Wisconsin hires former NFL veteran Robert Steeples to coach cornerbacks; Paul Haynes elevated to new role
NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos...
MADISON – With the 2026 season will come a new coaching structure for the Wisconsin secondary.
Paul Haynes, the Badgers' cornerbacks during coach Luke Fickell’s first three seasons, will oversee the secondary. Robert Steeples will take over as cornerbacks coach.
Haynes, who has experience as a head coach and defensive coordinator, oversaw the secondary at Ohio State from 2005-11 and at Michigan State in 2018-19.
The move allows for the addition of Steeples, an NFL veteran of three seasons who since his retirement in 2015 has coached at the high school, college and NFL levels. Jack Cooper is UW's safeties coach.
“Bringing Robert Steeples to Wisconsin is a great addition to our coaching staff,” Fickell said in press release. “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.”
Steeples spent the past two seasons at Iowa State as a senior offensive analyst. In 2022 and ’22 he coached cornerbacks at LSU and in 2021 he was a special teams assistant for the Minnesota Vikings.
He played his college ball at Missouri (2009-11) and Memphis (2012). He played in the NFL from 2013-15 for the St. Louis, Minnesota, Kansas City and Dallas.
He started his coaching career at De Smet Jesuit High School near St. Louis. He went 31-12 in four seasons as head coach.
Steeples was named to the AFCA 35 Under 35 2024 class which recognizes the top 35 coaches under the age of 35.
“As a coach, I fall back on my experiences in the shoes of players and under that helmet,” Steeples said in the press release. “I try to be source of poise and confidence for those I work with, and a communicator on a level that is processable by all and will 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.”
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin hires former NFL vet Robert Steeples as cornerbacks coach
More at NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos