CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Jay Kaiser was named Illinois' Director of College Personnel and NFL Liaison, head coach Bret Bielema announced. Kaiser will develop and manage Illinois' collegiate personnel department, encompassing student-athlete oversight, development, and roster management, while also acting as the Illinois football team's liaison to the NFL, Canadian Football League, and all other professional leagues and events, including the NFL Combine, Pro Days, and senior all-star games. He also educates Illini student-athletes through the process to become a professional football player. 

"Jay brings a unique blend of both college and NFL experience to our program at the University of Illinois," said  head coach Bret Bielema. "He will be the director of college personnel who will monitor the transfer portal in every way. Jay also has had the opportunity to work for 10 years in the NFL with multiple organizations and is well experienced to be our NFL liaison for Fighting Illini football."

Kaiser joins Illinois with 16 years of collegiate experience, all in the Midwest, and 10 years in the NFL. He brings a strong relationship with the NFL league office to Champaign and a vast knowledge of the college-to-NFL process after recruiting and helping players like first-rounder Josh Freeman (Kansas State) and walk-on turned Super Bowl champion and Pro Bowler Jordy Nelson (Kansas State) during their collegiate careers.

"My family and I are excited to join Coach Bielema and the staff at Illinois," said Kaiser. "This is a tremendous opportunity to work with Coach and contribute to his vision for the Fighting Illini football team and student-athletes. I can't wait to join the Illini family."

Kaiser has worked with three National Football Foundation Hall of Fame coaches - Bill Snyder (Kansas State), Mel Tjeerdsma (Northwest Missouri State), and Dr. Ted Kessinger (Bethany College) - during his time in college football. 

Kaiser spent 10 seasons as an assistant to the head coach in the NFL, including a seven-year stint with the Miami Dolphins from 2012-18. He assisted head coaches Joe Philbin (2012-15), Dan Campbell (2015), and Adam Gase (2016-18) in organizing football operations for the Dolphins. Kaiser managed several elements of Miami's off-field agenda, involving the day-to-day schedule, player and staff communications and the football calendar, including the offseason programs, minicamps and training camp. 

In the three years (2009-11) before coming to the Dolphins, Kaiser served in a similar capacity for Raheem Morris, the head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, including the Bucs' 10-6 season in 2010. The Bucs completed the best turnaround in team history, going from 3-13 to 10-6, and became the first team in NFL history to start 10 rookies and achieve a winning season. 

Prior to joining the Buccaneers, Kaiser spent seven seasons (2002-08) on the Kansas State football staff as the director of recruiting operations for the Wildcats. In addition to organizing Kansas State's recruiting efforts, he assisted with day-to-day operations and oversaw the student volunteer Powercat Pride program consisting of 90 students. Kansas State enjoyed national-level success during Kaiser's time in Manhattan, headlined by Kansas State's first Big XII title in 2003, before rebuilding the roster that eventually led K-State to another Big XII title in 2012, have a Heisman finalist (Collin Klein) and be ranked No. 1 in the nation with 12 starters and 19 players on the two-deep from Kaiser's final two Wildcat recruiting classes. 

Kaiser served as a graduate assistant with 2001 MAC champion Toledo, where he spent one year as the Rockets' assistant quarterbacks and receivers coach, prior to moving to Kansas State. Toledo finished the season ranked No. 22 in final AP poll. 

He also coached tight ends and special teams at Northern Iowa as an assistant coach in 2000, where he helped multiple players to the NFL including tight end Ryan Hannam, following a two-year stint as a graduate assistant at Northwest Missouri State. While on staff with Northwest Missouri State, Kaiser helped the program to an undefeated 15-0 NCAA Division II national title in 1998. 

Kaiser received his start as a student coach at Bethany College from 1993-96. He earned a bachelor's degree in health and physical education from Bethany in 1997 and added a master's degree in physical education and health from Northwest Missouri State in 1998.

A native of Liberal, Kansas, Kaiser and his wife, Camille, have two children, Karson and Payton.

Kaiser's Career