Former Arkansas Razorbacks Defensive Coordinator Paul Haynes, the newly named head coach of the Kent State University Golden Flashes, took to Twitter today to give thanks to Arkansans. His tweets of thanks are below, as well as video from his press conference at his new school.
Kent State University Director of Athletics Joel Nielsen introduced Paul Haynes as the Golden Flashes’ 21st head football coach at a Tuesday afternoon news conference. Kent State faces Arkansas State University in the Godaddy.com Bowl in Mobile, Ala., Jan. 6, 2013.
Haynes returns to his alma mater 25 years after he walked on to play football at Kent State as a college freshman. He replaces Darrell Hazzell, who resigned Dec. 5 after two seasons to become the head coach at Purdue.
“I am very excited to welcome Paul back to the Kent State family,” said Nielsen. “During our search for a new head coach, I was looking for someone who had the qualities that could carry on the recent success of the football program. Those qualities include leadership, a genuine interest in our student-athletes, integrity and an understanding of Kent State and the Mid-American Conference. Ohio recruiting ties were also very important. Paul hits on every one of those areas. In hiring Paul we are also making a significant investment in the head coaching position here at Kent State.”
“This has been a whirlwind, and I can’t begin to describe my excitement about the opportunity to come back to Kent State as head coach,” said Haynes. “Being a former player and assistant coach here, and now coming back at a time where there is so much pride around the football program and the university, it is unbelievable. My family and I are excitedabout coming back to Ohio. I’m looking forward to getting involved with theplayers and embracing the Kent State alumni.”
Haynes, 43, spent last season as the defensive coordinator at Arkansas. He also served as the secondary coach for the Razorbacks. Haynes joined the Arkansas staff in December 2011, taking over the Razorbacks’ defense when it dominated No. 11 Kansas State 29-16 in the AT&T Cotton Bowl.
Haynes spent the previous seven seasons at Ohio State, serving as the co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach in 2011 and as defensive backs coach from 2005-10. Of note, Haynes and Hazell worked together on Jim Tressel’s Ohio State staff from 2005-10.
In Haynes’ seven years in Columbus, the Buckeyes compiled a 66-11 record, won six Big Ten titles and played in six consecutive BCS games. Ohio State defensive backs also boasted five first-team All-Americans and 10 first-team All-Big Ten selections in those seasons. Nine of the defensive backs Haynes coached at Ohio State were selected in the 2006-12 NFL Drafts, including first rounders Donte Whitner and Malcom Jenkins.
The 2012 season at Arkansas was Haynes’ third stint on a John L. Smith coaching staff. He also worked under Smith at Michigan State, serving as defensive backs coach from 2003-04, and at Louisville, as defensive backs coach in 2002.
This is Haynes’ second homecoming at Kent State. He spent two seasons as an assistant coach under former Golden Flashes head coach Dean Pees, who is now the defensive coordinator of the Baltimore Ravens. After coaching Kent State’s defensive backs in 1999, Haynes was promoted to assistant headcoach and safeties coach in 2000. Haynes then moved on to the NFL in 2001, spending one season as the defensive quality control coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Haynes’ coaching career also includes stops at Northern Iowa (running backs and secondary, 1997-98), Ferris State (defensive backs, 1995-96), Bowling Green (graduate assistant, 1994) and St. Francis DeSales High School in Columbus (assistant coach, 1993).
Known as “Ice” during his playing days, Haynes walked on at Kent State in the fall of 1987 and went on to play four years for the Golden Flashes. As a freshman, he led the team in interceptions during Kent State’s 7-4 season under Glen Mason. As a sophomore, Haynes led the team with 116 tackles. After missing the 1989 campaign with a knee injury, he started hisfinal two years and ended his career with 440 tackles, a total that ranks seventh in Kent State history.
Prior to enrolling at Kent State, Haynes earned three letters infootball at St. Francis DeSales High School in Columbus, including one during the team’s 1985 state championship season. He also made OHSAA state tournament appearances in both basketball and track, earning four track letters and two basketball monograms.
Haynes was born on July 11, 1969. He and his wife, Danita, who graduated from Florida A&M with an education degree, have three children: daughters Jordyn and Kennedy Rose and son Tarron.
Former Hogs head coach John L. Smith said of Haynes hiring: “Kent State made a great decision. It is getting not only a great coach but a great family. The university community is just going to love Paul and his family. Paul’s coaching ability speaks for itself. I knew when I hired him to begin with at Louisville, it was going to be hard to hang on to him. That’s the kind of coach I have always wanted to hire. I want the guys everyone else is going to want. That happened with Paul. We went to Michigan State and then he moved on to Ohio State, but thank goodness we were able to reunite this year. Being with him again this year, it just spoke volumes about how committed he is to the job and to the kids he is coaching. If I were in Kent State’s shoes, I would have done the same thing and hired Paul. I can’t say enough good things about him.”
[tweet https://twitter.com/Coach_Haynes/status/281377563182510080] [tweet https://twitter.com/Coach_Haynes/status/281378262393962496] [tweet https://twitter.com/Coach_Haynes/status/281378595430080512]The thanks from Arkansas Razorback fans pours in for Haynes via Twitter, too. We will keep this post updated.
[tweet https://twitter.com/Scott23S/status/281430255141543936] [tweet https://twitter.com/NWARazor/status/281429401827147776] [tweet https://twitter.com/crosschurch/status/281419197307826176] [tweet https://twitter.com/SteveForsgren/status/281383778616745985]
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