.”
So Petrino now has found a defensive coordinator in Haynes and offensive coordinator in Paul Petrino this week. There is one more defensive opening remaining.
It’s not clear if duties will be shuffled again when Haynes arrives. Defensive tackles coach Bobby Allen, who has coached every position with the Razorbacks, has worked with the defensive backs during bowl preparation. Kevin Peoples, who had been working as Arkansas’ director of high school relations, is helping the defensive line.
“We’ve had Kevin Peoples on our staff now for two years, knowing that there was going to be an opportunity for him to step in and work with the defensive front, which he’s done his entire career as a coach,” Petrino said Friday. “And I think he’s very, very good at it. So I know he’s exited to be out there the last two games, the last two days. He’s done a really nice job. Both of them have.”