Haynes enters his third season as the Badgers' cornerbacks coach in 2025. He joined the Badgers’ staff on Jan 12, 2023 after three seasons coaching the cornerbacks at Minnesota and also serving as co-defensive coordinator in 2022. Haynes, a coaching veteran with more than 25 years of collegiate experience, spent time with Luke Fickell on staff at Ohio State. Haynes managed the Buckeye secondary from 2005-11, holding co-defensive coordinator duties in 2011.
Haynes also worked with UW defensive coordinator Mike Tressel at Michigan State from 2018-19. With Tressel as the defensive coordinator, Haynes coached the Spartan defensive backs in East Lansing.
In 2024 at Wisconsin, Haynes helped the Badger secondary limit opponents to 177.7 passing yards per game, the 14th lowest clip in the nation.
In his first season on the Badgers' staff in 2023, Haynes helped cornerback Ricardo Hallman earn AP third team All-America honors. Hallman grabbed seven interceptions, the most in the country and the most for a Badger cornerback since 2000. As a team, Wisconsin collected 13 interceptions, the third-most in the Big Ten.
With Haynes as co-defensive coordinator at Minnesota in 2022, the Gophers ranked seventh in the country in pass efficiency defense (108.5). UM also ranked No. 4 in the nation in scoring defense (13.8 ppg) and ninth in total defense (295.1 ypg). In 2021, Minnesota ranked eighth nationally in pass defense (181.2 ypg.).
In 2019, at Michigan State, Tressel and Haynes directed a defense that grabbed 12 interceptions, totaling 124 return yards and scored one touchdown. The Spartans allowed only 22.5 points per game and 207.8 passing yards per game.
In 2018, Haynes mentored a secondary that helped Michigan State rank No. 1 in the Big Ten in scoring defense (17.2 ppg) and rank No. 10 overall in the FBS. The Spartans ranked No. 1 in the Big Ten in pass break-ups (67) and passes defended (81), totals which also ranked among the nation’s top 10.
Haynes was the head coach at Kent State from 2013-17, coaching 17 players who earned Mid-American All-Conference accolades, including seven first-team selections. At least three players earned all-league plaudits in all five seasons, including four in both 2017 and 2016, five in 2013, three in 2014 and five in 2013. I
While at KSU, Haynes coached some of the top passing defenses in the MAC. The Golden Flashes finished in the top 45 of the FBS in pass defense all five of his seasons at the helm, including No. 27 in 2013, No. 22 in 2016 and No. 27 in 2017. In addition, Kent State led the MAC in passing defense in 2014 and pass efficiency defense in 2016. In 2015, KSU ranked first in the conference and No. 22 in the FBS in sacks and No. 27 in the FBS in total defense.
He also has collegiate coaching experience at Arkansas (2012), Ohio State (2005-2011), Louisville (2002), Kent State (1999-2000), Northern Iowa (1997-98), Ferris State (1995-96) and Bowling Green (1994). He spent the 2001 season as a defensive quality control coach with the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars.
Haynes played at Kent State, walking on in the fall of 1987 and going on to lead the team in interceptions as a freshman. In his sophomore season, Haynes led Kent State with 116 tackles. He missed the 1989 season with a knee injury, before earning All-MAC accolades as a junior and senior.
As a multiple sport standout at St. Francis DeSales High School in Columbus, Haynes was a three-year letterwinner in football, leading the team to the 1985 state championship. Haynes was also a four-year letterman in track and field and a two-year letterman in basketball, helping the Stallions to the state tournament.
Personal
Hometown: Columbus, Ohio
Wife: Danita
Children: Jordyn, Kennedy Rose and Tarron
Education: Kent State, 1992
| Haynes' Coaching Career |
| Year |
School/Team |
Position |
| 1994 |
Bowling Green |
Graduate Assistant |
| 1995-1996 |
Ferris State |
Defensive Backs |
| 1997-1998 |
Northern Iowa |
Running Backs/Defensive Backs |
| 1999 |
Kent State |
Defensive Backs |
| 2000 |
Kent State |
Associate Head Coach/Safeties |
| 2001 |
Jacksonville Jaguars |
Defensive Quality Control |
| 2002 |
Louisville |
Defensive Backs |
| 2003-2004 |
Michigan State |
Defensive Backs |
| 2005-2010 |
Ohio State |
Defensive Backs |
| 2011 |
Ohio State |
Co-Defensive Coordinator/Safeties |
| 2012 |
Arkansas |
Defensive Coordinator/Defensive Backs |
| 2013-2017 |
Kent State |
Head Coach |
| 2018-2019 |
Michigan State |
Defensive Backs |
| 2020-2021 |
Minnesota |
Cornerbacks |
| 2022 |
Minnesota |
Co-Defensive Coordinator/Cornerbacks |
| 2023-present |
Wisconsin |
Cornerbacks |
