Badger of Honor
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Former Wisconsin coach under Alvarez is back in the NCAA with new role at Arkansas

ByMark Knight|
Aug 24, 2014; Glendale, AZ, USA; Cincinnati Bengals defensive line coach Jay Hayes (left) with defensive end Carlos Dunlap (96) against the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Aug 24, 2014; Glendale, AZ, USA; Cincinnati Bengals defensive line coach Jay Hayes (left) with defensive end Carlos Dunlap (96) against the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Wisconsin Badger fans may remember the name Jay Hayes; he's now back in the NCAA after spending most of his coaching career in the NFL. Bobby Petrino has added him to the Arkansas coaching staff.

Hayes wasn't at Wisconsin long, but while there was part of helping the defensive line and the defensive unit as a whole. He liked it enough to help his son Jesse Hayes choose to be a Badger when colleges came calling. For Jay, he was in Madison from 1995 to 1998. Jesse played for the Badgers from 2011-2015.

Jay Hayes a former Badger coach is now coaching for Bobby Petrino at Arkansas

Hayes had some notable years while at Wisconsin, not just because that was part of the big turnaround for Barry Alvarez. Going 11-1 and winning the Big Ten in Hayes' final season coaching, but also because Hayes coached and developed some big-time players like Tom Burke and Wendell Bryant.

Wisconsin was also important for Hayes as it sent his career on an incredible path. He got his start with Barry Alvarez, and after the rise of Wisconsin football, he was able to jump into the NFL. He started for the Pittsburgh Steelers as the special teams coach. Not really his specialty, but it gave him the NFL opportunity. He also had a quick stint in Minnesota, coaching the special teams, before moving on to the location NFL fans recognize for him.

He then made his NFL name in Cincinnati. He coached the defensive line for the Bengals from 2003 to 2015. Coaching greats like Carlos Dunlap, Geno Atkins, and Tank Johnson, among others. He has since spent some time in Tampa Bay and Green Bay, but most recently has been retired.

Petrino got him to come out of retirement to help him turn around a bad football team. Yet, when the story of Hayes is told, it always starts with Wisconsin.

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