The Badgers made another coaching move this week.
The Wisconsin Badgers made another coaching move on Tuesday, hiring Robert Steeples as their new cornerbacks coach.
Steeples slides into the role that Paul Haynes had occupied for the past three seasons. Haynes will now move into a new role as the secondary coach, adding another assistant to Wisconsin’s staff.
“Bringing Robert Steeples to Wisconsin is a great addition to our coaching staff,” head coach Luke Fickell said in a statement. “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.
“With the addition, we will be moving Paul Haynes to a role that will allow him to work with our entire secondary to strengthen our unit.”
Steeples had been a senior offensive assistant with the Iowa State Cyclones for the past two seasons after spending time on the staff at LSU from 2022-23. He was a former NFL defensive back who played three seasons in the league before transitioning to coaching.
“Wisconsin’s commitment to excellence and rugged style of play gives me the opportunity to work with the type of student-athletes that can benefit most from my style of coaching,” Steeples said in a statement. “The defensive structure and culture that Coach Fickell and Coach Tressel have implemented complements the guys on the island – the corners. The defensive staff is full of experience, great leaders, but most importantly great human beings – which makes for a fantastic environment for growth. I’m excited to get into the trenches with the guys and do my part. The opportunity ahead is a blessing.”
“As a coach, I fall back on my experiences in the shoes of players and under that helmet. 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.”
According to UW, during two seasons at Iowa State, Steeples worked directly with the Cyclone receiving corps. In 2024, Iowa State finished 11-3 overall, recording the first double-digit win season in program history. ISU finished 7-2 in Big 12 Conference action and ended the season ranked No. 15 in the Associated Press Top 25, the second-highest end-of-season ranking in school history. Two Cyclone receivers, Jaylin Noel and Jayden Higgins, amassed 1,000 receiving yards, marking the first time a Big 12 program had two players total 1,000+ receiving yards in a season since 2018.
Wisconsin made one coaching change previously, hiring offensive line coach Eric Mateos to replace AJ Blazek after two seasons. Now, they’re making another addition ahead of a crucial year for Luke Fickell.
Category: General Sports
