Calling the Hogs

Football coaches who win at a high level have been known to survive the most serious of storms.

The storm that has engulfed Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino might get worse before it gets better, and it has already become a huge embarrassment for the university.

Petrino’s success on the field and the way he has made Arkansas relevant again nationally will weigh heavily in his corner, but the stigma that's sure to follow him now might be too much to overcome.

UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS MEDIA RELEASE

University of Arkansas football head coach Bobby Petrino has announced Paul Haynes as defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach for the Razorbacks.

Haynes most recently spent the last seven seasons at Ohio State where he was the co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach in 2011 after working with the defensive backs from 2005-10. While Haynes was in Columbus, the Buckeyes compiled a 66-11 record, won six Big Ten titles and played in six straight BCS games while consistently putting one of the best defenses in the Big Ten on the field. The OSU defensive backs earned five first-team All-America citations and 10 first-team All-Big Ten selections under Haynes’ direction. Eight defensive backs were selected in the 2006-11 NFL Drafts, including first rounders Donte Whitner and Malcolm Jenkins. Whitner, a safety, was taken with the eighth overall pick by the Buffalo Bills in 2006, and Jenkins, a cornerback, was picked 14th overall by the New Orleans Saints in 2009.

Haynes has coached at Michigan State, Louisville, Kent State, Northern Iowa, Ferris State and Bowling Green in addition to one year as defensive quality control with the Jacksonville Jaguars, where he worked with then offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino. Haynes also worked with former Razorback coaches John L. Smith (Louisville and Michigan State) and Garrick McGee (Northern Iowa).

“Through his experiences, Paul Haynes is extremely familiar with the way we operate,” said Coach Petrino. “He has a professional approach and is an exceptional coach and recruiter. This is a competitive conference and we are determined to go head-to-head with the very best. 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.”

Before the 2011 season, Haynes was promoted to co-defensive coordinator and the Buckeyes ranked fourth in the Big Ten in turnover margin and fifth in the conference in pass defense and sacks. Ohio State also ranked in the top 30 in the NCAA in total defense and scoring defense, and John Simon was tied for third in the Big Ten with an average of 0.58 sacks per game.

In 2010, Ohio State became the first team in Big Ten history to win at least 10 games in six straight seasons, finishing with a 12-1 record and a victory in the Allstate Sugar Bowl. The Buckeye defense led the Big Ten and ranked second in the NCAA in total defense by allowing 250.6 yards per game and topped the conference and ranked third in the country with an average of 13.3 points per game allowed. They also led the Big Ten while tying for third in the country in turnover margin, and ranked fourth in the nation in rushing defense, pass efficiency defense and pass defense.

In 2009, the Buckeyes were 11-2 and defeated Oregon in the Rose Bowl. Ohio State allowed just 262.5 yards per game, first in the Big Ten and fifth in the NCAA, and 12.2 points per game, second in the conference and fifth in the country while also ranking number one in the Big Ten and fifth in the NCAA by allowing 83.4 rushing yards per game. Ohio State also was second in the Big Ten and seventh in the nation in pass efficiency defense and second in the conference and 17th in the nation in pass defense.

Malcolm Jenkins brought the Thorpe Award to Columbus as the nation’s best defensive back in 2008. He recorded 57 tackles, three interceptions and three forced fumbles while leading the Buckeye secondary that held opponents to 164.3 passing yards per game, first in the Big Ten and eighth in the NCAA. Ohio State ranked in the top 20 in the country and top three in the conference in rushing defense, scoring defense, total defense and pass efficiency defense.

Ohio State played in the BCS National Championship Game in 2006 and 2007. In 2007, the Buckeyes led the country in total defense, allowing 233.0 yards per game, in scoring defense, giving up just 12.7 points per game, and in pass defense, as opponents passed for 150.2 yards per game. Ohio State also led the Big Ten in rushing defense, allowing 82.9 yards per game to rank third in the country, and in pass efficiency defense with a mark of 98.73, which was fourth in the nation.

The 2006 squad allowed just 12.8 points per game and 280.5 yards of total offense while running undefeated through all 12 games in the regular season. Ohio State, which was ranked No. 1 in the country throughout the season, twice defeated the No. 2 team in the country by taking down Texas in Austin and Michigan in Columbus.

In Haynes’ first season at Ohio State, the Buckeyes finished the year with seven straight wins, including a victory over Notre Dame in the Fiesta Bowl, to finish 10-2. OSU’s opponents scored 15.2 points per game and gained 281.3 yards of total offense, including just 73.4 rushing yards per game. The Buckeyes grabbed six interceptions and recovered six fumbles as Whitner garnered first-team All-America honors.

Haynes spent the 2002 season at Louisville, where he coached the cornerbacks under former Arkansas special teams coordinator and outside linebackers coach John L. Smith. In 2002, the Cardinals ranked fifth in C-USA and No. 35 nationally in pass efficiency defense (112.9 rating).

Haynes followed Smith to Michigan State for the 2003 and 2004 seasons. In those two years, the Spartans were 13-12 overall and 9-7 in the Big Ten and advanced to the Alamo Bowl against Nebraska in 2003. In each year, safety Jason Harmon was an honorable-mention All-Big Ten selection, and three other members of the secondary earned Academic All-Big Ten acclaim in those two seasons.

In 2003, the Spartans intercepted 15 passes and returned two for touchdowns. During the 2004 season, MSU picked off 17 passes, returning one for a touchdown, while collecting 241 yards on interception returns.

In 2001, Haynes was with the NFL's Jacksonville Jaguars, where he served as the defensive quality-control coach. His duties included assisting the defensive coaching staff in all aspects of game preparation -- compiling scouting reports, breaking down opponent film and writing the playbook. He also helped coach the secondary. The Jaguars ranked among the AFC leaders in passing defense (second at 190 yards per game), scoring defense (fourth at 17.9 points) and total defense (seventh at 316.9 yards).

He worked for two years at Kent State, where he coached the secondary in 1999 before taking over the duties as assistant head coach and safeties coach in 2000. Prior to joining the Kent State staff, Haynes coached the running backs and secondary at NCAA I-AA Northern Iowa in 1997-98.

Haynes served as secondary coach at Ferris State for two seasons, from 1995-96. Haynes began his coaching career at St. Francis DeSales High School in Columbus, Ohio, in 1993, before moving on to Bowling Green as a graduate assistant in 1994.

Haynes walked on at Kent State University in the fall of 1987 and went on to play four years of football for the Golden Flashes. As a freshman, he led the team in interceptions. As a sopho­more, he led the team with 116 tackles. After missing the 1989 campaign with a knee injury, he started his final two years and wound up his career as the seventh leading tackler in Kent State history with 440 stops.

Haynes and his wife, Denita, who graduated from Florida A&M with an education degree, have three children – daughters Jordyn and Kennedy Rose, and one son, Tarron.

Paul Haynes Coaching History

Dec. 2011 - Arkansas (defensive coordinator)

2011 Ohio State (co-defensive coordinator/safeties)

2005-10 Ohio State (defensive backs)

2003-04 Michigan State (defensive backs)

2002 Louisville (defensive backs)

2001 Jacksonville Jaguars (quality control)

1999-2000 Kent State (assistant head coach/secondary)

1997-98 Northern Iowa (running backs/secondary)

1995-96 Ferris State (defensive backs)

1994 Bowling Green State (graduate assistant)

1993 St. Francis DeSales (Columbus, Ohio) High School (assistant coach)

Home Town: Columbus, Ohio

Family: Wife, Denita; Daughters, Jordyn and Kennedy Rose; Son, Tarron

Bowl Games: Sugar Bowl, 2011; Rose Bowl, 2010; Fiesta Bowl, 2009; BCS National Championship, 2008; BCS National Championship 2007; Fiesta Bowl, 2006; Alamo Bowl, 2003; GMAC Bowl, 2002

UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS PRESS RELEASE

University of Arkansas wide receiver/punt returner Joe Adams has been named SEC Special Teams Player of the Year, it was announced Wednesday.

One of the most versatile and dynamic players in college football, Adams leads the country with three punt return touchdowns and an average of 16.19 yards per punt return. In addition to Arkansas, only two other teams in the country have returned three punts for touchdowns this season. Adams is the only player in the NCAA with rushing, receiving and multiple punt return touchdowns in 2011.

His career total of four punt return touchdowns is tied for the lead among all active players nationally and tied for fourth all-time in the SEC. The Little Rock, Ark., native ranks tied for second on the SEC’s single-season punt return touchdown list, one behind the conference’s single-season record.

Adams is the second Razorback to be named SEC Special Teams Player of the Year, which was first awarded in 2004, after Felix Jones won the award in 2007. Adams, Jones and Darren McFadden, who was named SEC Offensive Player of the Year in 2006 and 2007, are the only three Razorbacks to be named player of the year in the SEC. Arkansas, Auburn and LSU are tied for the most Special Teams Player of the Year winners with two each.

Adams finishes his collegiate career Jan. 6 in the 76th AT&T Cotton Bowl Classic when the Razorbacks, who finished sixth in the BCS standings, take on Kansas State, which was eighth in the final BCS standings, inside Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The game will air on Fox beginning at 7 p.m.

Willy Robinson has resigned as the Arkansas Razorbacks' defensive coordinator.

“I want to thank Willy Robinson for his role in helping our defense, which he leaves in better shape than when he arrived," Arkansas head coach Bobby Petrino said in a statement released by Arkansas. "I have the utmost respect for Willy Robinson as an individual who wants the best for the young men he coaches. I give Willy credit for his part in the building process the last four years and wish him future success.”

Robinson joined Arkansas head coach Bobby Petrino's staff after Petrino's initial hire for the defensive coordinator position Ellis Johnson left to take the same position at South Carolina.

The Razorbacks finished 5-7, 8-5, 10-3 and 10-2 in Robinson's four seasons. However under Robinson, Arkansas' defenses generally struggled and rated in the lower half of the SEC in each of his four seasons. Although those defensive squads did show improvement during the season each year, each season the defense seemed to start from scratch.

Arkansas inside linebackers coach Reggie Johnson is reported to be a candidate for the defensive coordinator's job at Alabama-Birmingham under new head coach Garrick McGee, who was the Razorbacks' offensive coordinator the past two season and quarterback coach in 2008-09.