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OU Cornerbacks Coach Valai Leaving for NFL, Sooners Add Recruit
Sooners searching for new cornerbacks coach after Valai departs for Buffalo Bills, while landing commitment from 4-star CB LeBron Bauer on National Signing Day.
Published on Feb. 5, 2026
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The University of Oklahoma is in the market for a new cornerbacks coach after Jay Valai announced he is leaving the program to take a job with the NFL's Buffalo Bills. Valai had been OU's cornerbacks coach for the past four seasons, but is now departing Norman to pursue an opportunity at the professional level. Meanwhile, the Sooners did receive some positive news on National Signing Day, landing a commitment from 4-star cornerback LeBron Bauer.
Why it matters
The departure of Valai is a significant loss for the Sooners, as he had helped develop OU's secondary into one of the team's strengths in recent years. Finding a capable replacement will be crucial for the program as it looks to maintain its defensive prowess. The addition of Bauer, however, provides a boost to OU's recruiting efforts and helps offset the loss of Valai.
The details
Valai was set to make $785,000 as OU's cornerbacks coach for the upcoming season, but the chance to join the Bills' coaching staff was an opportunity he ultimately could not pass up. The Sooners had approved a new contract for Valai just last week, but he informed the program of his decision to leave for the NFL shortly after. OU is now tasked with finding a new cornerbacks coach to lead a secondary that has been a strength of the team in recent seasons.
- On February 1, 2026, the OU Board of Regents approved a new contract for Valai that would have paid him $785,000 for the 2026 season.
- On February 5, 2026, Valai informed OU that he was leaving the program to take a job with the Buffalo Bills.
The players
Jay Valai
Former cornerbacks coach for the University of Oklahoma who is leaving the program to take a job with the NFL's Buffalo Bills.
LeBron Bauer
4-star cornerback recruit who committed to the University of Oklahoma on National Signing Day 2026.
What they’re saying
“You get a chance at the NFL. That is hard to pass up.”
— Bob Przybylo, SoonerScoop Podcast Host (on3.com)
What’s next
The University of Oklahoma will now begin a search to find a new cornerbacks coach to replace the departing Jay Valai. The Sooners will also look to build on the momentum of landing 4-star recruit LeBron Bauer on National Signing Day as they continue to bolster their defensive secondary.
The takeaway
The loss of cornerbacks coach Jay Valai is a significant one for the University of Oklahoma, as he had helped develop the Sooners' secondary into a strength of the team in recent years. However, OU was able to offset this departure by landing a highly-touted 4-star cornerback recruit in LeBron Bauer on National Signing Day, providing a boost to the program's future defensive backfield.
